April 01st, 2024

Happened to catch this shot of some random person in a bunny suit, standing on the side of the road waving to passersby this weekend!  

Happy Easter to ya!  Hope yours was lovely and either as traditional or as non-traditional as you prefer.    Ours was of the Non variety.  Tim cooked hot dogs on the grill, I made macaroni and potato salads and opened a tin of baked beans which made a perfectly fine picnicky sort of meal with a gingerbread cake (completely with real whipped cream) for dessert.  

Why do you suppose it is that holidays seem to center around food?  Every single holiday I can think of has food as a centerpiece. Thanksgiving Turkey, Christmas Roast (or whatever you family traditionally does), Easter Ham just to start out!

The various candies for the various holidays:  The first candy I think of when Halloween rolls around is Candy Corn.  I dont' care for it at all, but it's the one that pops into my head.  Tradition!  Christmas is Ribbon Candy, which, now that I think of it, I don't like either.  Or Candy Canes !  I can deal with the occasional Candy Cane.  Valentine's Day of course are the heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates.  Easter is jelly beans.  And we all already know that I only eat the yellow ones, but they are still jelly beans so they count!

Independence Day is picnics (followed by fireworks) and Memorial Day is all about cookouts as is Labour Day and I think I'm running out of holidays here. Oh wait, New Year's Eve/Day.  Hmmm   I have no food association with New Years.  Correction!  Black -Eyed Peas!  When I lived in Texas I was told to always eat Black Eyed Peas on New Years' Day for Good Luck.  Whew!  For a second there, I thought  there was a non-food holiday and that will not do!

Maybe the holidays are food-centric because Holidays are a time for family and/or friends to gather together and celebrate.  All celebrations should involve food, don't you think?  We eat together, we drink together, we talk and laugh and enjoy!  

I actually looked this up to make sure I wasn't making a leap that had no foundation to it.  Turns out I was correct:

"Food has always played a significant role in celebrations and holidays around the world. Beyond its basic function of nourishment, food holds a deeper meaning in many cultures, symbolizing traditions, beliefs, and rituals."  according to momentslog/cuisine

Celebrations are about happiness and food makes us happy!  Meals should be a joy and a pleasure and when that pleasure is shared, it expands exponentially.   The old "Love is food, food is love" adage seems to hold true.  

I know that when I cook and bake for my family and friends, it is an act of love.  I am providing you with nourishment because "I care about you, I love you, I want you to be healthy and happy!" 

So while there were no easter baskets, no chocolate bunnies and no easter egg hunt at our house (mostly because there are no little ones in our lives), there was food, there were people that we love, and there was a lot of talk and laughter.  

It was traditionally non-traditional but it was good.

Hope yours was too