Easter: April 1

Easter took place on April 17 this year, and Trinity’s Chapel | Spiritual Life (CSL) put on some festivities to celebrate. Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating Jesus’s resurrection from the dead, and it is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.
CSL hosted a Sunrise Service at Parker Chapel starting at 7 a.m. on Easter Sunday. Garret Page, a junior economics major and CSL fellow, said that this service created a space for reflection and gave some reverence to the holiday. Later in the day there was an Easter Celebration, which was more of a come-and-go event. There were lawn games, bundt cakes, bubbles, free books and cascarones.

Ramadan: April 1-May 1

Trinity’s Muslim Student Association (MSA) put on multiple events for Ramadan this year. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and it is observed by Muslims all over the world. The month is devoted to fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

MSA gave their members gift cards to H-E-B so they can buy items for the pre-dawn meal, Suhoor, which members ate on their own. MSA has also hosted weekly campus Iftars, which are the breaking-fast meals which occur at sunset. The club has catered meals to break fasts as a community on campus, and they pray together at these gatherings as well.

Members of MSA have also been carpooling to the Muslim Children Education and Civic Center (MCECC), and they worked with Aramark to supply Suhoor bags for students as well as Iftar bags on days that Mabee closes before sunset.

“Ramadan is also a month about service and increased charity,” said Dana Hatab, senior psychology and religion major and MSA president.

In that spirit, MSA hosted a fundraiser on April 18 where people could have henna done and buy homemade bracelets and necklaces from one of MSA’s members. The funds were raised so MSA could prepare care packages for unhoused individuals. On top of that, MSA hosted an Iftar open to everyone in the campus community on April 20 so anyone interested could experience what a breaking fast meal is like.

“Since mealtimes changed it’s often a big thing, and people want to feel a sense of community in that, so especially with our Iftars together, that is cultivating a tradition,” Hatab said.

Passover: April 21
Trinity University Hillel held their annual Passover seder on April 21. Passover is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the exodus of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

The Passover seder is the ritual feast where the exodus story is told and discussed. It is a very structured event, and religion professor Chad Spiegel will walk through the traditional meal and lead the rituals that go along with it.

Calena Kovar, senior accounting major and member of Hillel, said the event was open to all, and that it was a great learning opportunity and chance to expand knowledge of this tradition for those who are not familiar with the holiday.

Earth Day: April 22
April 22, 1970 is the birthday of the modern environmental movement and has been celebrated annually since then. Earth Day is a day to recognize and remember the importance of protecting the environment, even in smaller ways such as recycling or using reusable materials when possible.

San Antonio Parks and Recreation is putting on an event at Woodlawn Lake Park on Saturday, April 23 to celebrate Earth Day. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the park will be filled with over 50 environmental organizations, free tree adoptions, dance and music performances and more.

On campus, two student organizations are hosting Earth Day festivities. In the CSI Atrium, the Chemistry Club is holding an event where students can get a free potted plant and learn more about Earth Day. The event is taking place on Friday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to all interested.

Eco Allies hosted events dedicated to Earth Day nearly every day during the week of April 18-23. The club had a vegan bake-off on Monday, a craft-making event on Tuesday, an Eco Rights movie screening of “Blackfish” with free food from Project Pollo on Wednesday, and held opportunities to learn about Divest Trinity, a subcommittee of Eco Allies devoted to Trinity’s divestment from fossil fuel companies, on Friday. Finally, on Saturday they will partner with Outdoor Recreation (OREC) to host a day trip at Government Canyon State Natural Area.