CASP

This weekend is Easter (for Catholics and Protestants), the holiest part of the Christian year, commemorating the crucifixion (on Friday) and resurrection (on Sunday) of Jesus. Orthodox (Eastern) Christians celebrate Easter in a few weeks (Why? It’s a long story …).

But for many people Easter is also a spring festival, celebrating new life and growth as the world wakes up after winter. That is why there are Easter eggs (symbolising new life and rebirth), and the Easter Bunny (representing growth and fertility – “breeding like rabbits”!)

So Happy Easter, and don’t eat too much chocolate!

We are currently in the time of the Jewish festival of Passover (Pesach in Hebrew), celebrating the release of the Hebrews from slavery in ancient Egypt. The festival lasts for eight days and started last Saturday evening. The name comes from Biblical story where the Hebrews were “passed over” by God and not afflicted with the tenth plague of Egypt.

The festival starts with the Passover Seder, a ritual feast that also involves retelling the story of the Exodus from Egypt. The story is discussed, kosher wine is drunk, bread without yeast is eaten, and there is the Seder plate, with symbolic foods.

During the remaining days, people are required to avoid all leaven or yeast. People also try to only do necessary work, and prefer to spend time with family.

The seventh day of Passover is another festival, celebrating the parting of the Red Sea that enabled them to leave Egypt.

So have a happy and kosher Passover, or Chag Pesach kasher V’Sameach.

Sunday 28 March is the Hindu festival of Holi, the “Festival of Colours”, celebrating the coming of spring, and the love of the god Krishna and the goddess Radha. Its most distinctive feature is the great fun that people have throwing coloured powder over each other. Any one is fair game, no matter who it is!

It is the second biggest Hindu festival after Diwali.

Traditionally, people visit friends and family, and share sweets including sweet filled flatbread, deep-fried flour balls soaked in yoghurt, and sweet deep-fried dumplings.

So, Happy Holi.