Growing up in an Italian home, we always had lamb, plus ham and some sort of pasta. Easter bread was always made in big batches. We also had pickled eggs. The aunts would bring over various side dishes and desserts. My memories are of a very large cauldron-like pot sitting on the kitchen floor containing pasta and sauce which some great aunt would be busily stirring. My grandmother used a large enamel baby bathtub from the 20’ or 30’s to make the Easter bread. We also colored eggs. My grandfather would buy a live lamb every year, bring it home to a backyard pen, and butcher it. He had chickens, too, but thank goodness he never brought a pig home for the ham
My mother moved to the country before I married and when her grandchildren (which included my children) started to arrive she established the tradition of an Easter hunt. She would buy small toys, candies, make colored eggs, and buy kites and hide them around the yard. The kids were given an Easter basket and they ran all over her yard finding the items. Then we would fly the kites, and then my step-father would take them all for a wagon ride behind the tractor all over their property, which includes some hilly areas, and they love going down those small hills. Now, 30-some years later, we still do this, only with her great-grandchildren–12 of them- (which includes my grandchildren) because the now grown grandchildren insisted on this for their children. She is now 83, but she still hides the candy, toys, eggs and kites, we fly the kites, and the kids still get a wagon ride behind the tractor, although my brother now drives it. And the great-grandchildren look forward to this every year. Even the toddlers love running around finding the goodies. Nobody wants to miss Easter at my mother’s.
And we still have lamb and ham and pasta for dinner… and Easter bread.
& Best Regards to all,