Editorial: Easter and the traditions that celebrate joy
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Happy Easter.
Today, as you prepare to go to church or visit family or make dinner, let’s take a moment to think about the value of tradition.
These are the customs that connect us to our past. The ham on your table may be more than a main dish. It could be the centerpiece of the spread because that’s what Mom made — and what Grandma made before her. The holidays of our childhoods, in turn, shape the holidays we hand down to our children.
They are likewise the paintbrush that colors our communities.
Lenten fish frys are more than fundraisers for fire companies and churches. They are a sign of spring as sure as a red-breasted robin. Easter egg hunts can be bigger than one household. They may bring together a parish or a neighborhood or the families of a social club.
But too often the meaning of the traditions is lost to the trappings. Easter isn’t about baskets and chocolate, after all. It is about faith. It is about commitment. It is about forgiveness and atonement — and more than almost anything else, it is about a sharing of joy.
The traditions are how we do that. The traditions are the lines drawn for people to fill with exuberant color.
We cannot do that without embracing the love of our family and friends. We cannot do that while holding fast to grudges and hatred. We cannot celebrate faith without celebrating joy.
Thanksgiving has a reputation for strained conversations over the dining room table as post-election frustration erupts into hurt feelings and harsh words. Easter should be different.
Easter should be about hunting for the tolerance to hear each other. Easter should be about having faith in our loved ones. Easter should be a time to roll back anger.
However you celebrate, we wish you all the love, excitement and hope this holiday can bring. Happy Easter.