Dickens Station Daily Telegraph

Easter Celebration Calendar

Telegraph Key

  Dickens Station Daily Telegraph

Sunday, March 19, 2023, Dickens Station, Vermont

by Emily Dodson, Editor

Easter Celebration Calendar

Resident/Back Streeter Edition

Dickens Station Daily Telegraph Easter Celebration Calendar

Following long-honored traditions begun by her great-great-grandfather and our town’s founder, Merritt Otto Dickens, Amelia Dickens announced today the schedule of events for residents and Back Streeters for this Easter weekend. Many of these festivities originated in European customs that traveled with Merritt Otto Dickens to the United States and have been celebrated here, in Dickens Station, since the town was founded in 1893.

Maundy Thursday Feast, Easter Egg Hunt, and Ball
April 7, 2023

On Maundy Thursday, Christians commemorate Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples. The word “maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command,” referring to Jesus’ commandment to his disciples to “love one another as I have loved you.” In Victorian times, the monarchy of England commemorated the day by minting “maundy coins” and distributing them at a church service called “Royal Maundy.”

The word “maundy” is derived from the Latin word for “command,” referring to Jesus’ commandment to his disciples to “love one another as I have loved you.”

Since the days of Merritt Otto Dickens, the Dickens Family has invited all Dickens Station businesses to close at 5:00 pm on Maundy Thursday so that all townspeople may attend a feast, Easter egg hunt, and ball at Dickens Mansion at 6:30 pm. Amelia’s buffet will feature her community favorite, empty tomb rolls, and many other delectable entrées and desserts. Children of all ages will be invited to scour the mansion for prize-filled Easter eggs during the ball. Amelia will award extra prizes to the lucky children who find the special red eggs, which traditionally represent the redeeming blood of Christ that was shed on the cross. After the ball, Amelia will, as did her family before her, present a specially minted coin to a representative of each resident family of Dickens Station to commemorate Easter and to personally thank each family for their support of our community. 

Good Friday, April 8, 2023

To commemorate the crucifixion of Christ, the Dickens Family Chapel will be open to residents and Back Streeters from sunrise to sunset for quiet reflection and prayer. Also, Charlotte Flowers will be giving away her special hot cross buns to residents and Back Streeters throughout the day on Good Friday on the Back Porch. The cross decoration baked into each bun reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice. This gift also reflects the Victorian tradition of sharing a hot cross bun to solidify friendship, hence the rhyme, Half for you, half for me, between us two good luck shall be.

Easter Sunday, April 9, 2023

Traditionally, businesses in Dickens Station do not open on Easter Sunday so that our families may celebrate the resurrection of Christ. While we do not have as many visitors during the Easter season as we have at Christmas, residents and Back Streeters may enjoy again this year the Dickens Family invitation to attend sunrise services held in the Dickens’s Family Chapel, predicted to be at 6:20 am or a second service at 8:00 am. In addition, the Community Church will hold its regularly scheduled services at 9:30 am and 11:00 am.

Amelia Dickens looks forward to celebrating this spiritually significant time of year with her family and friends and wishes one and all a very happy Easter.

Want to find out more about the quaint Christmas-themed village of Dickens Station and the colorful characters who live there? Check out all that Dickens Station has to offer, including free short stories, recipes, and mini mysteries, at DickensStation.com.

5 1 vote
Article Rating
4 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

So fun that you bring us into this world with you! I love this!!

Interesting bit of history included with the article that brings us into the Dickens Station annual celebration. Nicely done, Emily!