Everyone celebrates Easter differently. I honor the religious significance of the resurrection of Jesus. For many, Easter Sunday is a symbol of Jesus’s love and a day to celebrate the resurrection, a reminder of the hope and joy of the day.
All joy and peace to all, for He has risen.
Hot cross buns are sweet, spiced yeast buns filled with dried fruits and marked with a cross, traditionally enjoyed at Easter.
Hot cross buns are soft, lightly sweetened buns made with yeast dough, aromatic spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, and dried fruits such as raisins, currants, or candied citrus peel. The cross on top symbolizes the crucifixion of Christ, making them a traditional Good Friday and Easter treat. They are enjoyed warm, often with butter, and can also be toasted for breakfast or brunch.
The religious holiday of Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, as described in the Bible’s New Testament. Although it is observed as the holiest day by both Orthodox Christians and non-orthodox Christians, it is a movable feast and is recognized on different days by both religions each year. Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter later than most Christians in the western world because the churches calculate the holiday by different calendars. Thus, in 2026, Orthodox Easter occurs on April 12.
Many Orthodox Christian churches, including the Greek Orthodox and the Russian Orthodox churches, celebrate the “miracle of Easter” on the Easter Sunday date in the Julian calendar. Most people see Easter as the most important event in the church calendar. Orthodox Easter preparations begin with 40 days of strict fasting prior to Easter Day. Many Orthodox Christians attend liturgies during the Holy Week that leads up to Easter Sunday.
Another tradition observed in many Orthodox Christian churches is the blessing of food baskets. The baskets are usually filled with bread, cheese, meat, eggs, butter, salt, and other types of food used for Paschal celebrations. When the fasting period has ended and meat and dairy products can be eaten.
According to the Bible’s New Testament, Jesus Christ was crucified by the Romans around A.D. 30, died on the cross on a Friday and was buried in a tomb outside of Jerusalem. Three days later, on Sunday, Christ rose from the dead, according to Matthew 28:1–10.
Non-Orthodox Christians celebrate the resurrection each year on Easter Sunday, the culmination of the 40-day season of Lent. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Week. Holy Week includes Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Maundy Thursday, honoring the Last Supper, Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified and Holy Saturday, the time of transition between the crucifixion and resurrection.
How Is the Date of Easter Determined?
Orthodox Christians, who believe faith is inseparable from the church, follow the Julian calendar when it comes to celebrating Easter Sunday. The Julian calendar was established by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. and is based on the solar cycle—Earth’s revolutions around the sun.
Orthodox Easter takes place between April 4 and May 8. According to the New Testament, the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ took place after he entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII instituted the Gregorian calendar to correct inaccuracies in the Julian Calendar. The new calendar added leap years to correct an 11-minute miscalculation that caused seasons to become out of sync with the calendar. That pushed Easter away from the spring equinox. Under the Gregorian calendar, churches established Easter to be held on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox.
Much of the world came to officially recognize the Gregorian calendar, but Orthodox churches, primarily in Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria and others, continue to observe Easter according to the Julian calendar.
As with many Christian holidays, decorating eggs, which symbolize new life, dates back to the 13th century when the church disallowed eating eggs during Holy Week, and they were decorated instead. The Easter egg is hard-boiled and often dyed red to symbolize the blood of Christ. It was an important symbol connected with spring fertility rituals in many early civilizations. Many Greek Orthodox Christians rap their eggs against their friends’ eggs and the owner of the last uncracked egg is considered lucky.
Another important symbol associated with Easter is the lamb. It is often depicted with a banner that bears a cross, and it is known as the Agnus Dei, meaning “Lamb of God” in Latin.
Both Orthodox Christians and non-Orthodox Christians celebrate the Easter holiday with joyous church services, often punctuated with white lilies, followed by family meals and gatherings. Eastern Orthodox churches often hold a Paschal Vigil on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. A candlelight procession may be held that night, with Easter services and celebrations beginning at midnight.
Traditional Christian Easter meals often include ham, spring vegetables and hot-cross buns (sweet rolls scored with a cross on top). At Orthodox Christian Easter dinners, along with red-dyed hard-boiled eggs, which are symbolic of the blood of Christ, lamb is typically served. John 1:29 says, “Behold the lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.”
Source: history.com©
Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day began as a tribute to Civil War dead. It was expanded after World War I to honor those who have died in all American wars. The day became an official federal holiday in 1971. It’s now celebrated in America on the last Monday in May.
The origins of special services to honor those who die in war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles honored the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago. That tribute could be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in our nation’s wars. “They are commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.” What a fitting reminder to all of us to learn about our military ancestors who died in service.
For most Americans, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer and the start of barbeque season. However, the true meaning of this holiday runs much deeper than a casual barbeque. The true meaning is to honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the armed forces.
Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or holding family gatherings and participating in parades.
Each year on Memorial Day a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.
Peace to you and happy memories on this Memorial Day.
Article By Kimberly Powell for ThoughtCo.com©
There’s a chance that at some point you’ll need a good ham recipe. Maybe you’re celebrating a holiday or hosting a family get together, or you just need something delicious to feed a hungry crowd. Ham is a great option since it doesn’t require much prep work or babysitting as it cooks. It also pairs well with many different side dishes, like mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and almost any salad.
There are pages and pages of great ham recipes to choose from, but this one in my opinion was the best. Here are the results.
This honey-glazed ham recipe tastes very much like the famous honey-baked ham but costs much less, and there’s no need to fight the crowds at holiday time. You can even buy the ham pre-sliced to make it easier and more like the original. It’s very good. I make this while preparing the rest of the meal in the kitchen, so I don’t forget to baste.
Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or simply treating yourself to a delicious dinner, this honey-glazed ham is a reliable way to prepare the perfect ham. The simple recipe comes together easily the day of and is sure to impress everyone at your table.
You’ll need just five ingredients for this top-rated honey-glazed ham recipe:
Honey-glazed ham pairs perfectly with traditional side dishes like mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese. But you could serve it with anything you like!
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a roasting pan with foil.
Score ham in a crosshatch pattern; stud with whole cloves. Place ham in the prepared pan.
Brush glaze over ham; bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Baste ham with glaze every 10 to 15 minutes. Broil to caramelize glaze during last 4 to 5 minutes of cooking time. Remove from oven and let sit a few minutes before serving.
| 521 | Calories |
| 28g | Fat |
| 42g | Carbs |
| 26g | Protein |
There’s a reason there’s a whole business dedicated to selling honey-glazed hams! Now, with this recipe, you can make your own right at home.
Source: ©allrecipes.com
As recent years have painfully indicated, inequality and sexism is still very much alive and prevalent in the United States (as well as the rest of the world). In a recent Pew Research Center survey, 42% of women said they’d experienced gender discrimination at work. They also face the “motherhood penalty,” in which women earn less money after they become mothers while men who become fathers actually earn more. These prevailing inequities are exactly why Women’s History Month, which is recognized in March, matters so much. Sharing Women’s History Month facts and the stories of historic women isn’t trivial — it helps celebrate those women who paved the way, and those who are fighting for and representing women now.
Women’s History Month isn’t perfect. Professor Kimberly A. Hamlin argued in a Washington Post op-ed that when men make history, it’s just called “history.” But when women make history, it’s “women’s history.” It’s a fair point to keep in mind, now and especially as the country moves forward to a more equitable tomorrow. The below facts about women’s history and contributions of women aren’t historic just for women — they’re historic for everyone.
February 28, 1909 marked the first Woman’s History Day in New York City. It commemorated the one-year anniversary of the garment workers’ strikes when 15,000 women marched through lower Manhattan. From 1909 to 1910, immigrant women who worked in garment factories held a strike to protest their working conditions. Most of them were teen girls who worked 12-hour days.
An education task force in Sonoma County, California kicked off Women’s History Week in 1978 on March 8, International Women’s Day, according to the National Women’s History Alliance. They wanted to draw attention to the fact that women’s history wasn’t really included in K-12 school curriculums at the time.
Women’s organizations, including the National Women’s History Alliance, campaigned yearly to recognize Women’s History Week. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 Women’s History Week across the country. By 1986, 14 states had declared the entire month of March Women’s History Month, according to the Alliance. The following year, in March of 1987, activists were successful: They lobbied Congress to declare March Women’s History Month.
Since 1995, every president has issued a proclamation declaring March Women’s History Month, usually with a statement about its importance.
The 2022 theme is “Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” according to the National Women’s History Alliance. This theme not only honors the tireless work of caregivers and frontline workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, but also women of all backgrounds who have provided compassionate healing and hope for the betterment of patients, friends, and family.
For much more content, click link below.
Article by Jo Yurcaba and Elizabeth Berry for Woman’s Day©
Photo credit: universal history archive Getty images
Link to story source: 21 Women’s History Month Facts — Facts About Women’s History (womansday.com)
Irish Soda Bread with a delicious golden crust on the outside, moist and fluffy on the inside, and generously studded with plump raisins is the best quick bread loaf you’ll ever have! It’s perfect for all your St. Patrick’s celebrations but just as good all year long.
Recipe and photos by onionringsandthings.com©
Get ready to “spring forward!”
It’s almost time for the advent of daylight saving time, the annual practice of adjusting clocks forward by one hour to take advantage of more sunlight and daylight hours.
With daylight saving time a week away, here’s everything to know about the clock change this year.
Although often referred to as daylight savings time, the correct term for the clock change is daylight saving time.
Daylight saving time is set by federal law and marks the difference from standard time.
Daylight saving time will start this spring on March 8 at 2 a.m. local time and run until Nov. 1, according to the U.S. Naval Observatory.
When daylight saving time begins in the spring, one loses an hour of sleep as the clock changes from 2 a.m. local time to 3 a.m. local time.
Most states, the District of Columbia, and the Navajo Nation observe daylight saving time except for Arizona (apart from the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, and U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Because daylight saving time often translates to less sleep for a brief period, the annual change can impact a person’s health.
“Small changes in sleep, even small decreases, can detrimentally affect your health, increasing stress hormones,” ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton explained on “Good Morning America” in 2025. “That increases our risk of heart attacks and strokes, principally among women and older adults in the first two days after this shift change.”
To minimize the effects of daylight saving time on one’s health, Sutton recommends making a few adjustments, which include modifying one’s bedtime 15 to 20 minutes earlier than usual, maintaining sleep consistently over time, and avoiding alcohol.
“Shifting your bedtime earlier is really important, especially for the first week,” Sutton said.
Sutton also recommended aiming to get at least 15 minutes of natural light after waking up and trying to get a walk in to stabilize one’s circadian rhythm.
Source: abcnews.com©
Graphic by sdw.waukesha.k12.wi.us©
Not just for St. Patrick’s Day, Irish stew (AKA Guinness stew) is the pinnacle of comfort food, worthy of being celebrated all year long.
With its signature rich flavor from Guinness stout, this stew is an absolute go-to dinner to cozy up to any time you need an extra touch of hearty comfort. Ready to try your hand at this warming recipe? Read on for all my top tips on how to perfect it.
Kick off the proceedings by seasoning the beef generously with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper (don’t be shy!).
Now that the beef is well seasoned,Return the beef along with any accumulated juices to the pot.
Add the potatoes, broth, beer, and thyme, scraping up the flavor-packed browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat so the broth sits at a simmer. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a simmer (don’t let the stew boil!), until the beef and potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
Hold off on garnishing with parsley until the stew is in the bowls.
Recipe Tips
I love to serve this stew with crusty sourdough bread or Irish brown bread, but if you’re looking to double down on the potatoes, you could serve it with a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes alongside.
The cooked and cooled stew can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 1 month, but note that freezing stew with potatoes may affect the texture once thawed and reheated.
it’s time to put a good sear on it. The aim is a deep brown color, so you’ll want to cook it in two batches to avoid crowding the pot. Grab a large Dutch oven and heat 2 Tbsp. oil over medium. Using tongs, place half of the beef in the pot, leaving space between each piece. Cook until seared on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining beef.
On to the aromatics. Add the remaining 1 Tbsp. oil to the pot, followed by the onion, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper.
Yields: 6 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Source: Delish©
Photo credit: © parker feierbach
