Education

Seeking Students for Homeschool Student-Produced Print Publications

January 26, 2020 By Paula Leave a Comment

Here at Sweet Southern Savings, as parents who have had children that have graduated after being in both public school and homeschool we know how difficult it is to create an application that will get your student not only noticed but accepted by a college admission committee. So, of course, we are super excited to share this wonderful opportunity that we have with all our readers today. Keep reading to learn about it!-

Former college professor, homeschool dad, and homeschool science pioneer, Greg Landry, is excited about two new homeschool student-produced print publications. He’s assembling a “production team” of homeschooled students to produce these print journals. Here’s the information:

The Journal for Homeschooled Creators

This print journal is to showcase the work of homeschooled students (6th-12th grade) who create: writers, paint/sketch artists, crafters, designers, welders, sculptors, architects, photographers, coders, blacksmiths, etc.

The Journal for Homeschooled Scientists

This print journal is to showcase the work of homeschooled students (6th-12th grade) who do science research/experiments and would like to publish their research. A part of the mission of this publication will be to train young scientists.

The Student Production Team

We’re in the process of assembling a “student production team” (8th-12th graders) to produce these print publications. They will be totally student-produced with some adult guidance. These volunteer positions will give students valuable publishing experience, the opportunity to work with a like-minded team and develop leadership skills, and the opportunity to produce a print publication (yes, you can actually hold it in your hand) they can be proud of.

Also, this is exactly the type of rare high school student experience that college admission committees love to see. Students can include this work as academic credit on their homeschool transcript.

We’re Seeking Homeschooled Students (as part of the production team) To Do…

– Coordination/selection of submissions for the journals

– Graphic design

– Layout

– Copywriting/editing

– Artwork and more!

If you have an interest, please visit our website for details:

Homeschool dad, scientist, and former college professor, Greg Landry, offers live, online homeschool science classes, Homeschool ACT Prep Bootcamp, the Homeschool Mom’s Science Podcast, in-person two-day science lab intensives nationwide, freebies for homeschool moms, and student-produced homeschool print publications.

Emergency Preparedness: What You Need To Do To Prepare For A Hurricane

September 10, 2018 By Paula 20 Comments

As the likelihood that Hurricane Florence will strike somewhere along the East Coast increases, residents are getting ready for its landfall. This includes making sure that you have needed supplies such as medicine, cash, non-perishable foods, emergency kit items, and baby and pet supplies before the storm arrives.

As we prepared for the storm I saw a lot of people not sure what they needed to get beside water and batteries. After experiencing several hurricanes, snow, and ice storms over the years we have compiled a list of must-haves. Most of which we keep on hand year round. To make sure you are prepared, here is a list of the items that you need:

Cash If your entire town loses power, you won’t be able to swipe your card at the store nor go to the ATM to get cash. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of cash in hand.
Water The rule of thumb is that you want to have at least one gallon of water, per person, per day for at least three days.
Non-Prescription Drugs In addition to any prescription medications, you will want to have over the counter pain relievers, antacids, laxatives, and anti-diarrhea medications.
Paper and Plastic Products You don’t want to run out of toilet paper. And, you will need paper towels, paper plates, tissues, disposable silverware, and cups. After Hugo, we found that we needed lots of trash bags for clean up.
First Aid Supplies Restock your kit with any missing items. If you don’t have one now would be the time to get one. In addition to bandages, you’ll want to have sterile dressing, gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, and antibacterial ointment in case of an injury during the storm.
Ready-to-Eat Canned Meats, Fruits, and Vegetables In addition to being focused on all the other things that you need to do, you may lose your ability to cook meals. Quick and easy canned foods can be a time and life-saver in an emergency. You will also need a manual can opener to open these items.
High-Energy Foods Protein bars, nuts, and other foods will provide you with plenty of energy in case you need to go a long time without eating or have to spend a lot of energy doing manual labor. Cleanup after a storm that leaves lots of damage behind requires a lot of calories to do.
Battery-Operated Radio, Flashlight/Lantern, and Batteries Power outages are likely and you’ll want to know what’s happening. A battery-powered radio was our only lifeline after Hugo and most recently the Ice Storm of 2014. Also, for those dark nights, you’ll want to have flashlights and lanterns. You’ll need batteries and fuel to keep everything working until power is restored. Consider purchasing a solar powered charger. We have several and they were a lifesaver when our phones and tablets needed charging.
A Map of the Area Most of us depend on GPS, we have gotten used to looking to our phones for directions. But if your phone is dead, you’ll want a paper map to guide the way if you need to find a shelter or navigate around town.
Entertainment Items such as books, puzzles, and board games can keep everyone busy and their minds off the storm. Think of things you can do to entertain yourself if there’s a prolonged power outage and you’re stuck without your electronic devices for days.
Comfort Foods and Drinks Let’s face it, enduring a prolonged weather event like a hurricane can be stressful. But the disruption it’s a little more manageable if you have your favorite food or drink on hand. Just be sure you can still consume it without relying on electricity to prepare it. How will you make your coffee? We have a manual k-cup machine for camping and emergencies.
Water Purification If the main water supply is contaminated you will need a way to purify water. You don’t want to ingest or use contaminated water to wash your dishes or body. After Hugo, we had to treat our water for weeks after the storm. In addition to using a filter specially designed for this purpose, bleach is a great item to keep on hand for this type of situation.

If you evacuate or go to a shelter, you will need to take all of these items plus blankets, pillows, your insurance binder, and legal documents with you.

Protect your property and home Make sure to plan the time to move, store, secure, and trim. Have a plan in place on where you will put your large items like boats and trailers in storage. You will need to bring in all yard decorations and furniture. Make sure to tie down any items that you can not move so that they will not become projectiles. Buy and install plywood or shutters to protect windows. Trim trees and dispose of the trimmings to reduce the amount of flying debris.

If you are in the path of a storm, heed warnings of state and local emergency officials.

Avoid Purchasing These Items At The Dollar Store!

March 17, 2018 By Paula 18 Comments

WHAT ITEMS SHOULD YOU AVOID PURCHASING AT THE DOLLAR STORE?

If you’re like me, you enter the dollar store intending to quickly grab a few things. Instead, you end up slowly roaming the aisles, checking out absolutely everything. After all, who wants to miss any of their amazing $1 deals! But before you head to the checkout, consider this:

Knives

A good chef’s knife doesn’t come cheap! Although you might be tempted to pick up an inexpensive blade or two at the dollar store, just remember that you get what you pay for. Good knives are expensive for a good reason. You’re paying for quality, which is something a dollar store knife is just not known for. Because dull blades are more difficult to use, safety is also an issue with these knives. You’re better off passing on these knives and investing in a sharp knife that will last you a lifetime.

Plastic Food Containers

Especially if you are in the habit of microwaving food in plastic containers or putting them in the dishwasher (both of which I advise against), do not buy plastic containers at the dollar store. The quality may be substandard.

Plastic Kitchen Utensils

Anything that touches your food should be safe and nontoxic. While the plastic cooking utensils you buy from the dollar store may look harmless, they could contain questionable chemicals like brominated flame retardants, which have been linked to serious health issues. Instead, purchase metal, bamboo, or BPA-free plastic spatulas and spoons from a trusted retail brand.

Oven Mitts and Pads

These kitchen helpers have one job and that is to protect your hands and fingers from intense heat. Unfortunately, many dollar store mitts and pads are made of from thin, inferior material that can’t protect your hands or fingers from the heat. If you can’t resist picking up a cute seasonal pair, consider using them only as decorative items.

Perishable & Packaged Foods

When it comes to bargain shopping, the dollar store may sound like a one-stop shop for inexpensive food. But is it really? While purchasing otherwise expensive food products for merely a buck it doesn’t come without a catch. While it’s not all bad, freshness and quality can be questionable, so I would suggest proceeding with caution. Check expiration dates and ingredients and inspect for damage before purchasing. One dollar a can sounds like an easy way to pinch pennies, but really, it’s not. Grocery stores often have canned goods on sale for less. In some cases, you may actually be spending more if you’re buying your canned goods from the dollar store. Condiments are another item that you may be paying more for at the dollar store. Items like ketchup and mustard often sell for less than a dollar at other stores. This is also true for gum and the packages are often smaller than those at your local grocery store. It’s all about price comparison, not about spending only a buck.

Think of what the average price of quality meat is at your local grocery store and one has to wonder what the dollar store meat is really made from. According to one news station who tested it out, dollar store steak is USA beef, but it’s the utility cut. The same low-grade beef that’s often served in many public school cafeterias. And anyone who has eaten in a school cafeteria can probably tell you the much of the food is not the créme de la créme. So while the price may be right, the quality is definitely lacking. Another item to stay away from is chips. Some items at the dollar store give you more bang for your buck, but chips are not one of them. To make up for a lower price, the net weight of a bag of chips is often much smaller. By checking the net weight and doing a little math, you can determine what store has the best deal.

While buying a box of cereal for $1 sounds like a good deal, you should be cautious when you see off-brand cereal boxes on dollar store shelves. According to Reader’s Digest, generic brands at the dollar store are likely there because other stores had a hard time moving the product. Plus the boxes of cereal at the dollar store tend to be smaller than what you typically buy at the grocery store. Smaller boxes with less flavor, not exactly a good bargain.

Electronic Accessories

There’s a reason you’re able to find inexpensive electronic accessories in dollar stores, they aren’t made well! From extension cords to phone chargers, these products just don’t meet the same standards as the ones made by the companies we’re are all familiar with. You should avoid purchasing things like power strips, USBs, chargers, earbuds, or anything else that you plug into your beloved smart device at the dollar store. Not only do dollar store electronic accessories break quickly, but they can also end up damaging your phone, computer, television, and more. Don’t risk damaging them, spend a little extra money on a trusted brand rather than risk it.

Batteries

Batteries from the dollar store aren’t as effective as the ones you’ll find in other retail stores for a couple of reasons. First of all, dollar store batteries are often older than the ones you find in other retail stores. Secondly, generic batteries are typically made from carbon zinc, which doesn’t last as long as lithium, the preferred ingredient in name brand batteries. Also, another problem is that these batteries are more likely to leak, which can damage your device. You’re better off spending a few dollars more on good batteries rather than hoping for the best with generic ones.

Tools

Tools should be sturdy and durable enough to stand up to tough work. While a high-quality tool is more expensive they often come with a warranty. They are less likely to break but if one does break, you can replace it at little or no cost. Tools from the dollar store, on the other hand, are poorly made and won’t last long. In fact, they could even lead to injury if they break at the wrong moment.

Medicine and Vitamins

Eating right is expensive, and so are vitamins and supplements. However, that doesn’t mean that you should be shopping for a bargain when it comes to them. If something is too good to be true, then it probably is. Cheap, generic medicine and vitamins from the dollar store haven’t necessarily been subjected to the same testing and regulations as name-brand products. They may not even have any active ingredients, so there’s no real way of knowing what’s in the pills. According to Consumer Reports, off-brand vitamins were missing nutrients that were listed on labels. So take caution, because what you think you’re buying may not actually be what you’re getting. If the drug hasn’t been cleared by your physician or you aren’t sure of its integrity, skip it.

Pet Food

This is another dollar store item that may not contain all the ingredients you think it does. Eating low grade, unhealthy food all the time would probably make you sick. The same thing goes for your pet. Yes, it’s cheaper, but do you really want to risk pet’s nutrition for a couple of dollars in savings? The Food and Drug Administration does not require pet food to have pre-market approval. Instead, watch the sales and use coupons for better well know brands.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen isn’t something to mess around with. Even when buying name brands, it’s important to purchase only new bottles because a lotion’s effectiveness diminishes over time. Only buy sunscreen if the expiration date is a couple years away. There’s a good chance that those dollar store sunscreen bottles have been sitting on the shelf long enough to lose some of their protective powers. Another issue is that dollar store sunscreen sometimes gets mislabeled, so SPF 50 could actually be SPF 30 or less.. Also check for a seal. If there isn’t an expiration date or seal, skip it.

Detergents and Cleaning Products

Like sunscreen, the efficiency of cleaning products can degrade over time. Best to skip unless there’s an expiration date that is a couple of years away. Also, the cheap and massive sized dish soap containers are often overly diluted with water to fill up the large containers, so you’re not really paying less for more. You’re better off finding a coupon for the same thing at the grocery store.

Makeup

I’d pretty much skip this category. It’s rare to find name-brand products anyway, and if you do find name brands, they could be pretty old. There’s something mysterious about what’s actually in beauty products. Many makeup brands list the ingredients on the back, but be aware that even if a generic beauty product uses the same ingredients as a similar brand-name item, it may be using a cheaper version to keep prices low. While that may not pose a problem for everyone, those with sensitive skin should probably stay away from these products and stick to reputable brands.

Hair Care and Personal Hygiene Items

Many of these items are filled with chemicals that can be harsh on your skin and dry out your hair. Plus, they may not be allergy-tested. When it comes to products used on your face, it isn’t worth the risk of an allergic reaction or rash caused by cheap ingredients. As for hair color, you risk long-term damage to your hair and scalp with an unknown brand.

Toys and Games

These are usually made very cheaply. Your child will be delighted for a minute until the toy falls apart. Making them a safety hazard for young children who might then pop them in their mouths. Cheap toys are made with inferior materials. Some budget toys may not be guaranteed to be toxin-free. There are some items that are safe to buy for a quick and inexpensive treat, that they’ll be happy with. Things like plastic balls, toys without lots of small parts, and mylar balloons usually are okay.

Crayons and Markers

Be honest, poorly made crayons are no fun. They are often made of wax and quickly break apart. Off-brand Sharpies and pens tend to run out of ink quickly. Often many of these items simply don’t work at all.

Do you know of any other items that should be avoided at the dollar store?

Here are a few shopping tips to keep in mind for your next trip to the dollar store:

Not everything at the dollar store is actually $1, so check prices.
Sometimes you get what you pay for, a low price can equal low quality.
Dollar stores often receive odd lots or overstocks. Before purchasing be sure to check for quality, damages, and expiration dates (when applicable).
Shop Smart! Don’t assume that because an item is inexpensive that makes it the best deal. Do your research before buying.
Cheap storage containers and bins do the job just fine, as do disposable utensils and dishware.
Although the quality isn’t the same as the name brand cards, there’s often no need to spend tons of money on cards. This is especially true when you have a lot of friends and family to send them to! Convey what you want to say and still get a good deal on the card.
Holiday Decorations may not be super fancy, but most dollar stores sell the same logos and images as brand stores. Many decorations can be stored and reused. Instead of just throwing them out when the holiday’s over I keep them in a clear plastic bin to reuse the next year.

Find more shopping tips.

Be Sure To Check Out These Tips and Tricks To Save Money On Groceries.

The Easter Story – Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection

February 23, 2018 By Paula 9 Comments

Easter, also called Pascha (Greek, Latin) or Resurrection Sunday, marks the end of the 40 days of Lent. It is the most important holiday on the Christian calendar and has been regularly observed from the earliest days of the Church. Easter is at the heart of Christianity and celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, three days after he was executed. The resurrection represents the triumph of good over evil, sin, death, and the physical body.

In 325CE the Council of Nicaea established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the vernal equinox. Easter is a “movable feast” and does not have a fixed date; however, it is always on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).

THE EASTER STORY

It was now two days before Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the Passover celebration,” they agreed, “or the people may riot.” (Mark 14: 1-2)

The Last Supper

So the two disciples went on ahead into the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover supper there.

In the evening Jesus arrived with the twelve disciples. As they were sitting around the table eating, Jesus said,

“The truth is, one of you will betray Me, one of you who is here eating with Me.”

Greatly distressed, one by one they began to ask Him, “I’m not the one, am I?”

He replied,

“It is one of you twelve, one who is eating with Me now. For I, the Son of Man, must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for My betrayer. Far better for him if he had never been born!”

As they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread and asked God’s blessing on it. Then He broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying,

“Take it, for this is My body.”

And He took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them,

“This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people. I solemnly declare that I will not drink wine again until that day when I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

And they came to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said,

“Sit here while I go and pray.”

He took Peter, James, and John with Him, and He began to be filled with horror and deep distress. He told them,

“My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting Him might pass him by.

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want Your will, not Mine.”

Then He returned and found the disciples asleep.

“Simon!” He said to Peter. “Are you asleep? Couldn’t you stay awake and watch with Me even one hour? Keep alert and pray. Otherwise, temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak.”

Then Jesus left them again and prayed, repeating His pleadings.

Again He returned to them and found them sleeping, for they just couldn’t keep their eyes open. And they didn’t know what to say. When He returned to them the third time, He said,

“Still sleeping? Still resting? Enough! The time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let’s be going. See, My betrayer is here!”

Jesus is Betrayed and Arrested

And immediately, as He said this, Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a mob that was armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent out by the leading priests, the teachers of religious law and the other leaders. Judas had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I go over and give Him the kiss of greeting. Then you can take Him away under guard.”

As soon as they arrived, Judas walked up to Jesus. “Teacher!” he exclaimed and gave Him the kiss. Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him. But someone pulled out a sword and slashed off an ear of the high priest’s servant. Jesus asked them,

“Am I some dangerous criminal, that you come armed with swords and clubs to arrest Me? Why didn’t you arrest Me in the Temple? I was there teaching every day. But these things are happening to fulfill what the Scriptures say about Me.”

Meanwhile, all His disciples deserted Him and ran away. There was a young man following along behind, clothed only in a linen nightshirt. When the mob tried to grab him, they tore off his clothes, but he escaped and ran away naked.

Jesus is Crucified

So Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify Him. They dressed Him in a purple robe and made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on His head. Then they saluted, yelling, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they beat Him on the head with a stick, spit on Him and dropped to their knees in mock worship. When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified.

A man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the country just then, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha (which means Skull Hill). They offered Him wine drugged with myrrh, but He refused it. Then they nailed Him to the cross. They gambled for His clothes, throwing dice to decide who would get them.

It was nine o’clock in the morning when the crucifixion took place. A signboard was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against Him. It read: “The King of the Jews.” Two criminals were crucified with Him, their crosses on either side of His. And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Ha! Look at you now!” they yelled at Him. “You can destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days, can you? Well then, save yourself and come down from the cross!”

The leading priests and teachers of religious law also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but He can’t save himself! Let this Messiah, this king of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe Him!” Even the two criminals who were being crucified with Jesus ridiculed Him.

The Death of Jesus

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then, at that time Jesus called out with a loud voice,

“Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a stick so he could drink. “Leave Him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah will come and take Him down!” he said.

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, he exclaimed, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”

Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph) and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for Him while He was in Galilee. Then they and many other women had come with Him to Jerusalem.

The Burial of Jesus

This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, an honored member of the high council, Joseph from Arimathea (who was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come), gathered his courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body. Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman military officer in charge and asked him. The officer confirmed the fact, and Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth, and taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, he wrapped it in the cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus’ body was laid.

The Resurrection – Jesus Is Risen!

The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb. On the way, they were discussing who would roll the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. But when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone – a very large one – had already been rolled aside. So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, “Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid His body. Now go and give this message to His disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died!” The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, saying nothing to anyone because they were too frightened to talk.

It was early on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead, and the first person who saw Him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and found the disciples, who were grieving and weeping. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen Him, they didn’t believe her.

Afterward, he appeared to two who were walking from Jerusalem into the country, but they didn’t recognize Him at first because He had changed His appearance. When they realized who He was, they rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still, later He appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their unbelief – their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

And then He told them,

“Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My name, and they will speak new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick and heal them.” (Mark 16: 15 – 18)

When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked with them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

God loves you so much that He sent his son Jesus Christ to die for your sins. After his resurrection and ascension into heaven, he sent his spirit to live in our lives and empower us to live the abundant life.

From all us here at Sweet Southern Savings, we wish you a Happy Easter and a joyous spring season!

Find out how the Easter Bunny fits into the Easter Holiday

How Did The Easter Bunny Become Part Of The Holiday?

February 22, 2018 By Paula 7 Comments

How Did The Easter Bunny Become Part Of The Holiday?

Easter Sunday is a religious holiday for many and a family holiday for others, but how did the bunny get involved in this holiday?

While the Easter Bunny has very little to do with the religious history of Easter, he does have some mythological roots. The bunny is a symbol of fertility and spring renewal. So knowing this the Easter Bunny starts to make a little sense. Spring is the season of rebirth and renewal. Plants return to life after winter dormancy and many animals mate and procreate. We all know that rabbits know all about procreating! Rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies (called kittens), so they became a symbol of new life. Legend has it that the Easter Bunny lays, decorates and hides eggs as they are also a symbol of new life.

The Easter Hare was first mentioned along with Easter in German folklore as early as 1682 when German’s “Oschter Haws” laid a nest of colored eggs as gifts for good children. According to the legend, only good children received gifts of colored eggs in the nests that they made in their caps and bonnets before Easter. Oschter Haws came to America with Pennsylvania Dutch settlers in the 1700’s and evolved into the Easter Bunny as it became entrenched in American culture. For Christians, the Easter egg is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over time the bunny started bringing chocolate, marshmallow peeps, toys, and other gifts in addition to eggs.

Today it is believed that the Easter Bunny disguises himself to look like all the other bunnies hopping around in fields, meadows, and parks and then the night before Easter, the Easter Bunny comes out of his burrow and uses magic to grow into a big rabbit to deliver the eggs and baskets.

Easter 2018	April 1, 2018
Easter 2019	April 21, 2019
Easter 2020	April 12, 2020
Easter 2021	April 4, 2021
Easter 2022	April 17, 2022
Easter 2023	April 9, 2023
Easter 2024	March 31, 2024
Easter 2025	April 20, 2025