The beloved month of March is coming to a close after a most interesting weather pattern of snow, sunshine, rain, and repeat. Hopes are high in Saxonburg for the next month to have better weather, despite the saying that “April showers bring May flowers.” Thankfully, Easter shall come no matter the weather, and it approaches with a sweet presence!

Health and Anatomy teacher (and much more) Mrs. Knappenberger–also known as Mrs. Knapp–said, “Easter is the promise of something new and that despite what has happened or is happening in our lives since the last Easter, it is a time to be hopeful for a fresh start.”

Not only are Easter and Spring great physical and meaningful symbols of allowing a new beginning for this world, our communities, and ourselves, but it also has its respective meaning in the faith! This of course also includes the subject of starting new again.

Junior Carter French said, “We can look at the sacrifice that was made for us, knowing that we deserved to take that punishment. It calls for us to have a response which is to follow him.”

For those of us who aren’t familiar with this subject, we may ask questions like “What is that sacrifice?” or “What does having a response mean?” which are all valid questions to ask in this season.

“During Easter, we’re able to celebrate the fact that God fulfilled his promise to us by providing a Savior who would overcome death. The message of Easter can still be applied to our lives because we are able to leave our old ways to experience true joy, just like Jesus left His dead body in the grave to ascend to heaven,” said freshman Maddie Bachman. “I also believe that the message gives us proof that God can work miracles, and even though the resurrection happened quite a few years ago, God can still work miracles today.”

Springtime and the Easter celebration often brings families together to enjoy meals, carry on traditions, and make lasting memories that keep hearts joyful all throughout the year! Like French, simply going to church and to a family member’s house is sometimes all we need to make Easter a great celebration time.

Bachman said, “Some of my family’s cherished Easter traditions include a family Easter egg hunt and dying eggs.”

According to History, Easter eggs have been used in pagan celebrations around springtime to represent new life, but Christians have taken the symbol of the egg to represent Jesus’s leaving his tomb after rising from the dead. In the past, eggs were forbidden to be eaten during the Lent season. Decorating eggs was the product of this, and many people, including myself, continue this practice today!

“Our traditions for Easter include going to church and, when our kids were little, having a huge Easter egg hunt with all of their cousins and then sharing a traditional Easter meal with extended family,” said Mrs. Knapp.

To mark the end of Lent and fasting, and to unite families together with joy, Easter meals are enjoyed thoroughly in the Saxonburg area. Popular meals include food like ham, potatoes, all kinds of bread, and of course dessert!

“While it’s not super specific, my family and I usually have ham for Easter. Being able to gather with my family makes the meal very special,” said Bachman.

Everyone has a favorite part of their Easter meal. For me, I am definitely looking forward to dessert–however I hope not to indulge too much–because Lent will be over, and I will be able to partake in sweet treats again! (I “sacrificed” sweets for Lent).

French said, “My grandma always makes a turkey, but the stand out item is the garlic bread for me.”

Some families go all out, however, and make Easter dinner to be a very special meal for all of the members of their family to enjoy–especially when each family member makes something different to create a nicely full table.

“The main part of our Easter meal is ham and then all of the usual sides, potatoes with cheese and bacon, stuffed shells, salad, and fruit,” said Mrs. Knapp. “I make cheesecake and chocolate mousse cake for dessert.”

What I would give for cheesecake or chocolate mousse cake, seriously. They should call me Future with how much I love cheesecake “real late at night.” I have a vivid memory of the last time I really remember having cheesecake. I was at my dad’s house at nighttime in the sunroom, with a paper plate that had a beautiful slice of cheesecake on it. What a time…

Speaking of memories, times with family around holidays–especially in the beautiful Springtime weather for an Easter celebration–seem to stick with us our whole lives. Whether it’s a specific activity…

“Definitely my grandma’s big Easter egg hunt,” French said.

A prankless harm…

“My favorite Easter memory would definitely be a few years ago when I cracked a raw egg over my uncle’s head,” said Bachman.

Or something deeply important to our soul and our happiness.

“One of the most meaningful Easters for me was the year that my husband converted to become Catholic,” said Mrs. Knapp. “Our girls were 4, 3, and newborn when my husband joined the Catholic church at the Easter vigil, and that is something that I will always treasure.”

It wouldn’t be an Easter article if we didn’t talk about the many symbols of Springtime, and one of our favorite holiday mascots: the Easter Bunny! According to History, 1700’s German immigrants brought with them the children’s tradition of making a nest for the Bunny who laid variously-colored eggs, leaving a few carrots nearby to aid his appetite while jumping door-to-door.

Bachman said, “Some common symbols of Easter are the open grave, cross, rabbits, and eggs. The grave represents the resurrection of Jesus. The cross represents the death/crucifixion of Jesus. Both eggs and rabbits are used to symbolize rebirth that happens in the spring time as well as the Easter Bunny of course!”

As for some of us, we may not know why else the grave/open tomb is significant for us as people and not just to show the magnificent rising of Jesus Christ from the dead. (If you want to know more about what Jesus did whenever he rose, read the gospel of John–chapters 20 & 21–or any of the gospels for that matter!)

“The empty tomb symbolizes that death was defeated and no longer has a grip on us,” said French. “It doesn’t matter whether you struggle to get through daily life, or you think you’re doing pretty good for yourself. Either way, life is better if you surrender it to Christ.”

Although all Easter symbols are significant for picturing Springtime as it is truly meant to be–a time of renewal and perfect sacrifice–all of us who appreciate symbols know of one specific representation that motivates us for the season ahead.

“To me, the candle that gets lit at the Easter vigil is probably the most iconic symbol of Easter. It represents the light and joy of a new year,” said Mrs. Knapp.

Particularly in the sequence of Easter events (Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday), Good Friday is debated between many groups of people as a controversial title to its true, historical event.

“I believe that Good Friday received its name because although it marks the day Jesus was crucified, it represents something positive for us on earth,” said Bachman. “Without Jesus’s sacrifice, we wouldn’t have the opportunity for new life and forgiveness through His name. So, even though it wasn’t a ‘good’ day, it truly changed the way we live for the better!”

Mrs. Knapp added, “…that out of something that was so dark and negative, came something that is so hopeful and positive.”

Please be sure to note that the sacrifice we make for Lent is not the same as the sacrifice Jesus Christ made!

Opinions expressed in The Knight Times are solely those of the author and interviewees and do not reflect the official views, policies or positions of Knoch High School or the Knoch School District.