April showers and May flowers
Where did April go?
We had the celebration of two Easters a week apart. Golf courses were gearing up for the brief season here in New England. We tried our best to squeeze in some golf between Easter and the rainy days.
And just like that, it was May. The anticipation of spring, with its promise of renewal, is always welcome, not just in nature but also in our homes and personal lives.
As I got older, I reflected more on how some traditions are connected to the Greek Orthodox Church. One great example is the Easter egg. The egg hunt, to me, is a fun American tradition that I learned about after years of being in my new country. It was a new and different Easter tradition I adopted later on.
In my culture, Easter eggs are rich in symbolism. They are always red-symbolizing Jesus’ blood from being crucified. After the resurrection service, we crack eggs -the egg itself symbolizes the tomb and the cracking, Jesus emerging from the tomb. Although red is still the color for Easter eggs in Greek households, other colors can now be found along with the red.
An old fashion method to achieve the red color has become popular in recent years. It is using onion skins. I have been using onion skins for a few decades. Ever since my theo (uncle) Pavlos shared his “recipe” on his first visit to the United States. He explained that’s what they did in his village. I will be happy to share my method with you-send me a line.
The arrival of May brought on the urgency to prepare for summer. From florists to supermarkets, flowers and plants are a display of colors and textures to please the eye of everyone interested in feeling uplifted and grateful for nature’s way of smiling at us. All the flower hype to honor mothers. Mother’s Day, which is celebrated in the United States on the second day of May, is great for showcasing flowers.
Flowers and May remind me of another Greek tradition- Protomayia, (First Day of May). It is a national holiday, and out in nature is the place to be. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a home in a village or relatives who live in a village to spend the day there. So, whether in a village, at an open field near the city, or on open farmland, the goal is the same. A picnic with family and friends. Also, a major part of the tradition is girls picking wildflowers to make wreaths, which they wear on their heads. Others pick flowers and make wreaths for their front doors. Eating, singing, dancing, and games create the memories that we keep for life. Although I did not go to a village nor a farm this year, I walked around our yard. I admired the fragile bluebells and picked some daffodils for a vase. We grilled outside, but much too chilly for a picnic.
I hope you enjoyed this overview of a couple of traditions that are part of my culture. Check back-I will share more Greek traditions in subsequent blogs.