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Sunday, April 5, 2015

FLASH 55 PLUS

Artist Unknown
(Fair Use)


Welcome! It's the first Sunday of the month, and the month is April, which means that Flash 55 Plus becomes part of our prompt a day marathon in support of NaPoWriMo. The rules for this prompt are simple: write a poem or piece of prose in precisely 55 words.


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PLUS

The Name Easter
Some traditions connect this name with Ishtar, the Babylonian and Assyrian goddess of love and fertility, or Eostre, an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring. Doubtless, the Christian holiday was modeled after pagan celebrations of spring and fertility.  Read more about Easter traditions HERE.

The Origins of the Easter Bunny
The exact origins of the Easter bunny are clouded in mystery. One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems from pagan tradition, specifically the festival of Eostre—a goddess of fertility whose animal symbol was a rabbit. Source

How the Date of Easter is Determined
According to the Bible, Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred around the time of the Jewish Passover, which was celebrated on the first full moon following the vernal equinox. This soon led to Christians celebrating Easter on different dates. At the end of the 2nd century, some churches celebrated Easter on the day of the Passover, while others celebrated it on the following Sunday. 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. Source

The optional extra for this challenge is to include a reference to any aspect of Easter in your poem.




15 comments:

  1. In my house, we celebrate anything that gives us a reason to cook and eat special meals together... and the chocolate, of course.

    Today is bit extra special for us, since it's my birthday. So we'll have our traditional walk in the woods, my husband and our Little Princess will cook for me (may the valiant Ishtar protect me). After eating and wandering in the woods, we'll read Pratchett aloud and watch Wyrd Sisters.

    Happy holiday to anyone who celebrates!

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  2. Happy Easter, Kerry. I had been waiting to write at least one Acrostic this month, EASTER gave me an early start. I hope I didn't cross any forbidden bounds with mine today.
    I'm off to bed.
    ..

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  3. Happy Birthday, Magaly! I learned today, from a friend who is writing a paper, that 'wyrd' is a pre-christian concept something akin to fate. An interesting connection, on this most Christian of days. (Though, as someone pointed out, nothing pagan *at all* about choosing the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. but that's a subject for another poem.) In any event, good day to all. ~

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  4. I usually fear these challenges... But this time I had fun! Happy Easter, or Glad Påsk as we say around here, to all of you!

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  5. The Easter Bunny didn't come for me today as I am just getting over shingles and am not allowed chocolate at present. But the dietary restrictions are worth it, as you'll see from the poem.

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  6. Lovely opening image!! Thank you for the challenge, Kerry!

    Happy Sunday to everyone! :)

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  7. Oh, that's for the 55, and Easter, prompt. I've linked, but I'm having 30 people for dinner, so I won't be around to read everyone's until tonight. I wish everyone a happy what-ever-you-celebrate-today!

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  8. I'm afraid this Easter found me in a non-celebratory mood, but best wishes for a happy day to all who celebrate it, despite my dark take. And an especially Happy Birthday to Magaly.

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  9. Happy Birthday Magaly, and thanks for keeping up the good work (on Easter) Kerry! Afraid my entry is not very sanctimonious, but it is what it is.

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  10. Happy Birthday Magaly!! Thanks so much for the challenge Kerry! Gertrude Stein inspired my pen again.

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  11. There we go! Catching up on my NaPo.. Did not add Easter theme as I don't celebrate it. :)

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  12. Happy Birthday, Magaly. Thanks Kerry for the interesting additions to the 55. I'm afraid I am a little late--it snowed all day long here! Very pretty, but, you know if you are in the North East U.S. --agh! k.

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  13. Happy Easter, Kerry and all Toads~
    I feel blessed to be in the garden with all of you talented toads.

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  14. Sorry, I'm late, but I couldn't get to a computer yesterday, I thought of this poem all day, and wanted to post it.

    Love, Moskowitz the Humble

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