Easter Traditions
Easter is a tradition in itself, and through the years, people have given birth to their own traditions. Our family custom has been in practice for over a half a century. Not long by most standards, but as our immediate family grew, our Easter tree has become a part of our yearly celebrations.

In a search of keeping small children occupied, our mom started saving egg shells from the morning meal and when she baked. This ritual started about a two months before Easter would arrive on the calendar. The shells where dried. Then carefully any dried material was removed from the inside. The tricky part was poking a hole in the end with what seemed like a huge needle, her bodkin, and threading bits of colored wool or string that had been saved for the hangers.

Decorating the shells was a very simple process. Food coloring mixed to various hues and tooth picks were used to draw lines, squiggles and pictures. When the decorating was done, the "ornaments" were hung on fresh cut branches covered with pussy willows. Easter baskets were set underneath in the anticipation that the Easter Bunny would leave some treats.

The tradition has been carried on with this generation of children who use paint, felt markers, puffy paints, bits of bric-brac, sparkles and anything else they could fit on half a shell! Mother Nature hasn't always allowed her willows to start their spring journey in time for Easter. Improvising with dried branches in a large flower vase with daffodils, tulips or other spring flowers tucked in around them has, on occasion, taken the place of the elusive pussy willows.

The best thing that comes from this family custom is that it still brings adults and children of every age together to enjoy the continuation of a tradition.

NOTE: It is not recommended to put daffodils and tulips in the same vase. They really don't like each other and won't last very long at all.

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Other Related p Pages
Scented Waters | Slumber Sachets | Recipes | Gardening | Special Occasions Main Page | How to Make a Wreath |

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