Yep, it’s that time of year again, the long weekend, a time to relax or to travel, and for the religious a week in church.

It’s much the same in Ireland as in Colombia during Holy Week also known as Easter Week, Sunday was Palm Sunday. Thursday is Holy Thursday; Friday is Good Friday, then Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. For us Friday and Monday are the Bank Holidays, Easter Sunday being the end of Lent, the day to delve into the chocolates, after going without for 40 days. And of course, like all countries, rip-off prices during these days, hotels and flights. I remember, on Good Friday at 3.00 pm we used to go to the church for the Stations of the Cross, then normal Mass on Easter Sunday. Television used to be so boring, only two channels, and both with religious programmes all day. It’s also a time for people to catch up on spring-cleaning, as the winter is finally over, everyone out and about in lighter clothes doing the gardening, painting or a weekend of DIY.

DIY: "Do it yourself" is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things without the direct aid of experts or professionals. Spring-cleaning: Spring cleaning is the practice of thoroughly cleaning a house in the springtime, wipe away winter. It can be written with or without a hyphen.

People would send cards at Easter just like at Christmas, not as much nowadays, like with everything else technology has taken over. On Good Friday the pubs were closed and everyone ate fish. In Ireland, last year most pubs re-opened on Good Friday, something that hadn’t happened since 1927.

Easter Eggs

Chocolate Easter eggs are big business, with more than 98 million sold in Ireland and the UK, alone over the Easter period. Easter eggs are given as presents, and children play Easter Egg Hunt: A game where children have to find eggs, hidden around the garden. The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus' emergence from the tomb and resurrection.

Hot Cross Buns

A hot cross bun is a spiced sweet bun made with currants or raisins, marked with a cross on the top, and traditionally eaten on Good Friday in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and some parts of the Americas. The cross representing the crucifixion of Jesus, and the spices inside signifying the spices used to embalm him at his burial. The origins of hot cross buns go back as far as the 12th century.

Rabbits

The story of the Easter Bunny (rabbit) legend was documented in the1500s. It is thought to have become common in the 19th Century. Rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies (called kittens), so they became a symbol of new life. Nothing to do with how cute they look!! Springtime is seen as the beginning of new life.

Passion killers

On a lighter note, years ago people didn’t have all the mod-cons like we have today, no central heating, double-glazing or draft-excluders, then during the long cold winter months, it became a ritual to put extra heavy blankets on the bed. Men and women of a certain age added some strange under-garments to keep out the cold. Men wore Long Johns, and women wore loosely elasticated - bloomers/knickers down to their knees. Like the birthing of new life, come-spring, warmer days and cooler nights then off come the passion-killers for another year!

Today men wear thermals to keep warm, essential Cotton Long Underwear Union Suit Onesie …They're old-fashioned, fun thermals just like your grandfather used to wear.

Onesie: A loose-fitting one-piece leisure garment covering the torso and legs.

Bloomers: Women's loose-fitting knee-length knickers, considered old-fashioned. The term bloomer is derived from a nineteenth-century garment worn by American women's rights activist Amelia Jenks Bloomer (1818–1894).

Passion killer, informal: Something that is sexually unattractive or inhibiting. These undies are a real passion killer.

On that note, whatever you get up to enjoy yourselves… Happy Easter!

Until Next Tuesday- Be good

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