There were two things I could count on every Easter that didn't come in my Easter Basket.
So put yours on and let's go strolling!
Did you ever wonder what they symbolize and how they got started?
A tradition during Easter has been to wear new clothes to celebrate the coming of Spring. Tradition says that the wearing of three new things during Easter assures good luck during the following year. The Easter bonnet is also a tradition during this time of year.
The history of the Easter bonnet is a lot older than the average persons believes.
In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it, You'll be the grandest gal in the Easter parade. I'll be all in clover, and when they look us over We'll be the proudest couple in the Easter parade. --Irving Berlin's "Easter Parade" (1948)
So this is yet another Hollywood started Fad?
Living in New York I'm sad to say that I have never gone to the Easter Parade, but maybe this year if I can get out of the kitchen I can make it.
The first Easter bonnets were worn before we even started celebrating Easter. The first bonnets were not even bonnets but were a circlet or wreath of leaves and flowers to celebrate the coming of spring. Today the Easter bonnet is typically round and still filled with leaves and flowers. The round shape is to symbolize the shape of the sun and the cycle and path the sun takes abound the earth. The days get longer and the plants bust into life after the cold darkness of winter.
The custom of new clothes for Easter goes back to early Christianity and what was known as white week. White week was a time that newly baptized Christian wore white linen robes for a whole week to symbolize their rebirth and new life. The new Christians were paraded around the country side, lead by a crucifix, to show people that they were starting a new life. The other church goers would wear new clothes.
Just after the Civil war Easter was known as “Sunday of Joy,” Mother and daughters who had worn the dark colors of mourning for such a long time decided to start wearing the wonderful colors and flowers of spring. Their hats were adorned with the latest flowers. If the flowers were not blooming they would make them from paper, fabric, ribbon, hair, feathers or sea shells.
My mother bought us those hats for two reasons, one for Easter and the other was the Catholic church required us to wear hats or chapel veils back then.
I love the fact that people still buy them for their little girls and even these modern little princesses look old fashioned to me in one.
Many of the schools have the younger children make them and try to convince the parents to wear them to church on Easter Sunday.
This Easter start your own tradition of wearing a hat on Easter. You can make it your self or purchase one, with beautiful flowers, take the time to celebrate the rebirth of spring and relax in a fun and gentle way. Have your own parade even if it you are the only person, maybe others will join you. Sounds like a heck of a stroll to me!
Happy Easter!
