happy easter...

I love Easter, all it symbolizes- spring, re-birth, Christ. It gives me a feeling of hope finally seeing those tiny little lilies and iris poking through my soggy flower bed. The hope of a new season and fresh beginnings. Daylight at dinnertime, strawberries and asparagus at the stores, melting snow, I could go on... My mom sent me an Easter lily in college and ever since I always like to get them. It makes me feel happy each time I go into the kitchen. In case you wondered, here's a little history...

Often called the "white-robed apostles of hope," lilies are said to have been found growing in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ's agony. Tradition has it that the beautiful white blooms sprung up where drops of Christ's sweat fell to the ground in his final hours of sorrow and deep distress. At Easter time, churches use masses of Easter Lilies, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and hope of life everlasting.

The pure white lily has long been associated with the Virgin Mary, too. In early paintings, the Angel Gabriel is pictured extending a branch of pure white lilies to the Virgin Mary, announcing that she is to be the mother of the Christ Child. In other paintings, saints are pictured bringing vases full of white lilies to Mary and the infant Jesus.

In yet another expression of womanhood, tradition has it that when Eve left the Garden of Eden she shed real tears of repentance, and from those remorseful tears sprung up lilies. The spiritual principle held here is that true repentance is the beginning of beauty.

A mark of purity and grace throughout the ages, the regal white lily is a fitting symbol of the greater meaning of Easter. Gracing millions of homes and churches, the flowers embody joy, hope and life.