Traditional decorative Easter eggs from Romania
Photo by: KLMircea (Flickr)

Submission by Ana-Maria Gheorghiu

Not everybody celebrates Easter on the same date.
Western Christians and Eastern Christians follow two different religious calendars.
Western Christians (mainly Catholic and Protestant)
follow the Gregorian calendar,
and Eastern Christians (mainly Orthodox)
follow the Julian calendar.
The countries with the most Christian Orthodox believers are:
Russia, Greece, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, Cyprus, Georgia, Macedonia,
Bulgaria, Moldova, Montenegro and Belarus.

I am Romanian, and I live in Vancouver, B.C.
Easter is the biggest religious holiday in my home country.

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www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader

The “haft-seen” table at Saha’s house
Photo by: Saha Mousavi

Submission by: Saha Mousavi (age 11), a Grade 6 student at Vancouver’s Lord Roberts School

Saha came to Vancouver from Iran more than two years ago.

The word Norooz means “the new day” in the Persian language.
Norooz is the name of the important Iranian
or Persian New Year in the Persian calendar.
People of 13 other religions also celebrate this holiday.
The holiday goes on for 13 days.
People come to visit your home.
The kids get gifts for the New Year.

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www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader

Stained glass at St John the Baptist’s Anglican Church
Photo –Toby Hudson/Wikimedia

Good Friday is on March 29, 2013.
This Friday will be a public holiday in B.C.
This means many businesses and schools will be closed.
On Good Friday, Christians remember the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Easter Sunday is on March 31, 2013.
This day celebrates the belief that Jesus rose from the dead.
Easter Sunday is the most holy day of the Christian year.
Easter comes with spring renewal.
Many families spend time together on this day.
Churches also have special services.
Easter is fun for many children.
On Easter morning, children hunt for chocolate eggs.

Submitted by Patti-Lea Ryan

www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader

Dorsa with the meal she prepared for Christmas
Photo by: Saeid Ghiassi

My First Christmas in Denver

Reader submission from Dorsa Ghiassi (age 11) from Denver, CO

My name is Dorsa. I am Iranian. I am now living in Colorado, Denver. I had already lived in Vancouver for 2 years. This is my first Christmas in Denver, Colorado.

I decided to make a Christmas dinner all by myself. I went shopping to buy food for our dinner. I was going to buy a small turkey for three people: myself, my dad and my mom. But I found out that the smallest turkey would serve about 12 people! So I thought that instead of baking a huge turkey, I would bake chicken with vegetables. I would bake chicken with vegetables, Christmas cookies and pumpkin tarts which my friend Nancy taught me how to cook. Continue reading →

www.TheWestcoastReader.com©2012 The Official Westcoast Reader