Easter Hymn

This is from Lauds for Paschaltide. It is not a literal translation of the original Latin, but I think it is wonderful nonetheless:

Light's glittering morn bedecks the sky,
Heaven thunders forth its victor cry,
The glad earth shouts its triumph high,
And groaning hell makes wild reply;

While He, the King of glorious might,
Treads down death's strength in death's despite,
And trampling hell by victor's right,
Brings forth His sleeping Saints to light.

Fast barred beneath the stone of late
In watch and ward where soldiers wait,
Now shining in triumphant state,
He rises Victor from death's gate.

Hell's pains are loosed and tears are fled,
Captivity is captive led;
The Angel crowned with light hath said,
"The Lord is risen from the dead!"

We pray Thee, King with glory decked
In this our Paschal joy protect
From all that death would fain effect
Thy ransomed flock, Thine own elet.

To Thee Who, dead, again dost live,
All glory, Lord, Thy people give;
All glory, as is ever meet,
To Father, and to Paraclete.
Amen.

In resurretione tua, Christe, alleluia.
Caeli et terra laetentur, alleluia.

Festive Cookies

Another of our favorite Easter traditions is baking cookies with these lovely Springerle molds from House on the Hill, where you can also purchase flavor oils of amazing flavorfulness. We only have the Almond oil, but we have also made the Lemon and Vanilla recipes with regular cooking extracts. All of them turned out yummy and they look so exquisite! I will post pictures of the cookies too, if they don't disappear before I snap a picture.

Holy Week Project

My sister recently learned how to decorate eggs in the Eastern European fashion. Tonight she will impart the coveted knowledge to the rest of our family and we plan to devote several nights to extravagant artistry.