“Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love.” ~Chief Sitting Bull, Lakota Sioux

It is spring. The soil is fertile and new growth is painting our world that sweet, early shade of green. The sunrise comes a few minutes earlier each day, dawn spreading its colors across the horizon, and bird song is a lilting melody descending from the branches. It is a time of rebirth for the flora and fauna, and a time of renewed energy for many, be it in work or play.

It is Easter — a term we generally associate with this coming Sunday’s Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also the easter time, that of days filled with light in the eastern sky.

Easter is an ancient word, likely from the Old English, or from the German word for the east, “Ostern.” Legend connects the word easter to the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, who is the representation of spring, fertility, and the dawn.

We gather and decorate eggs when the easter season is upon us — certainly a symbol of fertility, as are the bunnies that are associated with this time of year.

While we do not all celebrate Easter, we do all find ourselves turning to the east, to the light, to the power of the season that propels us to outdoor activities. We seek resurrection from the cold, dark days of winter — and this year, a virus that has curtailed normal activity — that have left us feeling lethargic and unfocused.

Gardens “spring” to new life beneath the nurturing hands of gardeners; it is seen in the blossoming of crocuses and daffodils brightening the edges of roads and lawns. Puppies and kittens and all manner of offspring are welcomed into the world, a sign that life goes on as usual in this unusual time.

We are beckoned to rise with the early light, extending our days of productivity, seeking energy from the longer hours of daylight.

We are an easter people this time of the year, no matter what nature throws at us. It is manifested as perennial offerings from our gardens; the desire to create pathways for pollinators; a reawakening of the Fairfield Hills Fruit Trail; yoga classes, accessed through online options, that revive the spirit and body; neighbors helping neighbors however we can. We organize and redistribute our belongings, clearing our living spaces and clearing our minds.

Whether honoring a religious rite or a rite of the season, we are lifted by these early days of spring; despite the trials we endure, we grasp gratefully at rays of hope.

It is the oddest of Easter seasons this year, the oddest of springtimes. Even so, we wish you the best as this Sunday dawns, and all the dawns that follow. Happy Easter, happy easter to all.