Easter Sunday, 2007

Saluda, NC (TLS). The Liberty Sphere takes this opportunity to wish all of you a very Happy Easter. And a very 'Happy Passover' to all of our Jewish readers.

Easter Sunday is special here in the North Carolina mountains. Flowers have begun to bloom, and the apple trees are beginning the process of budding forth their tiny fruit, later to be harvested for what is hopefully a lucrative apple crop. Families still hold to their traditions of dressing in their Sunday's best, meaning usually that Dad, Mom, and all the kids get a new suit of clothes and new shoes. The men are still expected to get their wives a lovely Easter corsage to wear to church with her new dress or suit.

Cold weather has hit the mountains hard this year, however. The past two nights have witnessed a blast of arctic air that sent temperatures plummeting into the low 20s at night.

Tonight the temps are expected to dip into the teens.

Mountain folklore states that in those years that Easter falls in April rather than March, one can expect a cold snap on or around Easter Sunday.

Thus, the cold weather is not entirely unexpected, but it bodes ill for local fruit growers. Apple farmers are already talking about losing most of their crop this year due to the cold temperatures.

Easter Sunday brings the local folk out in droves. They emerge from these hills to go to their various places of worship where celebrations of Easter range from stirring sermons on the resurrection of Christ, Easter musical programs presented by choirs and ensembles, and often a meal at church. Many of these churches have Easter Sunrise Services followed by breakfast and hot coffee.

These special moments bring to remembrance the things in life that truly matter--faith, family, tradition, ritual, hope.

I wish for all of you a very meaningful day.

'Because He lives, we too shall live.'