The Chicago Area Blog

   Easter is on Sunday, April 4 for both “Western” and “Eastern Orthodox” Christians this year.   Here is some Easter trivia from around the world:

	According to widespread belief, Easter owes its name to “Eastre”, the Anglo-Saxon goddess symbolizing hare and egg. Another theory suggests that it comes from the early German word “eostarun”, meaning dawn and white.
	Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25.
	Easter is a “moveable feast” as it does not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian or Julian calendars. The full moon determines the date of Easter.
	”Pysanka” is a name given to the tradition of Easter egg painting.
	The color used in painting the eggs differ in different nations. Orthodox Grecians paint their eggs red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Some Germans and Austrians paint their eggs green and use them on Holy Thursday. Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in gold and silver patterns.
	Chocolate eggs   were traditionally given as gifts in Europe.
	In 19th century Europe, bitter dark chocolate was used to make small egg shapes. These chocolate eggs were traditionally exchanged as Easter gifts, especially in countries like France and Germany.
	Ninety million chocolate Easter bunnies and 16 billion jelly beans are produced each year before the commencement of the Easter festivities. As a holiday, Easter comes only second to Halloween in terms of the annual sale confectionary items.
	76 percent of people eat the ears on chocolate bunnies first.
	According to the Guinness Book of World Records the largest Easter egg ever made was just over 25 feet high and weighed 8,968 lbs.
	In countries like Hungary and Transylvania, the day after Easter is called “Locsolo Hetfo” meaning “Watering Monday”. This is because water, perfume or perfumed water is often sprinkled in exchange for an Easter egg on this day.

Children learn about Au Pair's life in Costa Rica

Au Pair in America au pairs not only provide childcare but are also active in their local communities too. Global Awareness, a unique volunteer program sponsored by Au Pair in America, is designed to foster a greater knowledge of the diversity and variety of cultures the world has to offer. Au pairs go into elementary school classrooms, libraries, local bookstores, cub scout and brownie groups and other areas of interest to children to share their culture. One teacher recently said “60 kids will go home today knowing more about the world than when they first arrived at school this morning”. The au pairs present a wide variety of topics and all the presentations are interactive. This is just one more reason to consider Au Pair in America as your childcare option. www.aupairinamerica.com

Global Awareness, “Meet your Global Neighbor” is a volunteer educational program unique to Au Pair in America.  www.globalawareness.com

Au Pairs go into classrooms, cub scout and brownie packs, libraries, independent bookstores and to birthday parties to share their culture with young children.

This program offers something special to all participants; to the children it  helps to spark an interest in different cultures and to the Au Pairs it presents an opportunity to volunteer in their community.

Global Awareness presentations are given in communities from coast to coast and support the mission of AIFS “we bring the world together”.