This week is a special one for most people in New Hampshire. Many are celebrating either Easter or Passover. According to PRRI Research, “The religiously unaffiliated make up nearly three in ten (29 percent) New Hampshire residents, roughly similar to their proportion in 2007. Nearly one-quarter (24 percent) of New Hampshire residents are white Catholic, while somewhat fewer identify as white mainline Protestant (17 percent) and white evangelical Protestant (9 percent).” Among other belief systems, New Hampshire is composed of 1.5% Jewish residents, 0.9% Muslims, 0.7% Buddhists, and 0.6% Hindus.
What makes celebrating these religious holidays this year is, of course, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Concern with that highly contagious disease, and the ensuing major changes in our every day lives, makes ‘social distancing’ imperative. However this is not the first time New Hampshire had experienced such a crisis. The so-called “Spanish flu” hit New Hampshire and the world, however among the New England States, New Hampshire fared the best.
Even amid “stay at home” orders there are ways that everyone can celebrate their religious beliefs. One of the positive things that have come out of the pandemic, is the increased use of Virtual Events, Face to Face telephone calls, FaceBook family groups, and other internet or phone based communication methods.
NEW HAMPSHIRE EASTER SERVICES
WMUR9: New Hampshire Live-streaming of Easter Services
CATHOLIC EASTER —
CNN – From Pope to Mariah Carey, options for Easter Service livestream.
Newsweek – Easter Sunday Services Online
VIRTUAL SEDERS —
ABC News, Jews celebrate passover …. with virtual seders.
Jewish Federation Cincinnati – Celebrate Passover Virtually
===== ADDITIONAL READING (Past Blog Posts) =====
New Hampshire Tidbits: Easter Traditions Past and Present
New Hampshire and the Easter Bonnet
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