Pascua

Well, today, as many of you know, is Easter Sunday. Now, this day is celebrated in the U.S. in a variety of different ways. Those who are Christian/Catholic celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ today. Others celebrate Easter with eggs and chocolate bunnies and sweets, a tradition that dates back to the worship of the fertility goddess Estre of ancient Rome. It seems to me that, more and more, U.S. holidays are more about the commercialism than the celebration with families. Each year, we see Christmas ads and sales starting earlier and earlier, and now, it seems, that Easter, too, has reached that stage of commercialism. Instead of going to church or finding an egg or two in the yard, youngsters now get GIANT baskets full of video games, shoes, clothes, and too many toys to count, in addition to hunting for hundreds of candy-filled eggs. It's just like Christmas in the spring.

I have to say, I've been enjoying U.S. holidays less and less over the past few years, and a big part of my change in spirit has to do with the increasing commercialism. Why does everything have to be an excuse to say "gimme more?" Why do we have to go broke every holiday to spoil our children with THINGS?

Here in El Salvador, holidays are a huge deal, but they're relatively simple. I may not be catholic, but I have really enjoyed the week of Semana Santa. Kids are thrilled not to gorge themselves on chocolate rabbits, but to have nine whole days off of school to play with friends and family. The focus is on fellowship, food, music, and remembering Christ. Even those who aren't catholic go to the processions and enjoy the music and the street vendors and the time to spend with family. It's a time of love, of fun. Yes, there are vendors outside of the church, but do parents buy every toy for their kids? No. In fact, when I was there the other day, one of the few kids whose parents did agree to buy them a toy insisted "Only ONE toy!" The child kept begging for two, and so after a while with no agreement being met, the child and parent left with no toy at all.
Last night, I was kept up by hours and hours of fireworks! What a joy that must have been to the ones who were setting them off. What a celebration! I have really enjoyed getting to spend time with Conny's family, who came to visit for the weekend of Pascua (Easter). We lingered over dinner for hours as the uncles told riddle after riddle and we all had a great time trying to figure out each one. No one brought presents, no one had baskets or eggs, and yet we all had a wonderful time.

When I go back to the States, this is the spirit I want to bring back with me. I want to spend more time enjoying time WITH family and being in their presence than demanding or buying THINGS as presents. After all, things wither away, but memories and love last forever.