“Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life.”
The rain continues. It rained all night and will rain all day. It is cold now with a wind, but it will get warmer, not that it matters on such an ugly day. I have one errand today.
When I was a kid, I remember going shopping for Easter clothes. We were decked out on the big day with new clothes and new shoes. When I was young, I always wore a fancy dress, a pouffy pastel dress. I had patent leather shoes, usually ones with a strap across the top of my foot. Even my dainty white socks were new. They used to have lace at the top. I was never a lover of hats, but Easter seemed to demand a new hat. Sometimes it had ribbons. It was always decorative and usually white. I’d wear short white gloves to complete my outfit, to complete the transformation from scruff to elegant. I was always so excited to have a new outfit from top to bottom. Other than school shopping, my mother seldom bought us an outfit for just one occasion. ‘
Sometimes we went to Jordan Marsh. I liked the one in Boston. In one part of the store, in a nook, they had a children’s book section. I remember the shelves were tall and wooden, and there were chairs. I’d sometimes hide out there waiting until the choosing was finished. My mother would concentrate on one of us at a time. I was never too choosy and always finished quickly. My sisters took more time. They really loved new dresses. I remember they’d whirl, and their dresses would get even pouffier.
I never questioned why we got new outfits for Easter. I always figured they were a celebration, a welcome to Easter and to spring and a final farewell to winter clothes. Come to find out the tradition of new clothes goes back to Christian medieval times. They were a fresh start, a celebration to symbolize the resurrection.
Our debut was church. Masses were always filled on Easter Sunday. Every kid was dressed to the nines. All the girls were in dresses. The boys wore suits or jackets and pants. They all wore ties. My brother wore a white shirt, a tie and a sort of sport coat and pants.
We stayed in our outfits the whole day. We ate our special Easter dinner, always ham. We ate our chocolate bunnies.
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
March 29, 2024 at 6:25 pm
Once upon a time I was a very young MDH singing in the choir at St Mary and St Nicholas in Leatherhead Surrey. One of my fondest Easter memories was that were given daffodils to present to our mothers. We processed down the main aisle, through the doors where they were waiting for us
Now my Granddaughters are the focus of attention. We see this Sunday and then we hit the road to Denver next weekend for birthday celebrations
Meanwhile the Prince is currently on his senior trip and has signed to play football at Lawrence Tech while he plays studies engineering . There is talk of him playing tight end. We have to get ready for Saturdays with the school cheering on a new generation of football player
March 30, 2024 at 12:31 am
My Dear Hedley,
What a wonderful way to celebrate Easter and spring. I always think of the dafs as the harbingers of spring.
How wonderful you get to celebrate holidays and birthdays with your granddaughters. I remember the days of the young prince and your celebrations with him.
The prince is staying close to home. I hope he got some money for signing. I admire his choosing engineering. It isn’t easy.
Happy Easter and Happy Travels!
March 30, 2024 at 12:20 am
Hi Kat,
Don’t you remember the song, “In your Easter bonnet with all the thrills upon it”, that’s why you had to have a new hat. The best part of Easter is the chocolate rabbits and the candy. At Passover we Jew get to eat unleavened bread for eight days. 😦
I’m always amazed that synagogue’s sanctuaries have to be designed to be easily expandable to be able to accommodate the large crowds that only show up on the high holidays. It’s the same for Easter. Everyone is going to show up so that they get their ticket punched to go nonstop to heaven. Of course, the evangelicals don’t have to show up, they just buy a holy bible from Trump. 🙂
March 30, 2024 at 12:36 am
Hi Bob,
I’m thinking the wearing of bonnets might have predated the songs. In the old days women had to wear hats in church so I guess a new one at Easter made sense.
We have Christmas and Easter Catholics. The churches are overflowing on those days. I always liked the mass at Christmas with the altar decorated in greenery and poinsettias and the choir singing Christmas carols. Everyone was so festive.