Archive -> March 27, 2004
The Easter Parade
The Easter parade, along 5th Avenue, New York, originated from the Easter Walk. An old Easter custom in which people would walk through fields and open spaces after the church Mass. Dressed in their best clothing, men, women and especially children would march in a parade throughout the town and into open country. A decorated crucifix, or in some places an Easter Candle was carried at the head of the procession. Along the route at certain times they would recite prayers and sing Easter songs after the reformation. This medieval Easter walk lost its original so-called religious character and developed into your present day Easter Parade.
On Easter Sunday, open house is held in most Christian nations, friends, neighbors, and relatives exchange visits. Easter eggs and bunnies are the order of the day and the Easter ham is the main dish at dinner.
Excerpted from The Fallacy of Easter (1991 Edition) by Dr. Malachi Z. York-El