- Mom made ham in a special way, decorated with maraschino cherries and rings of pineapple.
- We always had sweet potatoes when we made a ham.
- When we were younger she would make a white cake in the shape of a rabbit’s face – covered with shredded coconut to look like “fur.”
- Before Easter day, usually on Saturday, we colored eggs with a PAAS egg-decorating kit.
- Easter morning was just like Christmas at our house – only instead of having presents under the tree, there were baskets of treats and toys hidden all over the house.
- After finding the Easter goodies, we dressed for church. This was a big deal and preparations for just the right clothes had been going on for days. New dress, new shiny patent leather shoes, new special white anklets, new bonnet with matching purse.
- Our church always sang pretty much the same hymns on Easter Sunday. There was “Up From the Grave He Arose” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today.”
- In front of the altar there were dozens of pots of Easter Lilies. The amazing fragrance filled the whole building. After the service, these flowers were distributed to the shut-ins, and we always took one home to my Grandma.
- Every year without fail, after I grew up and moved away, my mom would send me a special Easter Card.
- When my own mother became elderly and I was taking care of her, I would buy her one of these special white Easter Lilies to fill her apartment with the wonderful fragrance, to remind her of Grandma, and to let her know she was special.
- I would also buy her a corsage – usually a Cymbidium Orchid – for her to wear to church on her Easter Dress. Then I would take her to my church and show her off!
- When my own children were growing up at home, we incorporated a lot of my childhood traditions into our family life. We colored Easter eggs, and they each got Easter baskets. We dressed in our most special clothes before going to church. And we always had a special Easter dinner – usually ham fixed the way my mom had taught me.
- I added something very important with my own family, however. We talked about the death and resurrection of Christ and what it meant. We made worshiping the central focus of our holiday.
Traditions are important, but it
seems we only appreciate them as we get older.
Today I saw a greeting card in my
mailbox, and for one tenth of one split second I thought, “There’s mom’s card.” Kinda sad – she’s in heaven. But no, it’s NOT sad that she’s in
heaven! She’s happy, and I am too, even
though I’m missing her.
Happy Easter!
