Celebrating Easter with thoughtful, non commercial ideas

On Wednesday night, my friend Sandra Frain hosted her Easter parent education evening.   She prepared a dinner (this was her kind treat to her parents in her group) of delicious pumpkin mash, boiled eggs, roasted sunflower seeds in tamari, their own pumpkin seeds from their garden toasted, homemade pesto, aioli (mayonnaise) made by her 18 year old daughter, freshly made cream cheese with a sundried tomato topping, a juicy salad filled with chickory and herbs from the garden AND  sourdough bread, baked in the shape of a cross with 7 bread roses.   It was a feast for the eyes, as much as for the belly!

Sandra shared that for her, growing up as a child in Canada, Easter was a non existant celebration (due to her family's belief systems), but that she always felt something was missing.  She came to the IDEA of "easter" (and what this meant for her)  more consciously as an adult and supported us, that we too should find our own relationship to Easter.  This is freedom.  But, Sandra did point out, Easter IS all around us, so whether an individual (and family) chooses to participate in the more commercial idea of Easter (eg chocolate galore, easter egg hunts, who gets the most... etc idea) or finds something that is a better fit for them, it is important to acknowledge that "something" is happening in many places across the world.  To ignore it is folly, and may just serve to alienate people from their local and greater community.  I liked this idea.

Sandra shared some of her ideas with us, in particular the idea of the Easter Hare (rather than the easter bunny) as the chosen delivery 'guy' as his whole being is that of someone who makes sacrifices and who is clear minded in his intentions.  The hare is an animal who will put himself in harms way to save a mate.  This is one of the key ideas of Easter- that we, as human individuals, are able to put others (and their needs) first, even when it is extremely difficult; in the most extreme case- giving up life so others could continue to have freedom and redemption.  

We also spoke about the challenge of Easter in the Southern hemisphere being in the Autumn season.

Collette Leenman, a NZ based author and artist, has a lovely book called "Easter in Autumn" (ISBN 978-0-473-12460-1) which develops some ideas that can support families with this concept down under.
You can contact Collette via email to purchase a copy of this book (and her other ones too)
Email: collette.leenman@clear.net.nz   Any problems with this email, just let me know.
(Tell her I sent you!)

I dont have a problem with Easter being in Autumn at all. It is all I have ever known, yet the colours of autumn (the golden, orange and reddish hues) actually speak to me of a time of internal contemplation, and surely this too is a theme of Easter.  As much as the greens, and lemon yellows and pinks signify Spring, and all the new life that comes.  I also like that the Autumn Gold- that golden melt-in-your-mouth colour of butter- reminds me of the yolk inside an egg.  New life waiting to burst forth.  And this clearly speaks of this time of the year too.

We travelled a little, but not insignificant, journey throughout the rooms and corridors of Sandra's home and imagined the themes of the week leading up the Easter (and the death of Jesus Christ).  This small acting out of some of the key virtues of this time ( a mini-play if you like) is helping to make this time resonate more deeply within me.  As someone who also grew up without much understanding of the yearly themes, I too have had to find my own way into meaning and symbolism. 

Finally, Sandra taught us the technique of Pysanka egg decorating (a type of wax batik) and we took turns dipping our blown/hard boiled eggs into pots of dye, whilst chatting about the meaning of Easter for all of us, and eating Sandra's delicious-nutritious-wobbleishious lavendar icecream.
 (I must go on and on about this icecream!!  Out of this world!! I can't eat commercial icecream ever again!!)

We also learned a way to decorate eggs with coloured tissue paper.

In a few weeks, I look forward to my own Easter Celebration with Moondew families with refreshed eyes and heart.

Thank you Sandra for sharing of your deep and loving ideas.