Traditional Easter Foods
Although colored hard-boiled eggs are probably the first Easter food to come to mind, other foods factor into the traditional Easter meals around the world. Hot Cross Buns are an Easter favorite in many areas. The tradition supposedly is derived from ancient Anglo-Saxons who baked small wheat cakes in honor of the springtime goddess, Eostre. After converting to Christianity, the church substituted the cakes with sweetbreads blessed by the church. Countries around the world serve sweet cakes in the same vein, such as Czech babobka and Polish baba. The Greeks and Portuguese serve round, flat loaves marked with a cross and decorated with Easter eggs. Syrian and Jordanian Christians have honey pastries.
The roast lamb dinner that many of us eat on Easter Sunday goes back earlier than Easter to the first Passover of the Jews. The sacrificial lamb was roasted and eaten, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs in hopes that the angel of God would pass over their homes and bring no harm. As Hebrews converted to Christianity, they naturally brought along their traditions with them. The Christians often refer to Jesus as The Lamb of God. Thus, the traditions merged.
Here in the U.S. ham is a traditional Easter food. In the early days, meat was slaughtered in the fall. There was no refrigeration, and the fresh pork that wasn’t consumed during the winter months before Lent was cured for spring. The curing process took a long time, and the first hams were ready around the time of Easter.
Family Fun Easter Events
Old Northeast Easter Egg Hunt:
Saturday, April 19, 10am – 12pm at the Flora Wylie Park, North Shore Drive NE
Come with your little ones and enjoy the hunt for Easter Eggs.
First Presbyterian Church 3rd Annual Easter Egg Hunt (701 Beach Drive NE)
Saturday, April 19, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Bring the whole family to join in games, crafts, and the biggest Easter egg hunt in St. Petersburg. Register your email with us at the event to be included in a special prize drawing. Invite friends and neighbors to join in the fun!
The Ernie Otto Easter Egg Hunt
Saturday, April 19, Registration is from 9:30 – 9:55 am and the hunt begins at 10 am.
Prizes will be awarded for age groups 4 & under, and 5-9 years. There will be games, chalk art, bean bag toss, and hop scotch. There will be face painting from 9-10 am. Come visit with a K-9 dog and of course, the Easter Bunny!
Simon Property Group Inc. is hosting its annual Easter celebration festivities at Tyrone Square, 6901 22nd Ave. N. This year, Tyrone Square is offering families the chance to participate in both traditional and unique seasonal events. The Bunny Photo Experience is offered daily through Saturday, April 19, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tyrone Square. Kids will have the chance to visit with the Bunny and take home a treasured snapshot of the fun occasion. The presenting sponsor for the 2014 Bunny Photo Experience is Gymboree.
