We asked our readers to share some of their favorite memories of Easters past and some more recent. From dressing up with bonnets, gloves and boutonnieres to hiding Easter eggs for children to find, it's clear that the holiday holds special memories. Here are some of their memories:
"This is a picture of me (in front with the hat), my brother Wade, my mom Sophie and my dad Lloyd on Easter in April 1955 at our house in Lincoln, R.I.
We always dressed up for Easter, had corsages and boutonnieres, and went out to dinner. My mom always sewed my outfit. I still remember - my hat and purse were pink and my suit was navy blue."
Lynne Crawley Leco, North Attleboro
Carolyn Flanagan sent this photo of her children from Easter Sunday in 1970. In the photo, the boys dressed in suits and the girls with bonnets, gloves and pocketbooks, stand on steps ready to go to Mass. The boys from the top step down are Mark Flanagan, Tim Flanagan and Sean Flanagan. The girls from the top step down are Noreen (Flanagan) Kaczowsk, Peggy (Flanagan) Campbell, and Carleen Flanagan.
Carolyn Flanagan, Plainville
"My childhood memories of Easter in Portugal are that it was a very religious time of the year. It all started at Ash Wednesday when we had a group of men, "Romeiros," who made a pilgrimage through the island praying and taking shelter in local neighborhoods and churches. I remember running to the corner of the street whenever I heard the bunch coming and asking the leader how big the group was.
On Good Friday, all the businesses closed and it was your obligation to fulfill your Easter duty by going to confession. Many towns and cities celebrated Easter with processions through the streets. Floats and statues were carried through the street. Each float had incredible decorated figures representing the tools such as nails, hammer and the crown of thorns, I remember participating in one of the processions dressed as an angel and carrying the nails.
Weeks before Easter my mother and the seamstress would go through the Spiegel catalog and pick a style for our dresses. My older sister always got pink and mine would be baby blue. After church, we would open our gifts, which consisted of chocolates, almonds with confetti, and almonds with liquor inside. There also would be gifts from our godparents. Then we would go visit my grandmother, uncles and friends.
Today, I celebrate Easter with my daughter and grandchildren by having everyone over to my house. I cook the meal for them and after dinner we have egg hunts. I put money inside of the eggs and my grandchildren have a blast, going through the toys and candy. The excitement and the love they show me lightens my heart with enjoyment and I hope when they grow up and have their families, they will continue the tradition."
Liliana M. Tavares, Foxboro
"I was born in Cambodia and raised in the Buddhist religion, so I don't celebrate the Easter traditions. However, my children, who were born in America, like to celebrate Easter. I celebrated the Easter traditions with them every year when they were young.
We used so many different colors of paint on the eggs when we dyed them. Then when we hid the eggs, putting a dollar bill and five dollar bill on each egg. Whoever found the most got the most money.
Even though they are older now, they still remember these traditions with happy memories."
Sen Mao, Pawtucket