Time to enjoy this season of renewal... with that little hint of magic

One of the funniest stories my mum tells from her teaching days happened during a lesson about the origins of Easter. Her class sat in wide-eyed silence as she recounted the story of how Jesus was crucified on the cross and buried in a cave, an enormous stone placed over the entrance.and how, on Easter Sunday, his followers found the stone rolled back, and the tomb empty.

When she came to the part where Jesus appeared to his stunned disciples, she asked the class:“and what do you think Jesus said to his friends?” Quick as a flash, a little girl put her hand up and proudly proclaimed:“ta-dah!”

You can’t help but smile because her childish interpretation that the resurrection was some kind of magic trick is not that far off the mark.

The Easter story is one of miracles and renewal and whether you are Christian or not, that message can still be felt at this time of year. It’s there in the dormant bulbs bursting back to life, fresh leaves budding on bare branches, and the reassurance that what seemed to be dead in the dirt, was actually just sleeping.

Of course, Easter is also a time for family gatherings, good food and chocolate treats. If you are hosting guests this weekend, on pages 38 and 39, you’ll find expert tips for creating a beautiful spring table setting, inspired by the season.

If you have children or grandchildren in your life, I hope the weather will be kind enough to allow for Easter egg hunts and egg rolling too. Maybe, if you’re lucky, they’ll teach you a lesson or two about Easter miracles and believing in magic.