>Three blondes died and are at the Pearly Gates of Heaven. St. Peter >tells
them that they can enter the gates if they can answer one simple >question. >
>St. Peter asks the first blonde, "What is Easter?" > >The blonde
replies, "Oh, that's easy! It's the holiday in November >when everyone gets
together, eats turkey, and are thankful..." > >"Wrong!" replies
St. Peter, and proceeds to ask the second blonde the same >question, "What
is Easter?" > >The second blonde replies, "Easter is the holiday
in December when we >put up a nice tree, exchange presents, and celebrate the
birth of >Jesus." > >St. Peter looks at the second blonde, shakes his
head in disgust, >tells her she's wrong, and then peers over his glasses at the
third >blonde and asks, "What is Easter?" > >The third blonde
smiles confidently and looks St. Peter in the eyes, >"I know what Easter
is." > >"Oh?" says St. Peter incredulously. > >"Of
Course. Easter is the Christian holiday that coincides with the >Jewish celebration
of Passover. Jesus was ready to complete his ministry >on earth and ate his last
supper, the Passover meal, with his disciples. >Later that evening, he was betrayed
and turned over to a Jewish mob by >one of those disciples. After a show trial,
the Romans tortured him, made him >wear a crown of thorns, took him to be crucified
and then he was hung on a >cross with nails through his hands and feet. Finally,
he was stabbed in the >side to make sure he was dead. He was buried in a nearby
cave which was >sealed off by a large boulder." > >St. Peter smiles
broadly with delight. The third blonde continues. >"Every year the boulder
is moved aside so that Jesus can come out >and, if he sees his shadow, there will
be six more weeks of winter."