Who's deep in holiday prep? - YouLookFab Forum

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Who's deep in holiday prep?

April

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This year, we are bringing our Passover seder on the road to accommodate my elderly father-in-law and his lady friend, and next weekend LMA and his GF will be with us, so we'll do something Eastery then.

Those familiar with this particular crowd (a combo of traditionalist carnivores, vegetarians, gluten-free vegetarians, plus oddities such as "nothing with mint or lemon", "nothing red," and "nothing spicy") will understand the tribulations of feeding them all.

So I'm up to my elbows in meal prep but at least I'm not hosting here!

How about you all? Anyone hosting or attending a seder, an iftar, Easter dinner, another tradition I don't know about yet?

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30 replies

Latest reply was from April

LJP

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Ha ! My first thought when reading the title of this post was “ holiday prep ? what holiday ?” . So I guess you have my answer ;). Friday and Sunday are statutory holidays here , which I find out of date with how multi- cultural Canada is . They are so specifically religious . I’m happy to have a paid day off on Friday though I’ll make some sort of Easter dinner for our family of 4 on Sunday .

April

Veteran

LJP - right? It's one of those questions where you either go, "ME! I AM! ME!" or you go, "Huh?"

I think ham or lamb is traditional on Easter but I believe I will make an egg dish. From happy, organic-pasture-raised chickens living out their lives on the farm up the road.

LJP

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Sounds perfect !

Jules

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I was telling a work friend from another religious/cultural background that Good Friday is the second biggest holiday on the Christian calendar, and the country/city does pretty much shut down, but I have *no idea* what I am supposed to be doing! I know what secular Christian-based traditions to maintain on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Easter Sunday - but no idea what to do with Good Friday! And somehow never came up with anything new for our own little family the way I have for other holidays. Actually typing this out has been helpful, because I have realized that I do need to make sure we have some Hot Cross buns. That's about it though...

We used to be quite busy on Easter Saturday and Sunday between family, community and friend events focused on the kids (Easter egg hunts all over the place!). But now the kids have outgrown it and I have gracefully withdrawn myself from volunteering at the community hunt at the local park, which feels bittersweet but it was time. Will probably attend it briefly to check out the local vendors who set up tables. It is a really nice event.

My sister-in-law is hosting Sunday dinner and also invited my dad and brother. We don't combine sides for many events but it is a really nice gesture as my mom passed late last year, and it takes the burden off me to host something for my side (which I don't generally mind doing but having a larger, more social gathering will be nice). And my dad is grateful to be included so it's working out nicely. We will bring a vegetarian main course for my kids (probably a savoury tart with caramelized onions, gruyere and cherry tomatoes) and a dessert (I am thinking something lemony? But also want to bake something with Mini Eggs). We don't have any traditional "must-haves" for Easter dinner - I associate it with ham because that's what my grandmother made, but nobody else ever cared and my kids are now vegetarian.

Suz

(website)

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We're not doing a seder or going to one, as far as I know. Nor are we doing an Easter dinner. But we are in a sort of pre-holiday prep frenzy today because having friends for dinner and serving lamb, so does that count?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sounds great, April! That is quite the list of dietary requirements to satisfy. Best of luck

No ham or lamb - I don't eat mammals! But I've ordered all sorts of nostalgic British and South African items online because it's how hubs Greg and I grew up, and super fun to eat.

https://pouch-pies-1.myshopify.....cross-buns

hot cross buns (PUKKA!)

savoury pies

Cadbury's chocolate Easter eggs and bunnies

But Good Friday is fish, veg, and rice. Dutch tradition.

Indigoprint

Veteran

Not to much in our household this year. We are in that life space where our kids are out of the house and our parents are recently deceased.
I sent out care packages to our kids to honor the Holiday and hopefully welcome Spring!
Sunday will be quiet.
I do have fond memories of when I was a kid and it was a big family day of about 40 people with a kids table and a grown up table and egg hunts!

Irina

Veteran

We will be babysitting our grandson on Sunday. He is too little for any egg hunt and I have no idea even how to do it. bought him wooden painted eggs, though. I’m off 4 days, maybe we’ll see kids for a meal on weekend.

We are not in touch much with our community which celebrates Easter later (weird). For what I know, my DH and I are going to see a baseball game from our company’s box on April 16th, the Russian Orthodox Easter.

Peri

Veteran

Echoing LJP, I had to think about it. So, no.

Interesting Jules, I hadn't thought about that either. Now that I have, I imagine it's because no one has come up with a way to make Good Friday commercial. Which is cynical, but stands regardless.

April

Veteran

I vaguely recall something from the (Catholic) Good Fridays of my childhood about only doing non-fun depressing things during three hours - which ones, I couldn't tell you - because (again, I couldn't tell you).

This lead-up to the actual holiday of chocolate and Easter baskets and egg hunts struck me as so grim it sort of put me off the whole holiday, to be honest.

What I know: LMA's GF wants to take charge of an egg hunt here this year. I happen to have 11 stone eggs (where is the 12th?) that can be hidden on our property and, if not found, will not attract rodents, bobcats, mountain lions, bears, or birds of prey.

I will likely put together Easter baskets for LMA, the GF, and Mr. A., who never met a chocolate situation he didn't enjoy, religion aside.

This is, of course, assuming I have the energy for anything after the whole "schlepping the seder" ordeal on Wednesday.

LJP

Veteran

Our gym members are complaining that we are closed BOTH Friday and Sunday but open Saturday. And guess who has to work Saturday because we expect it to be ridiculously busy and I'm the only one who knows how to manage the place on a busy day. Apparently other gyms and fitness centres are open Friday and we aren't. The pickleball people are already out of their minds because they will lose 2 full days of playing . Good grief.

Jaime

(website)

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Why thanks for asking April! We are hosting Seder this year for 10 people, 6 of whom will be sleeping over, and all of whom will be back for lunch the next day. I have been in prep mode for nearly a month! Luckily DH does the cooking in our house.

Echo

Veteran

We love going out for brunch on Easter Sunday, so no prep here. Just an opportunity to dress up and have great food!

Sloper

Veteran

Keeping it very simple this year - got my matza and macaroons! No Seder this time. I love haroset though.

anchie

Veteran

I had same reaction as Lisa - what holidays?? We always travelled for Easter to be with my parents, but this year is very different. I don’t have any traditions of my own, and maybe it is time to start? I don’t work Friday and Monday, looking forward to the long weekend.

Bijou

Veteran

I catch up with 4 generations of family and it is likely there will be over 20 of us at my sister's house with anyone vaguely related being invited to join in the celebrations. My great niece is also turning 7, so it will be a combined Easter and birthday celebration. The ages range from 9 months to mid 70's and we are a diverse bunch. My son (aged 14) is an only child and loves the chaos when the entire family get together, he is hero worshipped by the younger children.

April

Veteran

Bijou - same with LMA. Sadly, all his younger cousins are very far away but some of the older ones have their own children. He's in turn so much older that one of them that she calls him "Uncle Cousin ____".

My own kitchen update: turns out, no matter how much fresh dill you buy, it's not enough. Thus much of my Monday cooking got pushed to today and this will be the day of intense food prep, and checking and rechecking the enormous pile of ritual objects we are taking to BIL's.

I am also bringing kitchen basics (oven mitts; sheet pan, serving spoons, ladle) because I have a feeling his kitchen is, ah, minimal.

Theodora

We are going to do a modified Seder over zoom or FaceTime, as the “kids” (29 year old twins) are across the country in Oregon and Southern California. I do miss having everyone here with us, and we often had friends of ours and the kids over as well.
I love the feelings I get remembering all of my past Seders, at my grandparents home, then my Mom’s and then ours. It is like a continuous thread of love and family, on top of a great holiday (freedom from slavery).
My kids have been hosting Passover and Hanukkah for non-Jewish friends each year, and their friends really love it! Some have even become interested in the religion, or at the very least appreciative of it.

Jules

Veteran

I'll add that growing up we visited my grandmother in a small town and saw families out heading to church on foot on Easter Sunday, with the young girls in pretty new dresses. So even though my mother didn't take us, let alone dress us, for church, when my girls were younger I would sometimes incorporate something like cute new rainboots or spring hats into the "Easter bunny" loot they got. This year I guess I was feeling a bit nostalgic since it's my oldest's last year at home before university, and ordered them coordinated flowered PJ sets.

slim cat

Veteran

I'm just working Friday ( closing shift ) and Saturday with unpaid holiday on Sunday. Just a possibility on catch on sleep . No special plans unless my daughter and her friends will come up with something.

Runcarla

Veteran

@ April - I know all about somber Good Friday’s, having grown up in a strict Catholic household. Very quiet all day, and no entertainments for 3 hours around noon (Jesus’ crucifixion). No meat (usually fish) on all Fridays and especially Good Friday. I’m not practicing now, but it’s hard to break the habit. I remind the family that some folks might observe, so they take friend’s traditions into consideration when planning their weekend activities.

Easter Sunday is still celebrated, though. When my kiddos were little there were coloured eggs and chocolate rabbits, but also spring-time toys: jump ropes, balls, marbles, Pogs, Crazy Bones, whatever was the spring schoolyard trend. I now do a half dozen eggs, and chocolates in a big communal bowl!

There’s a ham in the fridge, and DH will barbecue fresh pineapple spears to go with it on Sunday. Probably asphergus, and potatoes of some sort. Sunday dinner is a weekly production anyway! I try to make something big that will generate leftovers for the week and beyond.

Photo below is from Easter Sunday, after church - at grandma’s house. I’m with my glamorous aunt who worked as a nurse at a big city hospital.

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April

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RC that is a fabulous photo! I'll see if I can find one - I know there's one somewhere of me in a maxi dress and home-crocheted poncho, circa 1974 (age 10), with little bro (7) and little sis (2).

Jaime, do you do first and second Seders? I have a friend who does and I can't fathom the energy it takes. I used to love going to their Seder, though, because they collect haggadot and would give everyone a different one to read from. They would also pause at any time to discuss anyone's questions about anything. It took a long time but was always fun and memorable.

Indigoprint

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Runcarla So Fun I want to play too. I will look for a picture as Easter dress was part of our tradition. Your Aunt was truly glamorous. Thank you for sharing.
Stations of the cross during the afternoon hours.

Indigoprint

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In this old photo I had just found an egg.
My Grandmother made me this dress and I still have it.

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MsMary

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We are only "hosting" in the sense that we are treating a couple of friends to Easter brunch at our club. And I have been enjoying having the supermarket thrown a bag of Cadbury mini-eggs into my weekly orders as long as they have them in stock!

Jules

Veteran

Love the Easter dress photos! And the glam aunt's fabulous hat!!! I hope there are more to come.

It sounds like doing nothing on Good Friday is actually keeping up tradition. And of course it makes sense that it's not a day of celebration or easily commercialized. As it stands, I have ordered some fancy donuts with toppings like mini eggs and rhubarb white chocolate ginger and we may go to the Aga Khan museum which is open all weekend.

anne

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While Easter is extremely important to me in faith terms, and we'll be going to church today and Sunday, it's not really a family get together with special food.
We'll be continuing to eat hot cross buns as we have for the last month (chocolate in my case) but that's about it. I don't even buy Easter eggs. The kids used to get them from the grandparents and it's such an expensive way to consume chocolate (which I regularly buy anyway when dark and GF is on sale)
We away this Easter for the first time in a decade or more but it's quite common in Australia to travel this long weekend.

Jaime

(website)

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April, unbelievably this year it is a three day holiday for those not in Israel (two days, two seders and then shabbat). Thankfully, two day holidays are only one day in Israel and all the guests went last night. My SIL in Chicago is hosting three straight days of holiday meals for 21. I am exhausted just from one day and 16 .

Anonymous

I have found that the easiest dinner to prepare for picky eaters and those with special diets is a traditional Turku dinner with lots of vegetarian sides suck as nut dishes and mushroom quiche. My family likes jello, so that is a must. A fruit bowl is good. I put a chochate rabbit next to each plate. Make a simple pogoed casserole. Appetizer, a cheese board with seedless grapes. Small dishes of candy like jelly beans and gummies. Crackers with the cheese. Hope this helps. Remember, old people do not always swallow well. Lots of soft foods.

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