The Easter Parade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYac9O3GYTM

Watching the old classic film of Easter Parade with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland with the most memorable song of the film entitled, "In your Easter Bonnet" brought me back to reminisce nostalgically about my own wonderful Italian childhood celebrations of Easter, What a joyous time of year not parading down Fifth Avenue but down the ordinary sidewalk of my cozy house on the northwest side of Chicago. My new Easter outfit "with all the frills upon it". would be laid out all ready for me to don on Easter Sunday beginning with my pastel colored, lace trimmed spring dress accompanied by Easter accoutrements of white gloves, white dress shoes and  matching white purse and ending with the piece de resistance...my white feminine Easter Bonnet with pastel colored ribbons that always matched the color of my dress. I would get up very early on Easter morn because I couldn't wait to put on my new spring outfit carefully selected by my loving parents for Easter Sunday. My dear mother would help me get dressed while she was preparing a sumptuous Easter dinner. I don't know how she managed it all so flawlessly. Mamma would take out the many pink-sponged rollers in my hair and make my curls eventually accentuate the bonnet I would be donning on the glorious and most festive day of the year. She would make sure that every part of the Easter ensemble on me was perfect to the eye. I also fondly remember putting on my cherished beautiful 24 carat gold Italian jewelry that my parents bought in Italy just before we came to the United States. The end result of all the meticulous and loving care that my mother gave me Easter morn made me feel like a beautiful princess as I proudly came down our basement stairs to leave for the most important day of the year liturgically for my catholic and Italian family." I  could write a sonnet" about my Easter bonnet because  it was such a wondrous and magical as well as beautifully spiritual time of one of the most memorable times of my childhood life growing up Italian. Easter always made me feel happy and hopeful and it continues to do so for it reminds me more and more each year that my greatest joy is knowing that God loved me so much that He gave his only Son so that I may have eternal life. La piu bella speranza che abbiamo in questo mondo! The most beautiful hope that we have in this world!