Easter, whose name comes from the Germanic goddess of spring named “Eostre” is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the first century 33 AD. It is also referred to as Pascha which comes from being connected to the Jewish holiday “Passover”. When Jesus was crucified and resurrected, people were celebrating Passover, which is the Jewish holiday that celebrates the Jewish people being released from slavery in Egypt. There are so many symbols that crossover between the Jewish Passover, the Christian Easter, and the start of spring, that the 3 are intricately intertwined.

Easter is and has always been a “moveable feast” which means its date moves every year. It is the 1st Sunday, AFTER the full moon, AFTER the spring equinox (which is March 19, 20, or 21st).

There are appx. 2.4 billion or 31.6% of the world’s population that considers themselves Christian. It is the largest religion in the world and for most of history has been a religious holiday. It was not until the 19th century that it started to meld with the celebration of spring and the various symbols of both spring and Easter started to co-mingle. But like most holidays, it started out primarily religious and thanks to commercialization and immigration across the globe, different ways of celebrating have been adopted by many different cultures.

The egg has always been a sign of fertility and associated with spring. Early Christians were prohibited from eating eggs during Lent (the season of fasting leading up to Easter) so when Lent ended, everyone could eat eggs again. They were often given to the church as offerings, or to the poor. The tradition of dying them seemed to have started in the area of Mesopotamia which is current day Iraq, Kuwait, Turkey and Syria. They would dye the eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Giving them to Children didn’t become popular until the 16th century and began in Germany. By then, they were dying them all kinds of kid-friendly colors. Germany is also responsible for the beginnings of the Easter Bunny…

In Germany in the 1700’s parents told their children of a magic hare (bunny) that laid colored eggs and if the child had been good, (sound familiar), the bunny would come and leave colored eggs, candy and small toys in the little baskets the children would make and leave out the night before. This tradition was brought to America by the germans when they immigrated in the beginnings of our nation. So the symbols, signs and traditions are a complex mingling of religious, cultural, and commercial. Happy Easter everyone.

Just for fun…Click here to see how Peeps are made:

Click Here to go to the
PCT Information Page

Money is Available…
Call Mountain Communities Firesafe Council to schedule an appointment to see if any of your trees have bark beetle. If they do, there are funds to treat it. Call for more information today.
951-659-6208

Vote Now and help ARF raise funds.
Voting costs $1 per Vote.
Fundraiser for ARF

Idyllwild Scholarship Fund
Application Acceptance Open

Please consider donating to the Scholarship Fund.

Friday March 29th
Viet Nam War Veterans Day
American Legion
54360 Marian View Dr.
4:00 pm

Friday March 29th
Audiowild Studios
54240 Ridgeview Dr.
7:00 PM

Postponed due to weather!

Saturday March 30th
Garden Club Class
Gardening Like A Forest – Part 1
Alderwood St and N. Circle Drive
10:00 am – 11:30 am

Join permaculturist, biologist and educator Peter Kindfield for an excellent presentation on how to garden successfully…like a forest! Peter will take you on an exploration of your environment, explain how to create excellent soil and the important inter-relationships between and among plants. You will make a soil sifter to use at home. In addition to the $10 class donation, we are asking for a $5 materials fee that can be paid on the day of the class.

CANCELLED
Due to Weather!

Saturday March 30th
Easter Egg Hunt
County Park Campground

Saturday March 30th
Self-Compassion Class
Idyllwild Library
10:00 – 11:30

Cancelled due to weather!

Sunday March 31st
Easter Sunrise Service
Inspiration Point
6:30 am – 7:30

Spring Sing Break Camp
Monday – Thursday
April 1st – 4th
Town Hall
10:00 am – 4 pm

Tuesday April 2nd
FEEDING AMERICA
10 am – 12 pm
(If weather allows)

Thursday April 4th
CERT Meeting
Idyllwild Fire Dept. Training Room
6:00 pm
All are welcome!

Tax Forms Available FREE
Idyllwild Library

Most of the tax forms are here! Just waiting on the Spanish 1040s. They are located in our front lobby, come help yourself.

26890 Hwy. 243
951-659-1122

Saturday April 6th
Exploring Indigenous Lifeways
Idyllwild Arts
Krone Library
11:00 am

Lecture on Cahuilla Trail Use by Elizabeth Paige (Desert Cahuilla), Native American Land TrustConservancy

Native Food Demonstration by Sienna Thomas (Cahuilla)

Elderberry Sticks Mini Workshop by Rosy Cabrera (Cahuilla)

Wednesday April 17th
Non-Profit
Idea Exchange Workshop
Idyllwild Nature Center
1:00 – 3:00

Order by Monday April 8, 2024
Next Food Delivery Thursday April 11, 2024

MOUNTAIN AID
Need food or other items?
Want to help those who do?
Twice monthly food boxes for every budget.

Pick-up will be at the Camp Maranatha
www.MountainAid.net

The New Bathrooms are OPEN!
Next door to the Idyllwild Gardens Nursery – Across the street from the Rustic Theatre.
Open Daily 9am – 5pm

Thank you to Shane & Ashley Stewart for donating the land for these bathrooms and to Stephanie Yost with ICC for her persistence with the County of Riverside to FINALLY get us public bathrooms. Thank you to the County of Riverside and Supervisor Manuel Perez for making this happen. It’s been a LONG time coming! Bathrooms will be locked at night. I’m not sure what time yet.

Hotel Information
Upcoming Weekends
www.IdyLodging.com

Idyllwild Churches

Body & Soul

Click Here for a list of Yoga, Pilates, Aerobics, & Meditation in Idyllwild.

All events, venues & programs run by
Idyllwild Community Center

Fit after 50
Free Exercise Class
Town Hall

Mondays
12-pm – 1pm

Tue/Wed/Thur
10am – 11am

Fridays
12-pm – 1pm

Last Day to Register Monday March 25th!

Youth Baseball
Registration Open
Season: April 8-May 30

Kids After School Program
Mondays – Fridays
2:00pm – 6:00pm

Wednesdays 12pm – 6pm

Kids Camps at Town Hall:
Spring Break
Memorial Day Holiday

Spring Sing Break Camp
April 1st – 4th
Town Hall
10:00 am – 4 pm

Al-Anon Meetings
Tuesdays
7:00 PM
Town Hall

Camp Idyllwild Cabaret
July 8 – 9
July 22 – Aug. 2
Town Hall