Easter-time is a little different in this area of the U.S. We were away last year, spending time with the boys' cousins down in Florida, so I didn't really take in the differences between the UK and US at this time of year. Basically, they boil down to the fact that 'Easter' is not really mentioned in an official sense - instead, we have Spring Recess to look forward to for the boys, but there are no public holidays on either Good Friday or Easter Monday. (I keep having to stop myself referring to the 'Easter holidays', as it would mystify most people or be somehow politically incorrect, but somehow this phrase is ingrained in me after years in the U.K.)
There are various Egg hunts happening in town, but in keeping with the non-religiousness of public schools, and the large Jewish population, the whole thing seems to be slightly rolled in with Passover. The Easter Bunny, meanwhile, seems to have morphed into a kind of second-tier Santa, bringing not necessarily chocolate but general gifts - one mum friend told me her teenager had asked for a new CD from the Bunny.
This week I attended what was dubbed a 'Spring Celebration' in Littleboy 1's classroom. They had an egg hunt and a special snack of matzah (a cracker traditionally eaten at Passover) dipped in melted chocolate. An interesting blend of two religious traditions, I thought - and something that struck me as likely to be uniquely New York. I kind of like that.
Despite the vagueness over Easter, Spring is definitely here now, although the weather continues to veer wildly from warm to freezing cold. Cherry blossom, magnolias and daffodils are out all over town (Potty Mummy, here's a special picture of my flower beds just for you); winter clothes are being stashed away and everyone is asking you where your child is going for summer camp, as the long, hot summer holidays loom ever nearer. Before I know it, it will be May - and the second anniversary of our arrival in the States. It's funny going back and reading about our first impressions of the area, and our househunting experiences - two years on, so many things now seems normal, but I'm also constantly surprised by so many differences.
14 comments:
Of course, traditionally one hides the afikoman for Passover, and then the kid who finds it gets to ransom it back for treats.
(I've always been just a little jealous of Jewish holidays.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afikoman
The tradition here is Easter Egg hunts (because we've just out of Hallowe'en, Christmas and Valentines candy), and Easter baskets. And yes, the Easter Bunny is indeed a kind of second rank Santa (though I think the both trump the tooth fairy). Children get an Easter basket filled with goodies: toys and edibles from the Bunny. And Easter dresses are a big thing for little girls. They all wear pretty flowery dresses on Easter Sunday.
Very interesting, and thankyou for the flower-bed picture! Unless a miracle happens in the next 24 hours I'm afraid my next one is going to be of - you guessed it - yet more snow...
Conuly - that is fascinating, thanks for enlightening me.
Iota - yes, there always has to be a fresh supply of candy, hasn't there...
PM - More snow? You poor things. (If it's any consolation, it's about 6 degrees and raining here today.... )
Presents from the Easter bunny - really? Aren't some chocolate eggs good enough any more?
Growing up on LI I too experienced the mix of Christian/Jewish holidays....my favorite activities were coloring Easter eggs and hunting and finding the matzoh (my dad is Jewish so we did Passover each year at my Aunt's)
You have cousins in Florida? You really have lucked out by having both coasts covered.
Presents for Easter are kind of normal in continental Europe, too. We'd always get a small toy or a CD (ok, a record or a tape back in the days...) or a few pairs of new socks. Plus 100,000 hard boiled eggs.
Easter presents??? I barely give my kids eggs. Bad mother.
PS - I have finally posted my decision re seattle.....
easter bunny morphing into second-tier father christmas! heck. mind you we always tend to give a little present instead of an egg (because the kids get so much chocolate from elsewhere). I always remember my mum giving me a new bag for easter instead of an egg and I was thrilled!
i think easter is my fave celebration - egg hunts etc and lovely spring and warmer weather...
Discovered your blog through a friend in London who thought it might make me feel better about living in NY. (I am a native New Yorker, but went to University in the UK and would much rather live there.)
Glad to have found you.
I never know exactly when Easter is over here, with the kids not even in school yet we don't even have Spring Break.
I miss the big British Chocolate eggs!
Tanya - sounds as if you had the best of both worlds!
angels and urchins - well they don't live there, but are lucky enough to have an apartment down there - yes it was very nice.
MetMum - hard boiled eggs? Not the chocolate kind you mean?
HomeOfficeMums - I like giving them an egg hunt, but half the time they don't even eat more than a few eggs...
Elsie - I think I'd rather have a new bag too!
SaintTigerlily - thanks for visiting, and I'm glad it made you feel better about living in NY. I do like it here, although the longer I'm away I do start to appreciate more things about England too....
Geekymummy - it's really not such a big deal is it? We thought there might be loads of events over Easter Weekend for kids, but frankly there is hardly anything - it is not anything like Halloween for example!
Well, you can't dye the chocolate kind, can you?
The week after Easter is always filled with me trying to find new ways to make egg salad.
Edit out what I said about the afikomen. Apparently that's not a Jewish thing (designed to keep the kids awake and interested throughout the entire seder), it's an Ashkenazi thing. Non-Ashkenazi have their own customs related to Passover.
The more you know!
Post a Comment