Monthly Extra

In many ways, the world comes alive with the approach of Easter and its parallel birth of spring.  Easter, as we know, is the principal festival of the Christian Church year and celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after the Crucifixion. It is the beginning of Christianity.

This week also marks the observance of Passover starting on April 19.  The celebration of Passover took place just before the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, and the two holidays have been entwined from the beginning—the word Pasch, originally meaning Passover, came to mean Easter as well.  Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover by much of its symbolism, as well as by its position in the calendar.  In most European languages the feast called Easter in English is the same word for passover, and in the older English versions of the Bible the word Easter was also the term used to translate passover. 

Symbols of the Season

In focusing on Easter as a celebration, we were struck with the mixture of symbols and practices, all now part of the historical context of Christianity.  Secular customs, such as the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts, have become part of the holiday's modern celebrations and are often observed by Christians and non-Christians alike.

While we work our way to the décor and menus of the Easter feast, the why of eggs and bunnies as symbols of the day also became important.  The egg is a pagan symbol of the rebirth of the earth in celebrations of spring and was adopted by early Christians as a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus.  There are good grounds for the association between hares (later termed Easter bunnies) and eggs. The bunny, a symbol of fertility, came to the United States with German immigrants as part of their holiday celebration and rapidly was absorbed into the American observation.

A tradition exists in some parts of the United Kingdom, especially in Scotland and North East England, of rolling painted eggs down steep hills on Easter Sunday.  In the U.S., such an Easter egg roll (unrelated to an eggroll) is often done on flat ground, pushed along with a spoon.  The Easter Egg Roll has become a much-loved annual event on the White House lawn.  An Easter egg hunt is a common festive activity, where eggs are hidden outdoors (or indoors if in bad weather) for children to run around and find.  This may also be a contest to see who can collect the most eggs.

Eggs and Baskets

Ironically, in trying to give focus to a short newsletter, we were motivated by the beauty and ancient practices reflected in Easter egg decorating.  It is a current competition on one of our favorite food sites, Epicurious.com, which caught our attention with the beautiful eggs.  The eggs, especially the Eastern European pysanka, have been a widely popular symbol of new life in Bulgaria, Russia, Romania, Ukraine, Poland and other Slavic countries' folk traditions going back to ancient times.  A wax-resist process is used to create the intricate, brilliantly-colored eggs.  It is no wonder that this region of the world gave birth also to the most exquisite Easter eggs of all – the Fabergé Easter eggs commissioned by the Russian Czars.  Enameled and bejeweled, most of Fabergé eggs also contain hidden mechanical surprises such as clock-work birds, miniature ships and carriages.

Nowadays, the Easter basket is more likely to be filled with plastic eggs filled with jelly beans and chocolate eggs and bunnies.  Of the latter, chocolates can be enjoyed by all for Easter.  Giving a small basket of goodies, for both young and old, is a treat at Easter and part of the thematic tablescape.  We saw great Easter basket components at Neiman Marcus and William Sonoma.  Of course, if your name is Paper & Chocolate, you have wonderful chocolates available for Easter gift giving, as well as other, small appropriate gifts.  Our local chocolatiers have outstanding choices for Easter-themed chocolates.  However, after a perusal of our favorite local shops and websites of famous chocolatiers, the artisanal chocolates are perhaps better given to the adults than the children.  We are very big fans of top chocolatiers, such as Chocolat Moderne, Jacques Torres, and Payard, to name only a few, and all available over the web.  If you want their treats for family and friends, there is still time to have those gustatory treasures arrive in time for Sunday lunch.  Check our Source section on Sweets and discover the Dallas chocolatiers and sites that specialize in chocolate.

Obviously, the Easter basket and its contents are part of our theme.  Customized baskets can include other treasures as holiday keepsakes.  We immediately think of precious Herend porcelain bunnies and eggs, available at the Ivy House, Neiman Marcus and Madison, perhaps to add to a family member's collection.  We saw delightful little place-gifts at Neiman Marcus of beautifully boxed soaps in shapes of eggs and bunnies by Gianna Rose Atelier.  Do not miss the holiday offerings at Nicholson Hardie and Williams Sonoma.  Gump's website has many items that could become part of Easter tabletop inventory.

So long as baskets are part of the table décor, consider a centerpiece of a basket, perhaps filled with spring blooming tulips, daffodils and hyacinths.  All are beautiful and speak to the spring awakening.  Another appropriate centerpiece is one clustered with tulips or multiple small vases of tulips and other spring flowers.  One idea that intrigues is a tree of branches to hang decorative eggs or cookies and other symbols of the season.  We coveted a small gold tree that we saw at Nicholson Hardie that could be used at other holidays as well.  (The place to find the eggs to hang on the tree is definitely Apples to Zinnias.  Their collection is amazing in number and variety.) We love to group jelly beans in pastel colors and use our bunny collection as part of the table scene.  Check our Source section on Flowers if time and inspiration are in short supply.  You will find many an idea or perfect pre-arranged centerpiece at one of our recommended shops.

A Family Celebration

Menus, likely, will feature lamb, fresh vegetables and desserts made from eggs, such as soufflés and meringues.  If there are children, this is another occasion when decorated cupcakes and cookies will be a hit.  One of our favorite cookbooks of several years ago, and still in print, is the James Beard award-winning cookbook Holiday Eggs by Georgeanne Brennan.  In addition to impressive egg recipes for Easter and spring celebrations, there is a wonderful collection of decorating and egg craft ideas for the occasion.  The book is worth looking into as an addition to the family cookbook library -- or giving as an Easter favor to family members and guests.  In any case, desserts are always an opportunity to cap off the theme.  You still have a few days' notice to contact one of our many recommended cake-masters with your need for a custom cake.  Refer to our Source section on Sweets. We are not overlooking catering as an option, but always a difficult one on a holiday.  Consider a delivery from a catering company or assemble a take-out dinner as an alternative.  Our Source section on Catering has outstanding recommendations.

There are several websites that stand out with great ideas, especially MarthaStewart.com, with instructions on egg and basket decorating and Easter menus.  Not unsurprisingly, Martha Stewart even has an app, appropriately titled "Egg Decorating 101."  Her favorites for the season  are "lace eggs," and the site gives step by step instructions. We also like Epicurious.com for menus and recipes, as well as Saveur.com and Gourmet.com.   Incidentally, "Gourmet Live 1.1" is now also available at the App Store.

Restaurant Alternatives

We know that much of the Dallas population heads to hotels, clubs and restaurants for their Easter brunch celebration after a late morning church service.  Recent emails from Fearing's, La Duni, Stephan Pyles and the Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek display tempting menus and encouraging availability for brunch reservations.  To personalize the restaurant celebration, bring along your small gifts and baskets to personalize your family celebration.

Easter celebrations should be memorable and one of the several annual events that bond families.  Whether at home or at a wonderful Dallas restaurant, make the occasion a special one and include those who may not have families in the locale.

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