Easter

This past week would have passed in a blur 70 years ago. There were no days off from school, because classes attended Mass every morning during Lent and students and their parents were expected to be present for the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Students were also expected to spend time in church for Forty Hours Devotion, a time when the Eucharist had been removed from the premises.

This left only Saturday for most to shop for their #Easter finery. Stores were not open at night. There were a few malls,  but they kept regular weekend hours and nothing opened on Sundays, not even grocery stores. Canal Street in #NewOrleans was almost as crowded as Carnival. There was no shoving or hysterics. Privileged children ran about the aisles and hid under clothing racks. People waited impatiently in long lines, but were cordial to each other and broached subjects of interests as they waited their turn in the waiting rooms. Women swapped recipes. Everyone wanted to know what other families served on Easter. At home, mothers prepared the dye and boiled eggs. With delight, children creatively colored the eggs while mother prepped for tomorrow’s meal. Late at night, all the beauty salons and barber shops closed. Women wrapped their hairdos and those of their daughters or lounged uncomfortably on sofas and day beds to prevent muss.

In the morning, everyone rose early to go to several dozen denominational Christian churches. They were all dressed to the nines. Shoes were shined and boys were warned not to scuff them whether they were new or old. Girls in flounced dresses, some with balloon slips beneath.  Parents in suits with pastel shirts to match spouse dresses. Everywhere, there were beautifully sculpted hats or pillboxes with netting. Afterward, children rushed to change their clothes and sneaked jelly beans while Mother prepared last minute food items and Father read the newspaper. A few children dared to open wrapped chocolates from their #Easterbaskets. They didn’t have to feign hunger. No one was allowed to eat anything before going to communion. Little children were too young and old people were exempt from this practice. Either company came to the house or the family went to other family residences. It was a festive day.

In a couple of weeks, my mother gave us all #CitrateofMagnesia, so we could maintain our good health.