Sunday, April 1, 2018

Easter

Easter traditions in the Non-Denominational world can vary somewhat, due to the gaps between wealth, and the harvest season gradients. Like most holidays, Easter dinner is  a communal effort shared by the entire village or estate. Master and servant don't quite switch places, as this is a reverent holiday and competence is demanded, but the lord of the manor is definitely expected to "help out" with the grunt work. Feasting is where the divide between Northern and Southern cuisine is starkest--with the mutton and grains of the north vs the ham and greens of the south. In fact, Northerners try and shoot for something more resembling a Brunch--a lot of breakfast foods and pastries, because they'e composed of edibles that have been preserved over the winter. (raisins, jams, eggs, and fats)

The lack of feasts for Northerners is somewhat made up for in the Northern, coastal cities having more access to chocolate, which is a rarity for Easter sweets. Candy bunnies are usual made up of marzipan, or something else more flour-based. Eggs are still boiled and dyed, of course, but green eggs are not common because it's hard to make a non-toxic green dye. Easter egg hunts can be done with dyed eggs, or for more well to do families, small gifts may be hid in painted wooden eggs.

This is most likely the day people will be awarded new clothes, as much for practical purposes as vanity, since this is the time of the year people will start wearing thinner linens, and not huddle in front of the fireplace for weeks on end. Not necessarily bonnets, but something important and nice-looking.

In some remote locations, villagers may try and capture a rabbit, name it that year's "Easter Bunny", and care for it in the hopes of a good farming year. The fate of the rabbit may depend on how well the harvest turns out, or the temper of the villagers.

Passion plays are also extremely popular, and a large enough of a cultural hub may even do a week of shows depicting various stories from the Bible. (The story of Moses generally being the second-most popular), and a well coordinated collection of acting troupes will specialize in their own productions. In fact, despite their general aversion to drama, even New Israelites, especially in settled communities like Iowa and Texas, will hold passion plays, although they will try their best to avoid depicting jesus Christ himself.