Saturday 31 March 2018

Times have changed.

Today is quite the wettest, coldest Easter Saturday I can ever remember.   Here in the Yorkshire Dales it has not stopped raining all day.

I went into town briefly this morning to speak to the television engineer about my new television (he is coming to install a pre amp (whatever that is) at the end of the week = and that should cure my problems he hopes (not as much as I hope.) 

The town was absolutely jam-packed with holiday makers.   Most of them had dogs.   This is a popular holiday area for walkers with dogs and most holiday cottages round here take dogs.   On pouring wet days these holiday makers tend to come into our little town to have a wander round rather than walk on the hills (many of which have a fine covering of snow).   I love dogs and there is always a fine variety from the very small to the very large and almost all of them are in such good condition and so well looked-after.

Then I had been invited out to a delicious lunch with friends  and I stayed (and actually fell asleep after lunch - a glass of sherry and a glass of wine may have contributed to this) until four o'clock, receiving a rapturous welcome from Tess on my return.   In spite of the rain we did a turn round the block before I took my coat off and now the bungalow is warm and cosy and as there is nothing I wish to see on television I intend to take all the books off my bookshelf and sort it out.   It has got into a bad state and I shall try and make some sort of order out of chaos.

Thinking of my title to today's post it did strike me how different Easter is now to when I was a child.  Then the religious aspect was foremost in everyday life - nothing was open on Good Friday,  Easter Saturday was a fairy normal day but then Easter Sunday was a day of religious festivals or of having a quiet day - no jollifications whatsoever.   My parents used to tell of when they were young and only the Bible could be read on that day and no games could be played and absolutely no work done.   It was church three times for the whole family.   I suspect that in some European countries Easter is still a really important religious festival and hasn't changed  for many years.

14 comments:

jinxxxygirl said...

We did go to Church Easter Sunday when i was little ... but in my adult life we are not religious... I tried once when my daughter was little to attend church (Methodist) but while in Sunday school she was told if she didn't behave she would go to he** ... well... that was enough for me... So Easter for us has always been about the Easter Bunny... We used to cook a big meal .. go to the grandparents.. hunt egss... Today our Easter is quiet... maybe a sleep in... no children about.. Perhaps a play in the craftroom.. Have a wonderful Easter Pat.. Beautiful post. Hugs! deb

Penhill said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
colin cuthbert said...

Hi Pat. When I was little, up to 10 years old. We cycled to a local Chapel on Good Friday for afternoon Service then tea in the School Room a walk around the village then evening service. Easter Sunday, Sunday school at our chapel am then Service both afternoon and evening. Know only a service at the chapel Sunday morning. How congregations have changed. Col at the end of the lane.

Derek Faulkner said...

I can certainly identify with your opening paragraph, water seems to be pouring out of every field and road down here in Kent and still more is forecast.
Despite being 70 and considered by some as old fashioned, I still don't understand why shops should close over Easter and why indeed, it's only shops, and yet you can still go in a pub and get drunk at Easter. But then as far back as I can remember, my parents never did religion and neither have I.

Bea said...

Interesting how holidays change over time. Here it seems now nothing closes on Easter. One still has family get-togethers & egg-hunts for the children, but many treat today like any other.

the veg artist said...

When I was a child, well up to my teens, it was church three times every Sunday, not just Easter. No games, no play. No card games, no sewing (could be construed as work). I even remember a time when we had to prepare all the veg on a Saturday so that Sunday's cooking would be as work-free as possible. No shops open, as you say. I read a great deal, but only approved books. Life skill learnt = patience!
It's been mostly dry here in West Wales, but cold, with a stiff northerly wind. Is it ever going to warm up?

Living Alone in Your 60's said...

It was horrible yesterday cold and constantly raining. Today has been brighter but the forecast is rain, rain and yep....more rain!

Chris said...

What a hardy soul you are, out in all weathers to give Tess her exercise (and you too). I have become very lazy, only out walking when the sun is shining!

Tom Stephenson said...

Yes, most of Christian Europe closes for Easter. In one way I miss it, in another I don'r.

Terra said...

Yes, Easter is different here too; when I was a child I had a new Easter bonnet, dress, gloves and purse each year to wear to church. My mom often made my dresses so it was rather economical. This year I aim to to go to the service at the lighthouse on the ocean at 7 a.m. Will I dare to get up and there so early? I am so happy to read on your comment on my blog today that you will plant an Apple Blossom clematis. We can watch them grow and think of each other.

Margie from Toronto said...

Here in Canada most things are closed on Good Friday (including schools, Govt. offices, Banks and most shops). Some malls in tourist areas are allowed to open and some other shops will open for a few hours but not many. Today is a normal shopping day but most shops & many restaurants etc. will be closed tomorrow. Most shops will open on Monday but schools are still closed.
I went to a church service on Friday morning - very sombre and moving - and I will be in church for regular 10:30am service tomorrow (there is a Sunrise service with breakfast to follow but I use transit and the subway doesn't start until 8am on a Sunday).
It is a family Get together time here - with lots of chocolates for the little ones. Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating here either - it's barely above freezing mark and it has been raining and there is an icy wind blowing as well - we could actually have a few flurries overnight!
I hope that you and all your readers have a lovely Easter - however they celebrate - and a Happy Passover to any Jewish readers.

Cro Magnon said...

Typical Easter weather here yesterday; sunshine and showers. I'm afraid I don't really bother with Easter; I shall roast a Turkey this evening, but that is basically because I like it. I did watch the very beginning of 'Easter at Kings', but it was nothing to compare with 'Carols from Kings', and I soon turned off.

thelma said...

Times are different now, we are encouraged to go out and spend on the holiday days. Though educated for a time in a convent, three times church on a Sunday for goodness sake, my best memory of Easter was having a small basket of small presents - crayons, colouring books,cards etc.

Heather said...

I used to go to church with my father on Easter Sunday. We didn't go regularly as there were no buses and it was a long walk to and from church. Good Friday was a quiet, serious day but on Easter Sunday we had Easter eggs and more fun. My husband sang in church choirs for most of his life and was keen for our children to attend. Our teenage son was losing interest so I took him to other churches in our town until at one, the opening phrase of the morning was "We who are conceived in sin ..."! My first thought was, 'Well you might have been, but I wasn't and neither were my children'. That was that.