Easter picturesAdvanced Photoshop Pictures Contest - 40 image entries
Contest Directions: Decorate/paint the world with an Easter style. Use objects, people, places, adverts, animals, cards, Easter bunnies, or Easter eggs - let the Easter colors shine!
[ browse best gallery pictures ] Tags: easter
Jackpot: 1st place: $100, 2nd place: $60 , 3rd place: $40
Started: 4/14/2006 6:00:00 AM, Ended: 4/16/2006 6:00:00 AM
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| This contest is fueled by the following news: |
| | Easter spending is reaching a record high this year due in part to an unprecedented marketing blitz by retailers. Many Christians are cringing at the marketing efforts because they fear it will interfere with the message of Christ's resurrection. They argue that the Easter Bunny has taken over the true meaning of the holiest day on the Christian calendar, according to Michele Combs of the Christian Coalition. In recent years, Easter has become second only to Christmas in terms of gift giving. Overall Easter retail spending in the United States is projected to reach $12.63 billion in 2006, a 32 percent increase from the $9.6 billion spent last year, according to National Retail Federation. KB Toys has joined the Easter rush by selling shrink-wrapped Easter baskets filled with toys at its 660 stores this year.
Easter greetings in Eastern Europe:
Since Easter night and down to completion of Easter, it is accepted to welcome each other with sentence: “Christ has arisen!” – “Truly arisen!”, by kissing (christening) three times. This custom comes from apostolic times “Welcome each other by kissing sacred »
Religious procession
Just before Easter orthodox people gather in a temple, from where religious procession takes place by singing the festival rhymes loudly. By midnight procession approaches to doors of a temple and divine service of morning Easter begins.
In Roman Catholic Church religious procession also is conducted in divine service in the evening of Easter, however not before the Liturgy, but after it. Religious procession on Easter should not be confused with divine service of the God way, special Catholic great fasting divine service in memory of Passions of Gods.
Folk customs
In the evening of Easter, public strolls take place in the church courtyard. In Russia, public scrolls with round dances, games and swings were taking place in different districts from one day to two – three weeks and referred to the Red Hill. Under a folk music people drive a huge round dance - "colo" in Bulgaria, "varosh" or “Public council” in Serbia, "tapherich" (in Turkish manner) in Bosnia. The culmination of dances - "chorus" (Bulgaria "People") – strongly linked round dance takes place with speed music, and the direction of movement varies quickly.
In Bulgaria hundreds of big and small clay pots prepared before the festival and decorated with kind wishes are dropped from the top floors in commemoration of an Easter victory above evil. Any person passing through can take piece of broken crockery fortunately.
In Russia and Serbia people "christianize" with Easter eggs by breaking in sequence the different ends, as well as people christianize three times on cheeks. Children arrange "competitions" – whose egg rolls to the maximum distance. Painted Easter egg in Russian culture means new life, revival. Easter eggs in Russia were rolled on the ground for its fertilization, put in the right hand of people died on Easter, painted eggs were preserved for entire year duration for protection of house against a fire, crops against a hailstones.
Family of Easter hares. Those times, in Europe and America, there was a custom to hide Easter eggs in the morning of Easter. Children after awakening on the spot rush to search all around the house. As children do not know from where the eggs are coming, finally they find out "jack" of the Easter rabbit with set of multi-colored eggs. The Easter hare, as a symbol of fertility and richness became a symbol of Easter in Germany since XVI century and since then it became famous worldwide. The whole families or different trades make toys and sweets, and also the souvenirs in the shape of hare.
Well in advance, prior to Easter, in main areas of the European cities, Easter fairs are organized where it is possible to buy the hand made things. Bridges and fountains are decorated with greenery and multi-colored eggs, symbolizing Easter – renovation and Spring of Pleasure. In many court yards it is possible to see bushes and the trees decorated with eggs and different characters, like the Christmas fur-tree.
In Ukraine on Easter Monday guys pour water on girls, girls take "revenge" on Tuesday. In France on Monday, wives can beat husbands, and husbands can respond on Tuesday.
In Soviet time in a number of cities of Russia there was a custom to visit the tombs of relatives on Easter day. For taking the people to the remote cemeteries, municipal authorities have organized public transport. At the same time as per the tradition of Orthodox Church in connection with joyful day of Easter, commemoration of deceased is stopped for entire duration of Bright Sedmitsa. On tenth day after Easter, Universal (common Church) parental day – Rodonitsa is celebrated.
In the majority of the European countries the Holy Week and week after Easter are school and student's vacations. Many European countries, and also Australia celebrate Easter and Easter Monday as the state holidays. Passionate Friday also celebrated as state festival in Australia, the Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Portugal, Croatia and the majority of the Latin American countries. All Easter three days - the state holidays in Spain. |
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