Easter is this weekend, and it’s a busy one—at home and out in the world. The expectations of Easter – coloring eggs, egg hunts, candy, Easter dinner, church services, special outfits, decorations, and other activities – can feel overwhelming and expensive, never mind stressful.
Here on the farm, with eight grandchildren in the mix, I’ve been thinking a lot about those expectations, especially when it comes to candy and traditions. Like many families, ours is diverse in age, religious beliefs, and perspectives about Easter. What we do share, though, are traditions – candy, egg hunts, a family dinner – handed down over generations. Easter, in contemporary society, means different things to people and each of us decides on our own religious or non-religious beliefs, and we come together for the cultural practices. I've been making candy. Making candy gives one extra time to think while the treats are cooling, and I started to wonder just how our family came to have the Easter practices we have – egg hunts, deviled eggs, and Easter dinner.
We’re always up for an Easter egg hunt, and a little internet search revealed some longstanding traditions. The origins of egg hunting are as elusive as the eggs but many trace the traditions to Germany in the 1600’s. Those same folks are responsible for the Easter Hare as well, even telling their kids that the rabbit laid and delivered the colored eggs. My family has strong German roots so I’m thinking colored eggs are in our genes. I confess that watching the guys hide the eggs is almost as much fun as watching kids look for them. Rain, snow, or sun, the eggs are hidden and no leaf is left unturned. I think, though, that the kids will not believe that a rabbit lays the eggs; that’s a stretch for anyone. As a kid in Appalachia, the making of the Easter eggs was serious business. The Easter bunny was a big joke. The practice of a fertile rabbit delivering the symbol of new beginnings took a turn in the United States in the early 1900s, when candy companies began marketing Easter baskets. I'm thinking that for my parents and grandparents, the Easter bunny delivering baskets wasn't something they could afford or would want us to believe. Here we are, 100 years later, spending many dollars on cheap baskets filled with throw-away toys and waxy chocolate bunnies. Since I decline to participate in this commercialized fun, I support the egg hunt with lots of eggs, at least there’s physical activity involved! No credit to the bunny. Thank a chicken for those eggs!
When I was a kid, we always colored hard boiled eggs and, after the hunt, those same eggs were returned to the kitchen and deviled eggs appeared on the dinner table. I love deviled eggs, but in a nod to convenience (and health), I now buy plastic eggs and put candy inside. The boiled eggs stay clean until it’s time to eat them! My reading revealed a slightly different tradition from Napoleon’s days in France. Legend is that he ordered a giant scrambled eggs breakfast for his troops as they passed through the village on Easter and now the tradition continues. Their current Easter celebration includes a community egg scramble in which a massive omelet is made to feed over 2,000 people! I didn’t find any mention of whether that happens before or after church—but that’s probably a story of its own. Deviled eggs are a strong family tradition for my family, and I can still remember the differences in taste between my grandmothers’ and my mom’s eggs. I liked them all and, to this day, my middle brother and I will scuffle in the kitchen over the last deviled egg. My fondest hope is to see my grandchildren fight over my deviled eggs!
Easter dinner is another conundrum for me. Ham is the most common Easter dish that I'm aware of, but I don’t eat pork—and since I’m the cook, I don’t prepare it either. I don’t care if other people cook it, and I wondered why it’s a tradition. I learned that that pork was traditionally inexpensive so it’s easier to have a feast! Also, in history when folks cured their own meat, the pork was harvested, processed, and preserved in fall, making it ready to eat in spring, so it was convenient as well. Some cultures eat lamb instead of pork, and it has direct connections to the bible, a reflection of the importance of sheep in that period of history. Personally, you’ll likely find us having a picnic if we’re hosting Easter dinner. Our tradition is in the family gathering, not the meat served.
Easter, however you celebrate, symbolizes important traditions. Regardless of the foundational religious beliefs held, family traditions make this holiday unique and important. Whether it’s egg hunts in the yard, deviled eggs in the kitchen, or simply gathering around the table, these moments shape our families and memories. Here on the farm, we’ll be celebrating in our own way—and probably arguing over the last deviled egg. Wishing you a peaceful and joyful Easter.
