The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The Easter Bunny did arrive, but it was cold. The wind made it colder, but the kids dressed for winter and still picked up the toys and the candy. The Rotary Easter Egg Hunt was held downtown again this year. It was fun to watch. I especially love watching the youngest. They have yet to have any interest in candy. They picked up the yellow ducklings and shuffled back to their parents.

There is value in celebrating traditions, even if the celebration is short because the weather dictates our actions.

Easter celebrations vary from family to family, city to farm culture. My mother used to buy me a new Easter dress, and Easter was when people dressed up and went to church.

Every definition of Easter is the same everywhere you look. Do the research; Easter is the celebration of the day Christ arose.

For many, it's just a holiday celebrating Spring and new life. There used to be a famous comic strip by Stan Lynde called Rick O'Shay. He was a rugged-looking cowboy with cowboy philosophy expressed each Sunday in the funnies. This Easter Sunday comic strip had Rick O'Shay riding his horse in the mountains. There were tall mountains with pine trees everywhere, and Rick O'Shay says, "Easter Sunday. A spring's hit the high country." The next frame has a mamma bear and her cub walking beside her while Rick O'Shay still rides his horse. A butterfly floats in the sky. Rick O'Shay says, "Everythin's comin'back t'life..Startin'fresh. New Grass..New Live.." The third frame is a closeup of the cowboys's back, still on the horse while looking at the tree Rick O'Shay say's "..New Buds forin' on the trees that seemed dead. A whole new go-around." The next frame has a close up of his face and a bird sings in the tree. He says, "Even a new chance for us human critters. An'ah reckon we need it most of all.." The last frame is a picture of Rick O'Shay with his hat, in his hand, looking up into the sky with the clouds, the mountains, and the valley full of trees, saying "For that...an for ever'thin..much obliged boss."

But Easter is more than tradition, more than a celebration of Spring, of new life. It is the celebration of the life of Jesus.