PLYMOUTH — As we start Holy Week in the Christian faith, I fondly remember my parents and how they instilled in me all the values they carried, and how I learned so much from them in a very short time.
Today is Palm Sunday, and I will be sure to attend Mass and pick up the blessed palms for my house, dear family, and friends.
And I will also remember Good Friday and how it was so important to my mom and her Catholic faith.
Mom would remind me early on Good Friday that I was to be in the house by 11:30 a.m. We would have a light lunch, and then she would tell me to get on the couch and stay there — that I was to do nothing but pray for the next three hours.
That meant no TV, no comic books, no music, no outside playing, no telephone calls — praying was all that was to be allowed. And we did — quietly — for three hours.
Holy Week is the most holy time of the year for Christians. Looking back, I can see how observing those three hours on Good Friday by praying was the least we could do.
But I also have to say that beyond the solemn celebration of Easter, for kids, it was also about the candy.
I know it was for me. Yes, we got all dressed up and went off to Easter Sunday Mass, and we were sure to fulfill our Easter duty by going to confession before the big day.
But when church was over and we completed our Easter duty, the bountiful Easter meal was ingested, then it was time to tear open the big Easter basket and start at it.
Chocolate was everywhere — and the good stuff — the solid chocolate — not that stuff that has a hollow center. We would crack open a big bunny or other item and start gnawing on it like a beaver on a log, building a dam. It was soooooo good.
And a few white chocolate items were thrown in for good measure, plus some foil-wrapped eggs and, of course, jelly beans. My dad always enjoyed a large coconut cream egg.
These are childhood memories of long ago. My memories are the same as yours — we may not have grown up in the same neighborhood or town, but we grew up the same way — with the same values, the same traditions, the same lessons learned.
I also recall Holy Saturday when my mom would pack food into a wicker basket, and we would go to St. Mary’s Church, where people gathered to have their baskets blessed. This blessed food would be served first on Easter, and we had to have some of everything offered. Then the real traditional Easter meal would be served.
We still do this, thanks to Cousin Claire, who gets a basket of food blessed every year. It’s one of those traditions that I cherish every year.
A traditional Easter basket includes several items, each with its own meaning and purpose.
The items include: horseradish, butter, kielbasa, bread, salt, cheese, eggs, ham, bacon, and a candle. I realize Catholics will get this. And I am sure all religions have traditions as meaningful as this.
There is a religious significance to each food that is blessed, according to this century-old custom:
• The Easter bread, or paska bread, symbolizes the joy of new life given by Jesus Christ.
• The lamb-shaped butter serves as a reminder of the goodness in life.
• The decorated, hard-boiled eggs symbolize Christ’s resurrection.
• Kielbasa is indicative of God’s favor and generosity.
• Horseradish symbolizes Christ’s end of suffering and death.
• Ham symbolizes the joy and abundance of Easter.
• Cheese indicates moderation.
• Bacon symbolizes the over-abundance of God’s mercy.
• And salt reminds Christians that Christ is essential to their souls, as salt is essential to their bodies.
And of course, Easter marks the end of Lent and for many Catholics, the return of pizza, ice cream, chocolate, or some other item that has been fasted on for 40 days.
And back in the day, as you can see from the photo also attached, Easter was a day for dressing up.
My mom went all out for this outfit, circa 1956. All I can say is that it was for a very special day.
Holidays were all about people getting together and having fun.
Never did we have to check our Halloween candy for razor blades or rat poison.
We weren’t afraid to knock on doors.
We eagerly went into local bars to sing songs for quarters.
And Christmas was the best of times — great food, lots of family and friends, lots of presents, and of course, the anticipation of Santa Claus dropping by.
Porch lights were always on.
Screen doors allowed us to look inside and see if anybody was home.
The doors were never locked.
And nobody ever chased us away — we were always welcome.
Easter signaled the start of spring — warmer weather, April showers, flowers blooming, trout fishing, and baseball tryouts.
Those really were the best of times.
We were all there — together.
Our memories keep us together.
Have a Blessed and Happy Easter.