Easter Traditions

I love Easter! I love spending time with family and going to church practically all day and enjoying traditions! This is how Easter usually goes: Sunrise Service with the Alexanders at six or seven in the morning. Breakfast at the church afterwards. Regular church service after breakfast. I have to mention that in one of those two services I get to hear my mom and dad sing "Up From the Grave He Arose" which is quite possibly one of the greatest moments in my life. I cannot wait for it every year! Then Mark and I go to see his family. We go his Dad's house for lunch and an INTENSE Easter Egg Hunt.. Let me explain this tradition.. Bill and Lisa hold an annual Easter Egg Hunt for all the kids in the family. ((Kids meaning 12 to 26 year olds.. haha*)) We are all included... The Easter Egg Hunt starts and is in the front yard and back yard. The eggs have money and candy in them. I earned sixty three dollars last year! Yeah, it is pretty serious! I came in my nice Easter outfit and (before the hunt) got decked out in some gear that showed I meant business. From the bandana to the tennis shoes, I told people to WATCH OUT! :) After the egg hunt, we go to Mark's mom's house for dinner. I love that we get to spend the whole day with those we love! It is so much fun and I will miss it this year!

Now let's talk about the CZECH Easter traditions. Keep in mind that the country is more than sixty percent athiest... There is an acknowledged Easter holiday here. They celebrate it on Monday though. Boys go around town with sticks and beat girls that they think are cute with them. The girls, in turn, are supposed to give them candy or colored eggs to stop. I THINK NOT!! Rachel and I are going to go in town on Monday.. Don't get me wrong... I hope I get hit because I certainly don't want to be considered ugly over here... On the other hand, Becky, Rachel, and I all bought sticks of our own today.. We are going to be ready! We got really weird looks from people because only boys are supposed to be buying the sticks.. haha* We were hitting eachother in the streets of Brno today! haha* When people hit us and tell us it is a Czech tradition on Easter, we are going to hit them back and tell them it is an American tradition to kick some major @$$ when you are getting hit.... We are ready to fight! Bring it on! :) Can't wait to give a full report! :)