Skip to main content

For Reflection and Rituals: Easter Sunday



I have written extensively about the holidays I love, Christmas being my favorite and Thanksgiving coming in a close second. If I am being honest Election Day and my birthday struggle to compete in those number one and number two spots. But I realize I am probably alone in that thinking.

From Halloween until New Years Day there is holiday spirit we can see no matter where we go. Stores are always selling items ahead of time rushing us to the next holiday before we can even enjoy the day that is in front of us.


When it comes to the New Year and spring I often do not count those holidays. You know Valentines Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and last but not least, Easter. I may acknowledge these “minor” holidays in small ways: I send cards to my beloved cousins, niece, and nephew, eat some festive colored candy, and use it as an excuse to take some pictures.

But every once and a while the days you don’t plan on celebrating in a big way surprise you by giving you a sense of pride, family, and happiness. This was my experience this past Sunday.


As a precursor to Easter, I was having Palm Sunday dinner with my immediate family and an aunt and uncle I am very close to. We spend a great day talking about nearly everything from serious topics to stories so funny I am still laughing about them. Even though I might have had similar conversations with these  relatives in the past, we had a truly great day full of bonding and none of the stress that can come from a so-called major holiday like Christmas. Here just being together was the goal and it was so nice that we were able to achieve this. It made me really appreciate how lucky I am to have this family.




With Easter Sunday fastly approaching I felt the need to explore the meaning of this holiday to me and share my traditions. As I get older I am able to see how important family traditions are. Sometimes you get so use to your routine you can become ignorant to blessings you have each and every day. My family isn’t particularly religious, but we go to church, eat a big meal, and look forward to the events we have coming up.


What I remember most about Easter growing up was looking in my Easter basket for the two things I always enjoyed: a white chocolate bunny (I do not eat milk or dark chocolate) and now Jelly Belly jellybeans, by far the best you can eat. I mean they made a jellybean flavored like popcorn for Christ sakes! Ok maybe bad language for a holiday blog but I am who I am.


From birth until the year she died, my grandmother gave me an Easter bunny. I still have the last one she gave me stored away. I like the idea that someday I may have a child of my own to give it to. If not it will always be something that I save. I have taken this tradition and recreated it with the kids who are in my life now. I love buying them presents to make a basket of sorts with special treats. Those a bigger hit than the cards I sent out with a dollar in them. Last year we even did an Easter egg hunt in my house. It is so nice to see excitement over the little things. It changes the whole energy in the room. My babies are just too precious for words.


Another important imprint of our annual Easter celebration is my grandmother’s cheesecake. My uncle (a different one) and his family have been responsible for keeping this recipe alive. It is always the most important thing I eat on Easter. Besides that it brings my dear grandmother closer to us on that day, it is also a tasty Italian treat. For those not familiar it does not have the same taste or texture as regular cheesecake. Our cheesecake is not made with cream cheese, but ricotta cheese. it is more moist than a version you would have in a non-Italian restaurant.











Another important food group comes at the beginning of the meal. I am mentioning it after my favorite dessert because this is the order in which I value them. This “dish” we eat as a cold antipasto and it contains many meats, cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, and lastly slices of oranges and lemons to cut some of the grease going down your pie-hole. It is a hell of a way to begin a several course meal.

When it is time to finally dig in to my dessert while drinking my coffee (usually the one I walked in with) all of us will sit back and we will reflect. There will be more laughs to be had, a birthday to commemorate, and more time to get excited for the family events coming up this spring and summer. We have had a lot of blessings especially this past year and a no nonsense holiday is just what we need.








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkboard or by using emery boards
Post a Comment
Read more

For My Madness During Migraine Awareness Month

Last weekend as I sat staring at the blank page in front of me, I was still surprised and elated that I had an entire day to myself and unlike past experiences it was filled with what I wanted when I wanted it. There were a few rough moments but when I consider the previous twelve hours (and the days to come) have been better than the last week. Especially this last week even though I had braced myself ahead of time, I just didn’t know I should have braced for a more serious episode. I am a chronic migraine sufferer for so many years I don’t quite remember when they started exactly which is ironic because I can remember every special event they have ruined. I remember plays or dinners I was at where I don’t remember what happened but I could tell you what I felt minute by minute. It amazing how the mind works, especially when it’s operated by a migraine brain. In the last few years, specifically the last few years since I have been going to the Montefiore Headac
10 comments
Read more

For a New Chain of Mexican Fast Food: “Dos Toros Taqueria”

When it comes to fast food there are the names we are familiar with: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Chipotle.  In you live in New York City, there is a new kid in town: Dos Toros.  Dos Toros is relatively new to this area but with any hope there might be one in your town soon.  Started by two brothers, Leo and Oliver Kremer, from Berkeley, California, the Mexican food you find here is inspired by food they loved growing up.  In California, the brothers grew up worshipping Gordo Taqueria, a favorite of Bay Area residents since 1977 (now promptly added to my San Francisco to eat list). Much of the recipes and even decor found at Dos Toros has been modeled on Gordo. Before moving to NYC in 2008, the brothers were living very different lives. Leo was the bassist for the band “Third Eye Blind”. Oliver fresh out of college, considered working in the technology or finance industry. Both disillusioned with their lives, they decided to pursue something they have l
Post a Comment
Read more