My family always made a big party out of Easter. My grandparents were very religious (Methodists) and we all went to church, but afterward it was your typical family feast with all the relatives.
My Grandpa Roy and Grandma Lee hosted (until they got too old) and we had a big egg hut for the kids in their yard. We also had small gifts — nothing like Christmas, but little things. Also Easter was a time to buy new clothes (usually “Sunday School” clothes but sometimes everyday stuff).
Always A Good Egg
The food was outrageously good and plentiful — lots of stuff with all the good Midwestern-type of picnic food — every kind of salad and Jello dish you can think of — all the baked goods from cookies and brownies and fudge to cakes and pies, and of course LOTS of ham, potatoes and that stuff.
Then — whenever we had a big gathering — the men would churn home-made ice cream. Grandma made her own special vanilla mix with a hint of lemon extract — I have never found any commercial ice cream that tastes quite like it. We would fill the tub with ice and take turns cranking the mixer … Grandpa Roy would start, then poop out and my dad would take over, and when we got older, the boys would finish off (it got more difficult as the ice cream solidified). One person would keep adding ice and rock salt as it drained off (of course you did this outside because of the water flow. )
Great memories. I think after we found all the eggs, sometimes we nagged the adults to hide them again!
Most of the day was spent watching TV (adults) and playing board and card games. It was a real close, extended family. My Uncle Bill and Aunt Bee (Dad’s sister) had two kids about ten years younger than me, so it was like a new generation and my two brothers and I moved up into the adult roles — hiding Easter eggs, helping make ice cream and whatever else men did (this was back in the day when the women did all the real work — cooking, serving, washing dishes).
Great memories. And I really miss every bit of it.
Hope you and your family have a very happy Easter.
