My Childhood Easter

Little Me

I have very fond memories of Easter growing up. Having an American Mum meant that Easter was always bigger than Ben Hur - ditto with Christmas and Thanksgiving. This is absolutely great from a child's perspective. Our house was decorated, Eggs were painted or dyed, in the morning there was a basket full of goodies left by the Easter Bunny and a huge Easter Egg hunt then took place. So much fun! I was always the envy of my friends who, by comparison, generally only received a few token chocolate eggs, as was the way for most Australian children in the 70's and early 80's. It seems that my childhood experience is more and more the norm these days though as the powers of Commercialism have worked their magic into the sentiments of us parents.

The above photo was one of my earliest Easter memories. We traditionally received pyjamas and I distinctly remember receiving these red silky chinese pyjamas. I've kept the pyjama tradition because the Kids are well and truly due for some Winter pyjamas by the time Easter rolls around so I hold off buying any and put them in their Easter baskets instead. In the above photo you can see a basket of chocolate eggs and a little toy, both traditions I have kept. 

There was the ceremonial dying and painting of eggs and I remember Mum getting other Easter-y things like transfers sent from our Grandmother in the States as they weren't available here at the time.

Which brings to me to the School Easter Hat Parade and what prompted me to do this Post in the first place. Our kids don't know what the Easter Hat Parade is - a thing called Harmony Day seems to have taken it's place down here. Do you still have it in your part of the world? So I dusted off my box of childhood photos to show the kids what the Easter Hat Parade is all about.

My first Easter Hat Parade was a huge success and I remember it like it was yesterday. Mum picked beautiful fresh flowers from the garden and pinned them onto a linen cloth and then onto a hat. I felt like a princess and also got to wear my favourite outfit - a white and blue apron skirt and a top with peter pan collar teamed with tan Saltwater Sandals. I was so much more fashionable back then!

Do: Fresh Flowers on a bonnet

Sadly, it all went downhill from there as Mum got more and more 'creative'. Instead of a pretty little bonnet, one year I was the Egg itself. Look!!!

Don't: Dress Child as an Egg

Please laugh freely - the kids haven''t stopped since I showed them the photo so I hope it brings a smile to your face too. 

Would you like to see how I appeared in the Parade? 

I wonder where the Egg is?!! 

We try to keep things simple here but the benefit of having a keen baker in the household means we get  freshly bakes Hot Cross Buns. The Pianoman whipped up these rustic ones today while Eleanor baked a cake.

And whilst there was a flurry of activity in the kitchen downstairs I was upstairs on bed rest from the Surgery (yawn!) and managed to finish making the Zombie Bunnies for the boys that I mentioned in my last post. They are loosely based on this pattern but I added ears, a nose and pompom bunny tail.

The Ringleader "Johnny"

His twin sidekicks "Zak" and "Ned"

And Baby Bunny for my little baby boy. This pattern is an adaptation of the Owls I made the kids earlier this year.

And here is a portrait of my whole gang - I mean my 5 bunnies for my gang :-)

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter from my family to yours!!!

Mel x