Week Thirty-Five: Spring

Spring has finally sprung, despite the fact that Old Man Winter '07-'08 keeps trying to keep his hold on the Northern Hemisphere. For many, Spring is a favorite season, full of flowers, birds, butterflies, and bees. Some have favorite sports that begin in Spring. Others (like myself) are ambivalent toward Spring, because although the days are getting lighter, longer, and warmer, they are marked by mud, pollen allergies, and schizophrenic weather.

*How do you feel about Spring? Is it a favorite season of yours, or a least-favorite? Why?

*What are your favorite Spring activities? Do they include gardening and yardwork? House repairs or touch-ups?

*Do you have favorite Spring flowers or blossoming trees?

*What are your favorite Spring sports, either as a participant or as an observer? While basketball is wrapping up in March Madness, baseball, track and field, tennis, and golf are starting up in schools across the nation.

*Here in Spokane, Spring is welcomed with such community events as Bloomsday Run (one of the largest in the nation) and the Lilac Festival. Does your community have Spring events, and what is the extent of your participation?

*Do you have a regular Spring cleaning time? When is it and what does it include?

*What are your favorite Spring holidays? Easter or Passover, Mother's Day, Earth Day, Memorial Day are a few.

*What are some of your favorite foods that are in season during Spring?

*Ah-choo! What do you like least about Spring?

*Do you have favorite memories of Spring Break from your school or college years?

*What family birthdays, anniversaries, or events are commemorated in the Spring? Are there any significant family history events that occurred during Spring?

Journaling Responses to "Week Thirty-Four: Holy Days of Spring"

Ever the faithful journal-keeper, Thomas MacEntee of Destination: Austin Family has posted his response to the last set of journal prompts, "Holy Days", on his blog.

I also did some browsing through some of my favorite genealogy blogs and came up with the following list of Easter memories and traditions. Even though they weren't written for the journal prompt, I think that by reading these, you may get even more ideas on how to share your Holy Days of Spring memories.

• Craig Manson of GeneaBlogie shares "Easter Sunday, Albuquerque, c. 1960s."

• Jasia of Creative Gene wrote about attending this year's Easter Mass in "Polish Pride."

• Lisa of 100 Years in America wrote about a Hungarian tradition that takes place Easter Monday in "Hungarian Easter Monday weather: showers!" Easter Monday was also a holiday celebrated in Ireland, and she tells about this in "A joyful Easter Monday to you!" on her Small-leaved Shamrock blog. Lisa also shared two traditions from Eastern Europe: "Decorating eggs... and fighting!" and making Croatian Easter bread in "Doing your Easter baking?" Both these posts are on her 100 Years in America blog.

• Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist highlighted an article from the Pittsburg (Pennsylvania) Post-Gazette about how the long-standing tradition of blessing Easter baskets is still being faithfully observed. She also shared her traditional Slovak Easter breakfast in "Happy Easter!"

• And John Newmark, who often writes about his Jewish heritage, shared this sentimental post, "An Easter Bloom," about a flower his great-grandfather picked and gave his daughter (John's grandmother) on Easter Sunday in 1926.
  

It's always interesting to see the diverse ways in which holidays are celebrated within the same country by people of the same religion. Our culture, family history, and geographic location influence us all in many ways, and it is simply fascinating and fun to see that as we celebrate our holidays!

I realize it's been a couple of weeks since I've posted a prompt. I've put together a new one that will post tomorrow and have already started working on next week's. Blogger in Draft's scheduling feature is a godsend, helping me to plan and work ahead!

Week Thirty-Four: Holy Days of Spring

Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 marks the celebration of Easter for most Christians (Eastern--commonly known as Orthodox--Christians will be celebrating April 27th), and sunset on Saturday, April 19th will be the date Jews will commemorate Passover. These are undoubtedly two of the most well-known spring holy days, although other cultures and religions have their own as well.

*How did your family traditionally celebrate its holy day? Did you attend worship services? Which kind (Good Friday service, Sunrise service, etc.) did you traditionally attend? Did you family approach this holy day with a lot of reverence, or was it secularized?


*What foods did your family eat during the meals celebrating your holy day? What special preparations were involved? As a child, did you help prepare any of the meals or dishes?

*Did you receive or give any gifts or treats as part of the celebration?


*Did you wear special or new clothes?


*What kinds of decorations were created or put out for this holy day?


*What year stands out in your mind when you think back through your life of all the Easter/Passover/other spring holy day celebrations you participated in? Why? What was special/unique/different about that particular one?

*Did you participate in any community events surrounding this holy day (egg hunts, etc.)?


*Do you have any favorite hymns, religious or secular songs, or other music?


*How do you celebrate this holy day now in comparison to when you were a child?

Don't forget to share favorite photographs of you and/or your family celebrating this holy day!