A Touch of Pagan In Me....

As Easter, the celebration of the Risen Lord, approaches, I got to wondering when and why did the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs, enter the mix?  I did some investigating and found out that, in the pagan world,  the bunny is representative of spring - that makes sense -and the eggs represent "new life".  Simple enough.

Easter, as a kid,  was certainly a religious event in our home.  My parents saw to it!  Giving up something during Lent...Going to church in the evening on Holy Thursday, where the priest had his feet washed... Stations of the Cross on Fridays... fasting and abstaining on Good Friday.  All to prepare for the most important day in the Christian faith -Easter Sunday.

Looking back, I have to say, I must have had quite a bit of "pagan" in me, too.  As much as Easter was a celebration of my faith - my memories of Easter always go back to the fashion and food.  (Go figure!).

My Mom, the seamstress, always made sure her girls had new dresses for Easter.  Some years, we even had spring coats.  My favorite part of the ensemble was always the "bonnet"!  I love hats and, if I thought I could wear one now,  without folks thinking I was a goof, I'd be wearing one this weekend.   New patent leather shoes were also an Easter staple.  Loved the new shoes but was not a fan of the socks we had to wear with 'em.   I look back, in amazement, at how my parents outfitted 5 of us in Easter finery... and am pretty sure they could've done without a 2nd grade daughter, pouting over a pair of lacy anklets!

Our Easters meant trips to both grandparents' homes, for wonderful meals, that always included ham and all the trimmings.  We'd join in egg hunts with our many cousins.  There were plenty of eggs and lots of candy to go around but certain cousins were always a bit pushier than we were and ended up with more loot than the Bruner kids.  No worries.  We'd make up for it at the NEXT grandparent stop where WE were the pushy ones.

I remember, on Easter Monday, we'd hide our eggs over and over again, having day-long neighborhood egg hunts.   I'd take part,  that is, if I felt well enough.  I say that because there were few Easter Sunday nights that I went to bed without a bellyache.  So many marshmallow eggs... so little time!  I was an Easter candy binge eater, for sure.  Good thing we didn't have school on Easter Monday because I doubt I'd have been in class most years.

Years go by and some things never change...and luckily, many things do.  Faith is a big part of my life...all year round... still. And, although I don't get as dressed up for Easter as I used to, I sure appreciate my parents' sacrifice and talents more now ( but I don't have to wear those darn anklets, Mom!)   This Easter,  I'll indulge in some delicious ham, some hard boiled eggs, chocolate, in the form of bunnies and crosses, marshmallow eggs, malted milk eggs, jelly beans and some marshmallow Peeps, for sure!  I TOLD you some things never change!    Happy Easter everybody!