When I think of Easter, all the images of spring and new birth come to mind. I see pastel colored bulbs peeking out from the hard winter earth and newly hatched baby birds calling out from their nests. The wild forsythia bushes burst forth in their yellow insanity, drawing instant attention to their normally invisible presence. Images of baby chicks and bunnies, not exactly common in suburban yards but part of our collective consciousness, seem to be all around.
Springtime ingredients are abundant in the markets. Meal planning changes from heavy stews and root vegetables to fresh and light recipes that take advantage of the fresh produce. Odes to the asparagus are written in the Sunday paper, and sensuous strawberries seduce their way into shopping carts. Lamb, which may not be a favorite meat during the rest of the year, seems like the most suitable, appetizing choice to celebrate the Paschal sacrifice of Easter.
Clothing, that was perfectly acceptable for the past five or six months, becomes drab and tired-looking overnight. It's time to dress in the same pastel colors as Mother Nature. I still feel the impulse to buy an Easter bonnet to cap off the rest of my spring attire.
With the longer, lighter days, homes take on a new personality. Windows beg to be flung open to allow the spring breezes to race inside. It becomes almost a primal necessity to clean closets, wash the windows and make everything shine with springtime luster.
If spring fever has seized your spirit as it has mine, invite your friends, young and old, to revel in the season with you at a springtime brunch. At the same time, make it fun for the younger ones in your group by planning an Easter Egg Hunt. It can be held any time during the weeks leading up to Easter or even during the week after when children are on spring break. That will give the kiddies something to anticipate (besides sleeping late).
Next page: Preparing for the Hunt
