The blooming azaleas, flowering dogwoods, and the beautiful colors of spring are just the first indicators that Easter is here! This holy holiday is a time of renewal for all Christians and is filled with an abundance of traditions — some are beloved events that families look forward to every year.
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, and many families celebrate this holy occasion in many ways leading up to Easter Sunday. Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified on the cross, is often reverently honored with Church services about the resurrection or Easter cantatas. On Easter Sunday, families attend church together in their new attire just for the occasion.
Traditionally, little girls get pretty new dresses in springy colors and lots of frills, and boys usually get a new shirt and maybe a tie to wear to church. One tradition that has mostly fallen out of fashion is the Easter bonnet that we hear about in those famous Easter tunes. The wearing of fancy new bonnets, covered in flowers, ribbons, and lace, came into fashion on the first Easter after the end of the Civil War. In the 1870s, New York City began hosting its annual Easter Parade as men and women would show off their fancy new ensembles as they strolled down the parade route along Fifth Avenue. It became so popular that over a million people attended in the 1940s.
Another popular family tradition is coloring Easter eggs. Whether you use the traditional Paas Easter egg dye or some other form of artistic method to color your eggs, it’s always fun for everyone to draw designs or write the names of family members on their eggs. On Easter Sunday, the eggs are hidden waiting to be found, and they even prominently rolled on the White House lawn. But have you ever wondered why the egg became such a popular part of Easter celebrations? The egg represents new life and birth, reminding people of Christ’s resurrection.
A much-anticipated tradition by kids and kids at heart is a visit from the Easter Bunny. The night before Easter, the Easter Bunny hops along his way bringing baskets of chocolate, candy, stuffed bunnies, and more to bring even more cheer to the holiday. Some of the most popular treats found in plastic eggs or Easter baskets are jellybeans (random fact — over 16 billion jellybeans are produced each year for Easter), chocolate bunnies, and the ever-popular Peeps — those marshmallow, sugar-coated bunnies and chicks have become icons for the Easter season. The history of the Easter basket originated in Germany as children would make “nests” in hopes that Peter Cottontail would fill their nest with eggs and plenty of treats, and that evolved into baskets that are easier to carry and not quite as messy.
As with any holiday in the South, center stage is often a delicious spread of food, and the traditional Easter feast is one like no other. Usually, baked ham is the centerpiece of the meal with a smorgasbord of other delicious delights, especially deviled eggs.
When your family is gathered around the table, decorations or tablescapes are almost as important as the food—well, almost. With its white trumpet-shaped flowers, the Easter lily is one of the most prominent symbols of Easter and a major part of holiday decorations. The brilliant white hue of the lilies represents the purity of Christ and symbolizes His rebirth as the bulbs are dormant during the Winter, and the flowers make their appearance in the Spring.
Holidays are always filled with many traditions and symbols, and Easter has some of the most beautiful and symbolic ones of all. Happy Easter, y’all!
