Easter Sunday 2022 was last weekend, concluding a very Holy time of year for many Christians and other people! Reflecting back in time after surviving “Fat Tuesday,” Ash Wednesday and the period of fasting begins for many Christians. It’s amazing how many people that do not practice the fast or the faith love to indulge in the practice of consuming vast quantities of Paczki’s on “Fat Tuesday!” Meijer’s will sell over a million on “Fat Tuesday” alone. 23 consumed Paczkis is the highest number to be consumed in a Paczki eating contest over 15 minutes; keep the sodium bicarbonate handy. Calories can range between 450 and 850 per Paczki. So, after the fat and sugar load, the fasting for many begins the next day. The carbohydrate loading day leads to incredible sugar cravings the next day. People who fast give up something they love to make fasting a significant experience preparing them for the Easter Sunday Celebration. This has led to the Easter Sunday Easter Basket.
The Easter Basket is quite interesting; it involves a character called the Easter Bunny! This happy Bunny sneaks into everyone’s home, similar to Santa Claus. It hides colored easter eggs and the proverbial Easter Basket. First, the basket is filled with fake green grass to make it seem real. Often it is filled with counterfeit candy baby chicks. A variety of candy Easter eggs comprised of various flavors of chocolate. How the Easter Bunny lays these delicious candy eggs is quite a mystery.
Next is the Presidential candy, the Jellybean! President Reagan loved Jellybeans so much that he had them in a jar in the Oval Office. It seems that every confectioner has an Easter Version of their candy, usually in the shape of an egg.
Fun is everywhere to be had during the Easter celebration. Many local governments, charities, and churches feature an Easter egg coloring event, where kids can color the eggs and bring them home. The Easter Bunny will hide them among their eggs. Also, an Easter Egg Hunt is included in many communities, the kids line up, and then are unleashed upon the eggs like a swarm of locusts. You can even get your picture taken sitting on the Easter Bunnies’ lap! Some kids love it, and some cry!
The Easter confections usually do not last long, gone long before the next Holiday, Mother’s Day! Each Holiday has its own meaning, its own fun, and its own food. Some Holidays mean more than others.
“Remember, every day is a gift! Some are just a little more fun to open than others. – © Joel M. Vernier 04/17/2022 Author of: “The Guinea Pig In The Freezer.” joelmvernier@aol.com
