“Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal and new life.”—Janine di Giovanni
While Cecile and I were sitting in Devendorf Park in Carmel, a charming rest stop after browsing the several blocks of shops on Ocean Avenue, there was a couple with their little daughter holding her Easter basket, humming and skipping in front of them. I was feeling nostalgic for the holiday of my youth.
Having been born a Catholic and having attended Catholic schools, though not very observant as a religious holiday, I was taught Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Christ following his crucifixion. That said, many Easter traditions are purely secular and not found in the Bible. I still remember my first Easter basket and easter eggs, oval shaped jelly beans that resemble an egg, marshmallow-flavored chicks, and chocolate bunny rabbits. The Easter bunny, was reportedly introduced to America by German Immigrants. They brought their stories of the egg-laying hare. Decorating eggs dates back to the 13 th century and the Easter parade dates back further. Easter candy are more modern additions of this springtime holiday.
Though my wife isn’t a Christian we use to help our children color/dyed the egg shells of boiled eggs. That tradition has carried on at our daughter Michelle’s in-laws who are of the Christian faith. Our son-in-law Kyle often dresses up as an Easter bunny as does his step-dad Al. The girls love Easter egg hunts. The jelly bean, oval shaped like an egg that comes in different colors, became associated with Easter in the 1930s was called a Turkish Delight in the Biblical era.
The Easter Day Parade dates back to the middle 1800s. In fact in 1948, the popular film “Easter Parade” starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire. Women would go to church sporting their decorated easter bonnets and hats. Easter Lilies represent the purity of Christ and the dormant bulbs in the ground symbolize the rebirth of Christ’s resurrection.
Postscript: Many of the photos were taken in Carmel and some images I have archived on my laptop, and still others with, or of, people we met, and were wearing rabbit ears.
