; ;

Simon and the Easter Miracle

I like the illustrations, but I’m puzzled by the story.  The cover claims it is “A traditional tale for Easter,” but I there’s nothing about whose tradition it is.  I’m pretty knowledgable about Easter tradition, and I’ve never heard of this one: it basically tells the story of the man Simon, who helped Jesus carry his cross.  According to this story, Simon was a farmer on his way into town to sell eggs and other produce from his farm; after helping Jesus, he made his way back to where he’d left his goods to find the day gone and most of his good destroyed; he returned home with the dozen eggs that were the only items to survive the day; on Sunday morning he found his basket of eggs all cracked and empty and a dozen doves flying around his olive grove.  An author’s note explaining the origins of the tradition would be helpful.