I just celebrated my third Easter in South Africa. I would like to say that I don't feel homesick anymore, but that would be a lie. What is strange, however, is that the homesickness takes on a different flavour each year.
The first Easter we experienced was just pure culture shock. Easter was in autumn instead of spring, there were braais instead of roast ham dinners, hot cross buns instead of Marshmallow Peeps (and let's be honest, who likes those anyway?), and the whole day was much less commercialised - no egg hunts, no fancy dresses, no bunnies and chicks or Easter baskets. Which, truth be told, was fine by me.
The second Easter we knew what to expect but I longed for the roast ham dinner with extended family, spring weather, and Cadbury Creme Eggs.
The third Easter, just a few days ago, I actually looked forward to the braai, autumn weather and was thankful that I didn't feel any pressure to do the whole chocolate egg/easter basket/dress-up thing. Church was just as meaningful without all of that - maybe even more.
I still long for my extended family and those big dinners, but instead of a roast ham dinner I wanted to fly my whole family - both sides - over here for an Easter braai.
The traditions surrounding holidays may change, depending on where you live, but the ache to be with family never really goes away.
4 comments:
I like it more the SA-can way...the American way is more commercialised and not true to the Bible. -Easter bunny etc.
I agree with Chessalee. When we American women think first about decorating an Easter table with bunnies and eggs than with anything about Christ, I wonder where we are in our focus on Easter--Christ's amazing resurrection giving us real life.
I'll be glad to fly there for braai on Easter.
feeling clueless ... I ask.... what is braai?
Sorry, a braai is a barbeque.
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