Observing A Different Kind of Easter

From 10 April

Lilies of the Sunrise Service - April 2010

'Private'

'Personal'

'A Family Thing lah'

Three recurring descriptors of the prevailing attitude toward Easter here - from infrequent attenders to pillars of the church community. They stand in seeming opposition to the closing hymn declaring, "We Have a Story to Tell to the Nations."

I don't know that things are that different at home.

'Happy Chinese New Year!'

'Happy Deepavali!'

'Happy Ramadan!'

Even,

'Merry Christmas!'

And for Easter?

The light up letters announcing the holiday du jour over the main street in the PJ State neighborhood where I live are noticeably silent.

Why is this?

Why do we choose Christmas as the public face of our Christian faith - both here and at home? How did Santa Claus run down the cottontail? the manger eclipse the cross in our public witness?

It isn't like this everywhere.

I remember spending Semana Santa [Holy Week] in and around San Salvador a few years back: the ferris wheels and corn on the cob, processions and parades, streets covered with colorful sawdust alfombras [carpets] made by neighborhood groups depicting the images of the faith for all to see in scenes like this.

What is the difference?

Why do churches in some parts of the world hush-up when it comes to the days commemorating the central events of our faith - namely the Christ Event, while others literally flood the streets with color and song and story? Is it a Catholic/Protestant thing? Contrasting remnants of competing colonial powers? Something else entirely?

I'm of half a mind to try and figure that one out.

Someday.