Easter is the designated date of the Christian church to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. In 2009, Easter falls on April 12. Celebrations in various parts of the world include both high church reenactments of the life of Jesus called Passion Plays, and secular events such as Easter Egg Hunts and Easter Parades.

• 2009: Sunday, April 12th
• 2010: Sunday, April 4th
• 2011: Sunday, April 24h
• 2012: Sunday, April 8th
• 2013: Sunday, March 31st
• 2014: Sunday, April 5th

Every year since 1878, the U.S. government holds an "Easter Egg Roll", held on the South Lawn and open to children 10 and younger and their families. This year the event will be held from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on April 13, 2009. Events include sports, cooking classes, live musical performances, and storytelling in addition to the traditional Easter Egg Roll.White House: 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll

The most famous Easter Parade is probably the one in New York City, commemorized by the 1948 Irving Berlin musical with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. The tradition dates to the mid-19th century.

The 2009 parade will be along Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets, and from roughly 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. an Easter Egg Hunt was held in Central Park on March 30, 2009.New York.com: Easter Parade, New York City MidManhattan.com: NYC Easter Parade - Fashion Meets Fantasy

A Passion Play or Easter Play is a theatrical event that is put on by churches, schools, and other groups reenacting the life of Jesus. Passion plays date to the Middle Ages. Passion plays sometimes start with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; some of them end with the crucifiction of Jesus. Most commonly, Passion Plays cover the last few days of Jesus's life.Catholic Encyclopedia: Passion Plays

• Wikipedia: Passion play

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Passion Plays

• Indianapolis Star: Center United Methodist Passion Play (April 7, 2009)

• Indianapolis Star: All-black Passion Play has 25-year tradition (April 7, 2009)

• Star Herald (Kosciusko, MO): http://www.starherald.net/local/local... FUMC gearing up for annual Passion Play] (April 6, 2009)

• Leesburg (VA) Today: Outdoor Passion Play Brings Easter Story To Life (April 7, 2009)

• Farmington (NM) Daily Times: 'Passion Play' shares story of Christ in Farmington and abroad (April 5, 2009)

• KTKA (Topeka KS): Ben's People: Topeka Passion Play (April 5, 2009)

• Hilton Head (HI) Packet: Audience moved to tears by Passion play (April 5, 2009)

• Colbert Nation: Colbert's Easter Parade (April 7, 2009)

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