My thoughts on…Easter
April 11th 2006 -
Easter is upon us once again, and the Lenten season is near its end. I still haven’t given up anything for the season. I thought of giving up blogging, but I wanted something more carnal. I can’t give up desires of the flesh because I don’t have a girlfriend. I thought of giving up procrastination, but I kept on putting it off. I thought of giving up chicken, but as all black people know, chicken for us is like Lembas bread for Elves. So here I am. The celebration is of course about the death and resurrection of Christ, but like Christmas, religion has been taken out and the Easter Bunny gets all the props. There has been talk about U.S liberal media and business launching a War on Easter. But it hasn’t gotten anywhere near the attention of the War on Christmas, mainly because you don’t get presents on Easter, aside from the disgusting smell that greets you once the Easter eggs go bad.
In Jamaica, the Easter bunny tradition doesn’t exist, so I was spared the impact of an earth-shattering lie. We eat bun and cheese and attend church services. That’s about it.
I was interested in how Easter is celebrated worldwide, so I did some research. I was surprised by what I found.
In Bulgaria they have egg fights. The winner is the one that emerges with an unbroken egg, and is declared the most successful for the year to come.
In Mexico they smash eggs over each other’s heads.
In Germany eggs are dyed green on Maundy Tuesday.
In England there is Hare Pie Scramble and Bottle Kicking.
In Greece, there is a public procession and a person with red eggs (so coloured for the blood of Christ) taps them together while one declares “Christ is risen” then the other says “Truly he is risen”.
In the United States they have Easter Parades, a Whitehouse Easter Egg Roll and of course the traditional Easter Egg Hunt.
How is Easter celebrated in your part of the world?
mwgrl5 Says:
April 11th, 2006 at 4:25 pm
Hey, I just wanted to drop by for a hello. You commented on my blog, so I like to give the curtisy of visiting the blogs owned by my guests. I love your humor! Come by again.
Jason Says:
April 11th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
Cool post! My family celebrates Easter with the Czech tradition of duck and dumplings. We have an Easter egg hunt as well. For lent I gave up stereotyping and judging people before I’ve met them, because its seems to easy to do sometimes, especially when surrounded by like-minded friends. Hopefully, this Lenten promise will have more longevity than 40 days. At least I hope it will. The thing of it is though is that I’m not even very religious but I’ve adopted lent through what seems some sort of religious socialization, being surrounded by Catholics in Nebraska and such. Keep up the good work on the posts.
Jaxson Says:
April 11th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
I think all this ‘blame the media’ is so stupid. It’s up to parents to decide how they celebrate a holiday. If they choose to ignore the religion and put the focus on candy, then it’s their own fault when that’s what their kids focus on. Kids don’t read the papers, and they don’t watch the news. And honestly, I don’t even see commercials for easter stuff. So once again, I see this as a lack of personal responsibility which is the most rampant of all issues in america today. I hope it’s not the same in Jamaica!
Abeni Says:
April 11th, 2006 at 10:26 pm
We eat cross buns on Good Friday and there is a no meat policy as well.Friday and Sunday churches are fuller than usual and on the monday is picnic time.
Kaschief Says:
April 11th, 2006 at 10:58 pm
Bun and cheese. Full stop. I’m even eating one while typing this…
But it’s not in celebration of easter. Easter-Schmeaster. I think it’s crap.
Viva la Bun and Cheese.
Jerine Says:
April 12th, 2006 at 5:21 am
i gave up shopping… hehe… and it works
The Phoenix Says:
April 12th, 2006 at 4:44 pm
Wow…I wanna do an egg fight!
Webmiztris Says:
April 12th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
most people in my area go to church and come home and eat ham.
I don’t go to church and then eat ham.
Karen Says:
April 12th, 2006 at 9:28 pm
Easter is actually my favorite holiday- I love spring, maybe. and coloring eggs! and of course, chocolate. as I’m not Catholic, I’ve never had to do the ‘giving things up bit” like so many of my friends. personally, I’ve never been able to equate not eating chocolate for 40 days to being crucified… nice blog, btw.
Maritza Says:
April 12th, 2006 at 9:44 pm
As a child, Good Friday was observed by being very, very quiet. No radio, no television, no playing. It was a day of reflection, contemplation and meditation. My mother was raised Quaker and took this day very seriously. Easter was like any other Sunday, we didn’t go to church - just finished chores and such but Good Friday was a very big deal.
RainStorm1212 Says:
April 14th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
My family is Catholic and they usually go to church, and then have a big Easter dinner. Since I am no longer a Catholic (I switched over to Protestant), I don’t follow any customs or traditions.
I find it sickening how the world has made the two most important dates in human history (Christmas and Easter) about everything else except for the true reason.
iriegal Says:
April 20th, 2006 at 2:32 am
I made some Jamaican Easter Bun the day before Easter..it brought back a bit of home..
yah mon..
IRIE