As a child, I looked forward to Easter Sunday, when I would get together with all my family in one of my aunt’s backyards, preparing a game plan for the Easter egg hunt. The anticipation of candy, and the search for the most Easter eggs, is something I, along with many children, remember fondly.
Although the Easter holiday is a predominantly Christian religion, celebrating the rebirth of Jesus Christ, the image of colorful eggs and white bunnies are afresh in many a child’s mind.
However, as an adult, Easter has taken on a different meaning for me. I can no longer participate in those spring afternoon egg hunts, and, my family no longer has small children to participate in the Easter festivities. My family is not strictly religious, so every year, we just have a barbecue.
It’s a barbecue that any family can have any type of year, but it has been something of a tradition for the past few years. In fact, I can’t remember when we did not have a barbecue on Easter Sunday. Since most of my relatives live out of town, the outing is small, but it is something I always resonate with Easter as an adult.
It reminds me that Easter does not always have to mean Easter baskets and a horde of young children wondering around a green lawn. It can simply mean having a small get together with loved ones and enjoying a relaxing spring afternoon.
The meaning of a holiday is not always held up by commercialism, but rather the memories that are spent with family and friends. It is something that we can all think about as we head into the holiday weekend.