Has an Easter bonnet parade ever seemed so liberating? Has a gathering of children and parents in Canberra lifted the heart quite so much before?
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Across Canberra, schools have come together in a way they hadn't throughout the terrible year of the coronavirus.
Last year's Easter celebrations fell victim to the epidemic but this year, the parades and pageants happened.
For the first time in a Covid-infected year, for example, the parents and kids at Arawang Primary School gathered en masse.
Until Thursday, mums and dads had had to go into the school in small groups.
This year was different. They came as one, and stood and applauded their little ones bedecked in all kinds of assortments of head gear.
Eggs, bunnies and rabbits were prominent. And carrots because bunnies like carrots, or so the confident assertion from the children was.
The parade in the cool sun was a celebration of Easter but also of a return to a feeling of community.
"It's just the sense of togetherness, the warmth and the cheer it brings to the school," the principal, Jeni Page, said.
"It's the feeling that it creates that we are one big community, working together, looking after the growth of our children."
Year 6 has a parliament which elects ministers from amongst themselves. They present parliamentary bills to the school's governor-general (the principal). One bill currently seeks a chicken for the school.
The "parliament" decided that Thursday would be a "free dress day" so there was a sense of liberation from the usual uniform. In a reversal, teachers donned the uniform.
The school's elected "prime minister" is Henry Puleston (11). His big pitch to get elected was a suggestions box, a promise fulfilled.
He said he had no ambition to be a real, grownup politician but if he was one, "I would change all the silliness and scandals and stuff."
His deputy, Oscar Abraham, agreed.
How did they think boys should treat girls? "Equally," they said as one.
At Rosary Primary School in Watson, the morning began off with the school's 320 students packed in to see Year 3's re-enactment of the Last Supper - an Easter tradition they observe every year.
Throughout the week, each student has the opportunity to relish their time on stage, performing various roles performing excerpts from the Bible.
The general view was that this year's performance was more energised and enthusiastic than last year's The kids this year performed with more energy and enthusiasm after last year's were called off due to COVID-19.
Year 6 students Joe Garreffa, Kiera Arthur, Essie Brady and Sam Flynn said they were disappointed that they couldn't celebrate the week in person last year, but they still enjoyed learning about the meaning and values of Easter through online classes.
"It's so much better to be back in person", Joe said.
Principal Vicky Van der Sanden said, "Re-enacting gives the children an understanding of what it means to be Catholic".
"It does lift the mood and the children are very serious about it and do enjoy it," she said.
The Principal saw the school's celebration of Easter as a preparation for the family celebration over Easter weekend.
This year is her 21st Easter at the school. She said the importance of Holy Week had not changed in that time. "It's a beautiful school filled with wonderful people. We call it the Rosary family".
At Rosary Primary School in Watson, the morning kicked off with the school's 320 students packed in to see year 3's re-enactment of the Last Supper - a tradition they maintain every year.
Throughout the week each student has the opportunity to relish their time on stage, performing various roles from excerpts in the Bible.
The kids this year performed with more energy and enthusiasm after last year's proceedings were called off due to COVID-19.
Year 6 students Joe Garreffa, Kiera Arthur, Essie Brady and Sam Flynn said they were disappointed they couldn't celebrate the week in person last year, but still enjoyed learning about the meaning and values of Easter through online classes.
"It's so much better to be back in person ... I enjoyed watching [the performances] and reflecting on the Easter story", Joe said.
Principal Vicky Van der Sanden said, "re-enacting gives the children an understanding of what it means to be Catholic".
"It does lift the mood and the children are very serious about it and do enjoy it," she said.
The school takes the week very seriously as it allows the children to take the lessons they've learnt in class back home to celebrate the weekend with family.
For Ms Van der Sanden, this is her 21st Easter at the school. But the meaning and impact of the week hasn't changed since.
"It's a beautiful school filled with wonderful people ... we call it the Rosary family".
Steve Evans
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
Steve Evans is a reporter on The Canberra Times. He's been a BBC correspondent in New York, London, Berlin and Seoul and the sole reporter/photographer/paper deliverer on The Glen Innes Examiner in country New South Wales. "All the jobs have been fascinating - and so it continues."
