A Special Name

(Posted for Lil Red Hen)

For most people, Easter Sunday coming on the 12th of April simply means it’s about as late in the year as Easter can come. Since it is not a fixed date, Easter can occur from late March to late April, on the first Sunday following the vernal equinox or the first full moon of spring.

Easter brings to mind new clothes for the youngsters, filling baskets with green plastic “grass” and hard-boiled colored eggs, marshmallow bunnies, and jellybeans. Then there’s the meal of baked ham and casseroles, concluded with angel food cake or coconut cake. All this comes after the morning church services, attended by some for the first time since the previous Easter Sunday.

On April 12, 1914, Easter Sunday brought special meaning to one family; another baby girl was born into their family. They already had three girls and had lost a baby boy, so more than likely they were hoping for another boy. Therefore, after using the traditional names of Marie, Hazel, and Louise, what could they name this new baby girl? Somehow she was given the name, Easter Lily; after all, it was Easter Sunday and lilies were Easter flowers.

One woman, hearing about the name, said, “Poor girl! Can you imagine growing up with a name like that?” Maybe it would be the source of ridicule among children in today’s society; however, Easter was always proud of her name. It was unique, original, and had a special Christian meaning to her.

Some probably think, since she was born on Easter Sunday, that she had a birthday every Easter; but, as mentioned before, Easter has no fixed date. By searching the internet and using “A Perpetual Easter and Passover Calculator,” I have found that Easter’s birthday coincided with Easter Sunday only three times during her lifetime, including the year in which she was born: 1914, 1925, and 1936. She passed away in 1987.

Happy Birthday, Mama.

Charlotte