EcecGuru

It’s almost Easter! And I’d like to share some thoughts. While Easter bunnies and chocolate get all the hype this time of year, there is more to consider than engage in meaningless product art and Easter crafts. It’s important to find out what Easter means to each family and the unique ways of celebrations our diverse families have and how this can be incorporated within programs.
Growing up in Europe, Easter was always a huge event filled with many traditions and customs, some of which I remember vividly:
- Traditional baking of a lamb!
- Egg decorating using wax, straw, watercolors, onion peels, or picture stickers (girls would hand paint or decorate the eggs to give to the boys on Easter Monday.
- So on Easter Monday, the boys would go from house to house carrying with them 'pomlazka' made of braided twigs with colourful ribbons tied at the end and they would use them ‘symbolically’ to whip the girls on their legs to bring health and youth.
- Similarly, the boys would also douse girls with water to bring health & prosperity for the year ahead. It wasn’t unusual, when I was a young girl, to end up in the bath tub or showered with cold water several times on Easter Monday. Now that wasn't much fun hehe.
- An Easter carol, usually asking for an egg or two, would be recited by the boy while whipping the girl/s in each household. The girl would then reward the boy with a painted egg or chocolate and tie a ribbon around the braided twig. As the boys progressed through visiting different households, their bags filled up with eggs and other treats and their twigs were adorned with more and more colourful ribbons.
- Lastly, this was an important time to spend with family and engage in preparations for Easter Monday (baking, decorating), but also trips to the church on Easter Sunday, learning about the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are lots of illustrated children’s books that capture the Easter message beautifully for children.
In considering the diversity of cultures in each centre, could Easter celebrations hold more meaning?

LOVE by Ukrainian artist, Alexander Milov. The sculpture is a symbol of our inner child - our inner purity and sincerity that brings us all together, no matter what the differences and gives a chance of reconciliation when the dark time comes ✨