It's Easter Sunday. What are you doing here? Did you find all those eggs? Aren't you making brunch for everyone? Are you at least sipping some champagne right now?
I am doing all of those things. Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Okay, it's Number Three, behind Halloween and Christmas, but still....What I really love about Easter is that it has never truly left its pagan self behind. It's a grown up with stuffed animals on her bed. She just can't leave all that whimsy behind.
My daughter asked me the other day why Easter hops around on the calendar so much. "Will it ever fall on my birthday?" she raised her brows hopefully. I had to dash them. No. Easter is always after the First Day of Spring, the Vernal Equinox. Easter is always after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox. How pagan can you get? I find it delightful!
I realize the value of this Christian holiday. It's what makes Christ, The Christ. Without this validation, this resurrection, Jesus is an excellent historical figure, a king without a country. Easter makes him holy. But you've got eggs, rabbits, baby chicks, and Estre, that goddess...Easter feels like a 18-year old girl who keeps trying on "costumes" to see who she really is. What's with all the fertility? (The eggs, the bunnies...) Easter feels like a celebration of rebirth: spring; we eat lamb, there's those eggs again!, asparagus, new potatoes, spring peas...yum! And then we've turned it into feasting after Lent. My kids get pure delight from the surprise of finding eggs, the wonder of what's inside. We wake up and search with glee until we find...what are we really supposed to find? Childish wonderment? Beauty in a plastic egg? True belief? I say yes to it all, with gusto! Easter is a busy holiday; she's got a lot goin' on. She's a modern girl.
I'm having Easter outside. It's going to be a beautiful day. I'm grilling lamb chops, roasting green and white asparagus and baby potatoes. I've made onion tarts and the lucky ones around my table will end with pink champagne and lemon souffles. I'm celebrating it all, but most of all, I thank my lucky stars for the people coming to my (finally!) clean house today no matter what reason they choose.
And now, I need some more champagne. How about you?
we popped open some champagne, though i never held a glass. i was busy stuffing myself wish roasted veggies and salmon. a cold smoked salmon is one of my favorite easter traditions. asparagus and mozzarella puff pastries. sounds like there were some commonalities.
ReplyDeletehappy easter jude!