Article 2 (Mar 2020): April is a significant month for families and faith

This year, Easter comes in April and you can hardly miss that.  Nearly every store displays baskets, chocolate eggs, grass, and jelly beans.   April is usually great for kite flying, another fantastic family activity.  But there is another side to April-- the reverent side.
 
Easter
Easter is the most important and oldest festival of the Christian church.  In Christian belief, Easter is the day when Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead to live again and defeat death.  Easter is the most popular day to attend church.
              
In the past, attendance at church on Easter was required.  In the Roman Catholic Church before 1963, you weren't considered a member unless you attended church on Easter.  For Catholics, the 40 days of Lent features dim churches, no holy water, covered statues and penitential colors.  But on Easter, the church is light and filled with color as the risen Lord is celebrated.
 
Passover
Jewish families gather on the first night of Passover for the Seder, a ritual meal for Passover.
The youngest at the Seder table asks four questions of Passover that remind everyone why Passover is different from any other night.  Passover recalls the escape of the Jews from slavery in Egypt and their rescue by God.
                
The Seder meal uses salt water to represent the tears of the Jews in slavery; a fruit-nut paste to remind them they made bricks in Egypt; dipping sauce to remind them they are free; unleavened bread to remind them they had to flee Egypt in haste and could not wait for the bread to rise and bitter herbs to recall the bitterness of slavery.  And, finally, some recline at the table on cushions, to commemorate their freedom by dining as royals.