Easter Traditions

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.

In addition, candy factories came about in the ‘50s, which added an extra boost to the Easter bunny’s chocolates, as women employees worked overtime to ensure an adequate supply of the scrumptious candy treats. Another fun tradition starting in the 1950s that stood the test of time is dyeing eggs. This activity is still a popular, fun activity for kids of all ages.

Do you remember when in the 1960s, women wore bold pink and red skirts and matching jackets, making a lovely appearance? You may also remember that during this period, many families coordinated the clothes of all of the children, an adorable practice that continued for some time. The ‘60s was an era when Catholic families attending Easter morning mass was never a question, as families showed off their sharp attire, adding accessories to the little ones, such as pocketbooks and gloves.

For those raised in the ‘70s, there may be memories of gardens with blooming, colorful flowers. In addition, potluck dinners became popular, as families celebrated together, while each contributed different dishes to the grand meal. Young girls were dressed sweetly, with floral and pastel colored dresses, while the young lads donned a suit and tie, just like the family dad.

If you ever wondered when “ham” became the main course of an Easter meal, it was in the 1980s. Children in the ‘80s continued to dye Easter eggs to pass out to family members, and of course, a special one was saved for the beloved Easter Bunny.

Do you remember when the greatly popular Easter egg hunt became a tradition in the 1980s, when children discovered the fun and excitement of running through the yard, searching for candy-filled eggs, hidden by the Easter Bunny, and filling up a basket to collect as many as they could? And what about those adorable photos of children sitting on the Easter Bunny’s lap that became popular in the ‘80s? The Bunny could be found at area shopping centers, particularly in malls, where the kiddies stood in an often long line and anxiously awaited a turn to meet and take a photo, which was developed on the spot. The 1990s continued on with photos of the Easter Bunny with kids sitting on his lap becoming even more popular. This era may be when Easter started to become a little more focused on the commercial side of the holiday. Easter Bunny baskets were overly filled with even more candy, along with the addition of trinkets and toys, and even larger gifts in many cases.

While most families continue to celebrate with a special Easter brunch or family dinner, there have been more and more additions, and in some cases, changes, to how people enjoy the holiday in today’s era. For some, casual get-togethers have replaced more formal dinners, with Easter activities that offer a new spin on classic holiday traditions, including adult Easter egg hunts, decked out Easter baskets, dedicated Easter egg decorating parties, and even some children receiving a variety of other “gifts” from several family members, in addition to the basket from the Bunny, making it seem more like Christmas, than the Easter we all remember from years gone by.

Although it’s exciting to see what may come next, I must say that I miss the simplistic Easter of the former generations, when dressing in your “Sunday Best” and going to mass were at the forefront of the holiday. I also revel in the memories of coloring eggs on Easter eve, and after mass on Easter morning, running through my backyard in haste and excitement, along with my siblings and all of my cousins, to collect dozens of those pastel eggs, each filled with a surprise, followed by eating a huge meal and endless desserts. All in all, I would never trade my own experiences of Easter from my own childhood in the 1970s era that have resulted in lifelong, heartwarming memories and of which special family traditions have been carried on to my own children.