Easter in Boston

Easter in Boston – a time of renewal, fresh beginnings and family celebration. The signs are evident: dwindling snowfall accompanied by warmer temperatures, flowering shrubs and trees, active people engaging in outdoor activities, and, perhaps the most noticeable, eager children preparing themselves for chocolate treats and Easter egg hunts.

 

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Easter is believed to get its origin from Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love and fertility. The Phoenicians called her Astarte which quickly spread through Europe becoming Ostara, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring, fertility and the rising sun. Legends and customs have varied over time and geographical locations. Today, Christians commemorate Easter Sunday as the day Jesus Christ was resurrected. Two modern symbols of Easter, the egg and the bunny, have ancient associations with spring. Early Europeans took eggs of different colors from the nests of birds to make talismans. This search ultimately evolved into the modern Easter egg hunt. The bunny connotations are obvious; their frequent births becoming the encompassing symbol of fertility.

No one can say for sure when Boston’s Easter celebrations officially began, but the American version of the jelly bean – one of Easter’s modern day symbols, was thought to be developed by the Boston candy maker William Schrafft during the Civil War era. Today, there are many unique Easter celebrations in Boston and the surrounding areas. One such event, the Easter Bunny Bananzoo, offers families a variety of holiday games, crafts, and seed planting. This festive event takes place on March 26 from 11 am – 3 pm at the Stone Zoo. How about a bit of dancing? The Newtone Morris Men will perform their annual Easter dance tour on March 27, outside the Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street in Boston. Families will love this traditional Morris dance activity – one that gets its roots from the rustic Cotsworld hills in England and meant to bring good luck and a bountiful spring harvest.

The annual Fête de Pâques (Easter) celebration occurs on March 26. This Boston French Library event will host an Easter egg hunt, egg decorating and arts and crafts activities. La Fête de Pâques will also feature a sweets contest. Don’t forget to join the fun by bringing your most prized cookies and cakes for this second annual contest. Another unique egg hunting event will occur March 26 in Quincy at the USS Salem, the worlds only preserved Heavy Cruiser that sailed for ten years throughout the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Activities will include egg decorating, games, face painting and photographs with the Easter bunny. Children can learn the secrets behind the eggs they hunt by participating in the Verrill Farm Easter Egg Decorating Class held in Concord on March 19th. Don’t miss this colorful even with educational overtones.

 

Families can also savor the taste of Boston during the various Easter brunches. One of the most intriguing brunches occurs at the Old Sturbridge Village. This outdoor museum houses 200 acres of fun including forty exhibit buildings depicting 1830s New England. Join the costume interpreters for an Easter feat; a celebration that will take you and your inquisitive family back in time. Or perhaps you prefer a modern, slightly more sophisticated dining experience. Consider taking an Easter brunch on the Odyssey, Boston’s largest fine-dining cruise ships on the Harbor. Imagine cruising along Boston Harbor: the skyline in view; the taste of Easter on the tip of your tongue. Children will also enjoy this dining experience as numerous activities are on the schedule for their enjoyment.

Easter in Boston is also a time of relaxation. Take your family to one of the many Boston area parks for a picnic with all the Easter trimmings. After your feast, take a walk along the Freedom Trail and view all that Boston has to offer. Included are many historical sites and buildings in which you can educate your children about early Boston.

Easter customs may have come from ancient history, but Boston has transformed them in stylish fashion. It is highly probably that the Easter celebrations, like many other Boston is famous for, will satisfy all of your family’s festive needs. Boston is, as a rule, lively and generous so that locals and tourists alike will feel at home, reverberating back in time with Easter legend and lore. Whether you craze the sweet taste of chocolate bunnies or fancy a day of Easter egg hunting, Boston is the place to be. Prepare to be delighted and enjoy the festive colors of spring.

 

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Area Attractions

-Faneuil Hall	-Fenway Park
-Fleet Center	-Maparium
-Quincy Market	-Six Flags New England
-Boston Common	-Freedom Trail
-Boston Conservatory Theater	-Harvard Square

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