Easter doesn't mean a lot to me, but these FOUR things ARE essential.
1. At our nearby church they always have a Palm Sunday Procession through the churchyard. They sing 'Hosanna', wave Palm fronds, and parade with a couple of Donkeys. It's a lot of nonsense, but it's a tradition right on my very doorstep, so I always attend. The photo above is from last Sunday March 29th; the two Donkeys are sadly just out of shot to the right.
The procession consisted of the two Donkeys with VERY scruffy 'stable-lad' handlers, four girls dressed in white, and an unknown Bishop (not my neighbour) dressed-up as Santa Claus. He smiled at me in a rather pompous manner; looking as if he was expecting me to throw myself at his feet. The following crowd had handfuls of traditional Palm frond crosses that they were expecting to hand-out to an admiring audience. Unfortunately Lady M, Billy, and myself were the only bystanders!
2. Chocolate: This year, I bought some cute-looking Lindt 'Chicks' (above). And I also bought some Mieszko 'CHERRISSIMO' Polish Liqueur chocolates, and, as you might imagine, they are filled with Cherry Liqueur. Absolutely bloody delicious; they should be available on prescription for all old people like me!
3. Hot Cross Buns (below): Easter wouldn't be Easter without plenty of afternoon toasted Hot Cross Buns, plastered with lots of good quality salted Butter. (Don't buy fancy buns, the ordinary ones are best)
4. Traditionally I roast a Goose on Easter Day itself, but this year we feasted on Friday the 3rd of April (yesterday); this was to accommodate grandsons' availability. There were six of us around the Paschal table, so my 4 kg Goose was perfect (hopefully with a few scraps left over for sandwiches). Goose is certainly amongst my favourite Easter goodies, but they're definitely more carcass than meat. However, the bones make great stock!
That's it. Easter is over for another year. The Donkeys have been returned to their field, and for us it'll be back to ordinary Chocolate, and afternoon Muffins for the next 9 months. Until Mince Pies and Chocolate Santas appear in the shops once again.
28 comments:
It's good to see you all making an effort. I am sorry to say it was just another Friday here.
It would have been here too, but two of our grandsons could only make it for yesterday. Easter Day itself will be just another day instead!
Yes to all of that. Oh for decent chocolates and hotcross buns on tap, so to say. Oh for a goose instead of a lamb. I'd have loved that Easter parade. The thought of the Bishop and the donkeys really makes me smile.
And nothing can be better than having a grandson with you.
Saturday of Lazarus here. We are still building up to the big event. Lamb of course will be on our menu. Or goat
Well done you. Here no effort was made whatsoever. Just a fish "faux" paella... and paracetamol for me ...
Sunday will be plain old roast chicken.
I miss all the chocolate and other naughty goodies.
I bought myself an Easter Egg for tomorrow! That will be Easter Sunday for me. I baked a ham yesterday which should last me for a few days. Back to normal today. The goose looks good. Rachel
If The Son of God was still nailed to his wooden cross, I am sure that he would be grateful for your holy observance of his sacrifice. Sing it baby:- There is a green hill far away,
outside a city wall,
where the dear Lord was crucified,
who died to save us all.
We may not know, we cannot tell
what pains He had to bear,
but we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.
Yes, the grandsons are a delight. One in Oxford, and the other will be in Nottingham in September. It's so good to see them doing so well. I'm vey proud of them.
I hope your cold doesn't spoil things too much. I like (English style) 'faux' Paella.
Hello Rachel; where have you been???
The Goose carcass will be reduced to stock today; lovely!
I'm trying to get hold of a lump of the 'True Cross' for my collection. I've looked online, and they cost anything from £5 for a decent sized lump, up to £500 for the genuine whole cross. I'm wondering if some of them could be fake? Would people do that?
In America they call it "grifting" and the arch-grifter is the current president who would do absolutely anything for money or peace awards - such as starting an unnecessary war - so flogging bits of wood allegedly from Jesus's cross would be a breeze.
POTUS isn't a very convincing salesman!
Just another day here. The Bishop appears to have the same humility and dress code as Jesus so, everything as authentic as possible. :D
For us it is always lamb at Easter and I agree completely about the “specialty” hot cross buns - salted caramel, double chocolate - not right at all.
We went to the Easter sunrise service for several years, dozens of us walking the path up to the ancient Castle Ring fort by torchlight, waiting quietly at the top, and then singing in the dawn. Boiled eggs and toast for breakfast at the local Methodist Churches.
He wasn't the type of Bishop I'm used to! Pompous, pure and simple!
We had some fancy ones from M & S last year, they were horrible.
That sounds like fun. Not unlike my annual Christmas Carol Service.
Like a child. The more we can "look past" the trappings (remember, bishops like emperors love to dress up) to the sweetness of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, the better. Tasty buns and delicious chocolate is a CELEBRATION! We usually have ham here in America but I'm protesting the price gouging of hams this year in the supermarkets and making my killer meatloaf! Chocolate and coconut cakes for dessert! The Robe Wearers called Jesus a glutton and a wine bibber so I'm in good company. God bless you and yours, fellow travelers.
Thank you for your blessing. We would also have been called 'gluttons and bibbers' on Friday. As usual we overdid everything, especially the Fizz and Wine. Back to normal today.
I have been blogging for 6 months. If you click on the avatar picture you will reach the blog. My current post is on the visit of Charles to Washington. I am followed by a few people that you know.
By the way, I just read your post on Shoplifters and can tell you that Take Back Power is led by the original Just Stop Oil people.
I'll be baking a ham for tomorrow as well as making deviled eggs and fresh asparagus. Soundwave and early strawberries for dessert!
The Goose looks wonderful, and I can just imagine the stock.
Your festive goose meal with the family sounds wonderful.
I'll cook my prime rib roast with all the side dishes tomorrow. As usual, the family and friends will dine with us for an Easter celebration.
Ham seems very popular in the USA for Easter. Here we associate it more with Christmas. However, I do have some Asparagus, which we will have for lunch.
There's a lot of it too! Delicious.
I haven't had any Roast Beef for years. It is so expensive here, and one never knows if it'll be good or not. As a child I almost lived on it; not now!
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