Coastal Grandmother Loves Easter

What is the Meaning of Easter

No matter where you grew up, I would imagine Easter evokes memories of Easter egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, and new Easter outfits. I love Easter! It takes me back to my roots of growing up in North Carolina.

My first memories of Easter go back to the church I grew up in, First Baptist Church of Wadesboro, North Carolina. As a child, I was in awe of the building, the large beautiful choir, the pipe organ and the splendor of the services at Eastertime. Yes, I loved having a new Easter outfit, complete with an Easter bonnet and small white gloves, but even then, I knew there was a deeper meaning to Easter. I knew there was a sadness there, but an even greater joy and reason to celebrate. It is interesting that the highest church attendance in Christian churches is Christmas and Easter. At Christmas, we celebrate Jesus’s birth and at Easter, we celebrate His death and resurrection, but at both, we celebrate.

First Baptist Church of Wadesboro, NC

Easter Memories

Even though I have a lot of wonderful memories of Easter, one in particular stands out in my memory. One of the traditions of Easter where I grew up was that your sweetheart gave you a corsage to wear on Easter, usually orchids. I was a freshman in high school on this particular Easter. On the Saturday before, my dad had already brought home my mom’s corsage. My sister’s boyfriend dropped her corsage off around noon. I did not have a boyfriend to give me a corsage, and I was feeling pretty low. Late that afternoon, the florist delivered a beautiful white orchid corsage for ME! The card read, “Your Secret Admirer”. I later found out it was from a senior boy at my school that I had a secret crush on. As far as exciting times in your life goes, that one was over the top!

Easter Outfits

I do remember the first Easter outfit I bought myself. I started working on Saturdays at a local dress shop (Cato’s) when I was 14 years old and could get a work permit. Since it was a small town, and everyone knew your parents, the stores would let you put items on “lay away”. I picked out a beautiful dress at Mary Jane’s Dress Shop and started paying on it well

before Easter. It was a straight dress in tobacco brown (not exactly my color) but it did have a wide silvery white stripe in the jacket and was pretty dramatic for a 16 year old! I bought a wide brim hat in the same color, and I can remember being proud as a peacock!

Since Easter comes early this year, March 31st, this could be a problem with what to wear, considering the weather might be iffy. In Virginia, our weather in March is usually in the 50’s, and traditionally, we have rain about a third of the month. We have actually had snow in March! We are tired of winter clothes, but maybe not ready to break out in thin flowery dresses just yet. Regardless of what you decide to wear this Easter, I would suggest having a wrap of some sort on hand.

Outfits Under Consideration

I ordered this outfit from Boston Proper so if it comes in time, and the weather cooperates, this could be in the running.

Actually it looks like I may be in Nags Head at the beach house with friends and family. We would like to attend a sunrise service on the beach so I will probably be so bundled up, it won’t matter what I wear!

Regardless of what you decide to wear, I hope the true joy and wonder of Easter fills your heart and that you and your loved ones are truly blessed.