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Quality & Vision In Sight Eye Exams Arranged GEORGETOWN 280 Guelph St., Georgetown Market Place 905-873-3050 www.familyoptical.ca Serving Halton Hills for the past 18 years OPTICAL SPRING SAVINGS SAVE UP TO on a complete pair of Prescription Glasses $5000 Expires May 15, 2008 Wellington-Halton Hills Federal Liberal Association Sit-down dinner and social Greet, hear, and meet the Hon. Ken Dryden Tickets: $100. Youth: $25. Carol Lawson 905-877-3753 (Halton Hills) Olive Carrick 519-856-9127 (Rockwood) Jean Stewart 519-843-4259 (Fergus/Elora) Hockeys Hall of Fame Hon. Ken Dryden Friday, March 28, 2008 6:00 p.m. - social, 7:00 p.m. - dinner Royal Canadian Legion, 15 Wright Avenue Acton (Halton Hills) An evening with a legend G o u r m e t F r o z e n F o o d s SENIORS 10% OFF EVERY WEDNESDAY (REG. PRICED MERCHANDISE) CAMPBELLVILLE MILTON HW Y 2 5OLDE HIDEHOUSE DU BL IN LI NE GU EL PH LI NE GUELPH GEORGETOWN 7 7 ITS WORTH THE DRIVE TO ACTON SERVING ACTON & AREA FOR OVER 20 YEARS! SPECIALS FROM: Mar. 17th - April 2nd OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK 9 AM - 6 PM. OPEN GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER SUNDAY & MONDAY 9 - 6 PM HWY. 7, 1 MILE WEST OF ACTON 519-853-0311 (800)-387-4039 www.macmillans.ca MARITIME SEAFOOD MIX CONTAINS: SHRIMP, HADDOCK, COD, SCALLOPS & CRAB MEAT. PERFECT FOR CHOWDER, STIRFRY, PASTA COMPANYS COMING APPETIZER COMBO LARGE COOKED SHRIMP 45 PIECE ASSORTMENT NOVA SCOTIA WILD BLUEBERRIES 5LBS. $19.99 *RASPBERRIES ALSO AVAILABLE MAPLE SYRUP SEASON 3 FOR $19.99 (Reg. $8.99 each) (Reg. $16.99) $6.99lb. (Reg.$8.99) 100% CANADIAN 500 ML MAPLE SYRUP $12.99 4LBS. $21.99 New at (Reg. $6.99) 100% CANADIAN FRESH BY NATURE THE KAWARTHA DAIRY COMPANY REAL ICE CREAM, REAL PLEASURE *10 FLAVOURS AVAILABLE 1.5 LITRE TUB $5.99 GEORGETOWN LIONS CLUB invites you to the GEORGETOWN CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS DINNER honoring the Homecoming 2007 Committee on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Reception at 6 pm, Dinner at 7 pm Tickets available at the Carpet Barn (on the corner of Mill & Guelph St.) or by calling 905-873-8469. Acton/Georgetown, Friday, March 21, 2008 7 Since today is Good Friday, I became curi- ous how Easter customs found their origins. I researched the Internet for background on Easter traditions and the history behind them. Most of us know Easter is the celebration of the crucifixion of Christ, and churches the world over are f i l led to overf lowing as Christians celebrate Holy Week. Holy Week, the last week of Lent, begins with Palm Sunday, which takes its name from Jesus entry into Jerusalem when crowds laid palm branches at his feet . Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, the night before the crucifixion. Good Friday in Holy Week is the anniver- sary of the crucifixion, and Holy Week ends with Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection of Jesus Christ. One thing that I always found curious was that Easter was never celebrated on a set date. More research I learned Easter is observed the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or following the spring equinox. As a result, Easter can be held as early as March 22 or as late as April 25 in any year, depending upon the phase of the moon. Originally, the holiday was a pagan festi- val called Eastre, and had nothing to do with the crucifixion of Christ. In an effort to con- vert more Christians, the name of the festival was changed to Easter, so Christians taking part could join in the celebrations. Having pretty much researched all I could about the religious background of the holi- day, my next quesion was obvious. Where did the Easter bunny and Easter eggs come from? It seems the bunny had its origin in pre- Christian fertility lore, being the most fertile animal (the randy little devils) serving as symbols of the new life in the spring. The first Easter bunny seems to have origi- nated in Germany in the late 1500s, and the first edible bunnies were also of German ori- gin in the early 1800s, made of flour and sugar, and decorated with icing. The bunny concept was brought to North America in the mid-1700s, with the arrival of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The Easter bunny is only second in popu- larity to Santa Claus. As we all know, if theyre good, little children receive decorated eggs on Easter Sunday morning. Eggs, a symbol of fertility, also originated in Germany, and decorated eggs were painted to simulate the brightness of spring flowers. Eggs have crossed over to the Christian celebration as well, since in Greece, Easter eggs are painted red to represent the blood of Christ. Purple and gold colors on eggs represents the purple robe that was placed on Christ when he was mocked as the King of the Jews prior to his Crucifixion. Its ironic Ive spent a lifetime celebrat- ing the annual rituals of Easter, from both a religious and whimsical point of view, but never questioned the origin of the traditions. Ive found most people who have any reli- gious affiliation are well-versed on Holy Week and Christs crucifixion, but few are aware of where the other Easter celebrations originated. As we celebrate Easter in whatever way we choose be it religiously, or whimsically always remember one thing. Above all else, its a time to spend with family and friends and in doing so, cele- brating this season of renewal. Ted Brown can be reached at tbrown@independentfreepress.com The Easter bunnys roots? Ted Brown