Spring, Easter and New Life
Is it Spring here in southeastern Wisconsin? Once again, Mother Nature can't make up her mind! April so far has had temperature ranges between 68°F and the low 30s, with two inches of show on the day after Easter! Despite the weather, I have brave daffodils blooming in my garden and the lilac bushes are budding. Spring is all about new life!
Spring is an unpredictable season in my corner of Wisconsin. The weather can warm up quickly, bringing spring storms and tornadoes. Planting your flowers and vegetables too early results in a second trip to the nursery to replace frostbitten plants. My mother's birthday was March 11th and for years I travelled to England each March to help her celebrate. My mother loved flowers; the daffodils were usually in bloom when her birthday came around and I think of her whenever I see them! Back home in Wisconsin, the snow might still be on the ground but in England, not only daffodils, but snowdrops, primroses and pussy willow would be blooming; it was like a different planet!
As the weather improves, my life gets busier. I have had a lot of in-person events and headshot enquiries recently. My little studio is a godsend when the spring weather doesn't cooperate but photographing families out of doors is something to look forward to in May, when the trees are in bloom.
Humans have celebrated the spring equinox for thousands of years. The old pagan festivals gave thanks for the return of the longer days and warmer weather, and asked for a fertile growing season ahead. Just like Christmas, some of the pagan rituals have worked their way into the Christian festival of Easter, so we get the Easter bunny and eggs as symbols of fertility and new life, while we celebrate the resurrection of Christ and his victory over death. This year, the Jewish Passover and Muslim Ramadan coincide with Easter, as well as Vaisakhi, a Sikh spring festival. It's not hard to find a reason to celebrate in the spring time!
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