Let's Have Flowers for Easter!

If you want to know how to decorate your house for Easter, you have to know a little about the holiday to get some ideas. Knowing what flowers are most symbolic on this day is key to creating a meaningful presentation.

The name Easter is derived from the name of an Old English goddess Eostre who was thought to govern the dawn and spring-like activity. The Latin name for Easter is Pascha which is derived from the Hebrew Pesach meaning Passover.

Passover is the Jewish celebration commemorating the Angel of Death passing over the houses of the Hebrews whose doorposts were smeared with sacrificial lambs' blood. This was during the time Pharaoh would not let the Hebrew slaves leave Egypt, rendering the severity of plagues Moses would call forth on the land. Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday in some denominations, is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, said to come and die for all sins of mankind.

It's really neat to think about if you combine the two meanings of Easter and Passover. The Jewish Jesus died as a sacrificial lamb, the Lamb of God, so that we could smear His blood on the doorposts of our hearts, where each of us truly lives, so that the power of sin and death would pass over us and so that we could live forever.

In Song of Solomon Chapter 2, it states, "

1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
2 Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens.
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.
5 Strengthen me with raisins; refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.

Jesus is referred to as the Rose of Sharon. He is also referred to as the Lily of the Valley. Roses of all colors put in vases and lilies on any mantle can definitely spruce up any house. Apple blossoms to decorate the table where your apple cakes, raisin cakes and apple pies would be an appealing place setting.

Verses 12-13 also state:
12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.

I must recommend hyacinth plants. Their aroma is divine and they will wake up any sad nose! Jasmine plants and vines need to be planted to produce aroma, but you can buy the synthetic kind and appropriate scented candle to recreate the Easter celebration. This also works well if you love flowers but have allergies. Anyone should be able to celebrate Easter, even if it is with man-made flora. Baby's Breath flowers add a nice accent to any centerpiece or trellis-growing vine. Baby's Breath also has a resemblance to some of the flowers that actually grow in Israel, as well as, vincas, sunflowers, daisies, palm fronds and tulips. So if you are far away from the Holy Land and your area does not have exotic plants available, these will suffice.

If you don't already have ribbons at home, you can purchase the sashes or fabric at any regular department store or your local fabric vender. Pastel yellows and blues, baby pinks and greens, lilacs and white are appropriate to signify the newness of life in this fitting season. The ribbons are an important part of the Easter flower decorating process as well as votives, containers and vases.

Perhaps a large red ribbon can be tied like a curtain over the doorways of your domicile to remind everyone of the sacrifice and the saving of lives. Tying the roses into the ribbon running along the doorpost emphasizes the meaning of the holiday.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=26&chapter=2&version=31

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter