THE TRADITIONS AND HISTORY OF A
TYPICAL AMERICAN EASTER by Julia Romano
The best family traditions result from bringing different generations together to create unique, enjoyable customs that will be passed on and continued for many years to come. Easter is a wonderful time to celebrate family and to make those traditions to create lifelong, cherished memories. Easter is a holiday when “Brunch” is commonplace and a popular family tradition throughout the country. While some prefer to experience going out to a restaurant that offers a brunch menu, others choose to create Easter Brunch at home with sweet and savory foods that will satisfy everyone’s palate, combining multiple breakfast and lunch dishes. In addition to Easter Brunch, the holiday has a variety of other traditions, many of which continue to be revisited each year. As a matter of fact, each decade, going back to the 1950s, people have been celebrating Easter traditions that are still favored today because of their popularity and how they continue to bring families together for joyful Easter festivities. In the 1950s, remember when, for example, dressing the entire family in their finest clothes was common? After going to church, the kids often had Easter egg hunts, followed by a grand brunch with the entire family including moms and dad, aunts, uncles, lots of cousins, and of course, the beloved maternal and paternal grandparents. Women, during this era, got “all dolled up,” with matching gloves and dresses, while the gentlemen looked dapper in their full suits. The entire family dressed impeccably and then enjoyed their experience of the “American Dream,” as the little girls donned Easter bonnets, and the children were in awe of overflowing Easter baskets. 66
