A Photo Shoot Event

As young children we celebrated Easter, the secular one, while the parents took us to church to see Jesus on the cross, it still remained above our understanding. It was, as I recall a very happy day, a day we had ham and chocolate cream pie. My mom was the type that did everything the hard way, homemade. Our places at the table we're decked out in Easter goodies. A soup bowl contained a decorated, hard-boiled egg, and some confections. One year, I recall that she made an Easter bunny cake, covered with coconut, and jelly beans. The bunny face had round pink cheeks, a red licorice mouth, blue eyes and a pink nose. Our eggs were dipped in boiling water with colored tablets and vinegar. There were crayons used to make designs like flowers, which appeared after dipping. We did two-tone colored eggs, and sometimes we had special holders for them. We participated in the fun. It was a time also for blowing bubbles with our cousins and playing with springtime toys. I can still see my mom counting to the number of times she hit the ball, which was attached by a rubber string stapled to a round paddle. Her other hand behind her back, her eye was glued to the ball as it went straight up in the air. I think she held the record. One year, we had a hula hoop contest. I loved to eat the marshmallow colored chicks and chocolate bunny. Candy everywhere, we wisely saved some for another day. We always got a new coat, dress, hat and shoes to wear to church. The radio at that time, played songs like "In your Easter Bonnet with all the thrills upon it, you'll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade. And, here comes Peter Cotton-Tail hopping down the bunny trail... We didn't have a parade as such, but it meant wearing your finest which included a "special" hat. Many years in school, we would make a hat suitable for the occasion. Everyone participated in this art project and it was non-negotiable. Easter is Easter. One year, we even had real baby chicks. Little yellow ones that we held in our hands. They were all so precious. Daddy brought them home for us. That was many years ago now, but this Pascha (Easter) we are going to dinner where we will be invited to bring our camera to take pictures at a photo shoot with the children, as they play with the chicks. Many things have changed...few will be wearing their finest, dresses are less fashionable and who has even heard of an Easter Bonnet or Easter Parade? Maybe Peter Cotton Tail is still around, somewhere.... No matter what else is celebrated, or what you call it, the fact is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. It is the good news that remains through every generation.