That’s a photo of me taken on Easter morning, 1970. I remember distinctly that shirt––my grandma made it for me––and I remember distinctly that chocolate bunny. We’d have one of similar stature, solid chocolate (hollow? never!) each and every Easter. And an Easter basket, too, filled with chocolate foil eggs and jelly beans and malted eggs and more. The jelly beans would be inside paper eggs from Germany. There would also be lovely egg-shaped candles in the basket, handmade in Germany, with bunnies and flowers and chicks on them, and German wooden carved bunnies, too, in the basket with the cellophane grass.
If all that rings familiar in terms of things we sell at the Convivio Book of Days Catalog on our website, that’s because so much of that catalog is made up of favorite things I remember from my childhood. They meant a lot to me then and they mean a lot to me now, in that these are part of the ingredients, for this family at least, that helps make the ceremony of a day. Not the main ingredient, but an important ingredient nonetheless. The main ingredient is probably the love in our hearts, the doing what we do because we do it to mark occasions across time and space, to celebrate with those who have come and gone and who are here still and with those who are the future.
A couple of years back, during an Eastertide that for me was not the happiest of occasions, I awoke to find a solid chocolate bunny wrapped up and set on my front porch. My friend Frank delivered it, but it wasn’t even exactly from him; it was from a good friend of his, someone I had never even met. I still haven’t met him. But that delivery is a gesture I will probably always remember. A good example of that love in our hearts and doing what we do to celebrate these days, each and every one of them.
May that love be yours, too. A very happy Easter to you and yours. Hopefully this spring morning you woke up to a few good surprises, too.
Adorable! Happy Easter JC!!
Happy Easter to you, too, KE!
Wonderful John. Buona Pasqua a tutti!
Buona Pasqua Guy, and to your family, too!
I will be cooking today for Easter dinner at my sister’s home. I have neglected this holiday since my children went to college,but this post has moved me. Thank you for your gentle reminder, and Happy Easter!
Jerri, that’s wonderful. Happy Easter to you and to your sister, too.
Such a sweet photo and the post itself made me tear up. Thanks so much and all blessings to you and yours on this Easter and all to come.
Thank you, Leslie! To you and yours, as well.
A great message and moral, John. It reminds us that we all should commit more random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness (as well as planned ones!) The happiest of Easter days to you and yours.
Thank you Judith! I firmly believe we remember those things best.
Bound Pasqua, John. Lovely story that I’m sure brings similar memories and emotions to many. Thank you.
Buona Pasqua, Carlo! (I think you deserve the Italian spelling.)
We love your posts year round! Thank you for a touching combination of old traditions and family love. Happy Easter to you and Seth!
Thank you, Carl & Kathleen! Happy Easter.
You and your stories are absolute TREASURES! (And what a cute picture of you and your bunny :))
Happy Easter and many blessings to you and yours!