EASTER FULLERVISION STYLE
Sunday, March 23, 2008

HOLY WEEK

Palm Sunday (3/16/08) marks the day that Jesus Christ came to Jerusalem. He was greeted with palms.
Maundy Thursday (sometimes referred to as "Holy Thursday," 3/20/08) indicates the day commemorating Christ's "Last Supper" with his disciples.
Good Friday (3/21/08) marks the day of the "death" of Christ. The account is described in all four Biblical gospels. Christ was betrayed to the Romans by Judas, who received 30 silver coins in return, a gift he ended up returning on account of guilty conscience that would result in Judas's suicide. Christ was brought before the people of Jerusalem in a desperate attempt by Pontius Pilate to save Christ's life... however, the high priests convinced the mob to free Barabbas, a notorious rioter and killer... with that, the Roman guards beat and mocked Christ and paraded him through the streets with a crown of thorns on his head and a cross on his back. The Romans hanged Christ on that cross, and he was left to die. After his death, Christ's body was transported to a tomb.
Easter Sunday (3/23/08) marks the day that Jesus Christ walked out of the sepulchre and was resurrected.
Dyngus Day (3/24/08) is a Polish holiday celebrated in heavily Polish-American communities such as Buffalo, where on the day after Easter, the Lenten fast is broken and people celebrate by playing polka music and swatting each other with pussy willows.

THE LEGEND OF THE EASTER BUNNY

Unlike his Christmas counterpart-- Santa Claus-- little is known about the Easter Bunny. His historical origin is believed to be from the rabbit being a traditional symbol of spring. He is known to distribute colored eggs and candy (namely jelly beans, chocolate-- including the now [in?]famous Cadbury eggs-- and marshmallow Peeps) in baskets to children the night before Easter. Beyond that, there is no real consensus. He is generally believed to be a giant human-sized rabbit with white or a light pastel yellow or pink color fur. His home is completely unknown.

SO WHY DOES EASTER ALWAYS HAVE TO CHANGE THE #@$%! DATE EVERY YEAR?!

Easter, unlike other Christian holidays, is based on a lunar calendar. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon in Spring... meaning it lands between late March and late April. This year, Easter is abnormally early, and given the cold winter, you may feel a little hosed. Don't fret, however-- Easter 2009 lands on April 12 (which happens to be the author's birthday), which should be well enough out of winter's path.

ON TELEVISION:

ABC-- "It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown" returns after 2007's inexplicable absence and airs Tuesday, 3/18 at 8:00 PM.
ABC-- "The Ten Commandments" (the 1956 cinematic depiction of the life of Moses featuring Charlton Heston) airs Saturday, 3/22 at 7:00 PM.
No Easter parade this year-- I'm disappointed.
CBS, ABC, ESPN-- Basketball, basketball and more basketball. CBS continues its coverage of the NCAA tournament, ABC airs NBA, while ESPN carries the women's tournament in the afternoon and another NBA game in the evening.
NBC, Fox-- No special programming.
Cartoon Network: "Here Comes Peter Cottontail" Easter morning, 9 AM. CBC airs the special at 6 PM.
ION: Movie-- "In the Beginning" airs Easter Sunday, 7 PM.
ABC Family: They'll find any excuse to air Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music." Easter night, 7 PM.

Fullervision Enterprises, Unltd. 2005