Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon (the "Paschal Full Moon") that occurs on or after March 21 (the fixed spring equinox). This date is determined by lunar and solar cycles rather than a fixed calendar date, so Easter Sunday always falls between March 22 and April 25, and is considered a “movable feast”.
Easter is a major Christian holiday based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. The primary source of historical information of this event is biblical, the New Testament, written by Christ’s apostles, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. There are other documents that mention the event, but not as highly written about than in the New Testament. Early Christians celebrated the resurrection weekly; it was not until 325 ADE that an annual festival was formalized by the Council of Nicaea. The name, Easter, came from Eostre (or Ostara), an Anglo-Saxon Pagan goddess of spring and fertility celebrated in April. As Christianity spread, pagan traditions were incorporated to enable a smoother transition for the newly indoctrinated.
Two symbols of the pagan celebration are eggs and rabbits, definitely signifying fertility. Painting eggs red symbolized the blood of Christ, with the shell representing the tomb. Rabbits, however, ended up becoming stew meat. It was not until the 17th century that German immigrants brought the tradition of the "Osterhase" (Easter Hare from German Protestant folklore) to America, a creature that laid eggs for well-behaved children to find in nests.
But, before the spread of Christianity, what did the followers of Christ, after his resurrection, serve at the weekly feasts?
Roasted Lamb: The central dish, symbolizing Jesus's sacrifice, and his being the "Lamb of God" who takes away the sins of the world.
Baked Goods: Hot cross buns, often eaten on Good Friday, represent the crucifixion.
Bitter Herbs and Charoset: Reflecting the Passover roots of the celebration, these include herbs like horseradish, and a fruit/nut paste.
Stewed Beans/Legumes: A traditional, slow-cooked dish like cholent (bean stew).
Fish: Commonly eaten as part of the post-resurrection tradition.
Olives, Figs, and Herbs: Common staple foods of the region.
Eggs: As mentioned above. The decorated types did not come about until the Easter Hare came to America.
Globally, foods used for the celebration changed due to what was available in the area. Basically, though, it involves the slow-cooking of beef or lamb, with local vegetables, herbs, and, depending on the region, ingredients like red wine, beer, and/or spices. The recipe I will share is one traditionally served in those earlier years, Cholent.
Cholent is a traditional, slow-cooked savory stew originating from Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, designed to simmer overnight for 12–18 hours. It features ingredients of either beef or lamb, potatoes, beans, barley, and onions, resulting in a rich, comforting flavor.
Cholent
Ingredients:
2 pounds medium red potatoes, peeled and halved
2 small onions, chopped
3 lbs. beef roast, or lamb, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup dried chickpeas, soak for one hour in warm water, rinse
1/2 cup pearl barley, soak with chickpeas
2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1-quart low sodium beef broth
2 cups water
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
1 and 1/2 tsps. paprika
1 and 1/2 tsps. turmeric
1 tsp. cumin
1 kishke - optional
Notes of Interest:
What is kishke? Kishke (or kishka) is a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish, often called "stuffed derma", consisting of beef or fowl intestines stuffed with a mixture of matzo meal, schmaltz (chicken fat), onion, celery, carrots, and seasonings.
Is Jewish kishke and Scottish haggis the same? While similar in concept and texture, they differ in ingredients: kishke typically uses flour/matzo meal and schmaltz, while traditional haggis uses sheep’s organ meat and oats.
Preparation:
In a 6-quart crock pot, begin layering the ingredients – potatoes, onions, meat, chickpeas/barley mix. In a large bowl, mix together the garlic, beef broth, water and seasonings; pour evenly over ingredients in the crock pot.
Cover crock pot, set on low and let cook for 12-16 hours.
Optional cooking method: To cook this recipe in the oven, layer the ingredients in a large heavy -duty 8-quart Dutch oven. Make sure liquid just covers all ingredients. Cover with lid and cook at 200F for 12-16 hours.
Makes 12 servings.
While many families have the addition of Easter bread (bread braid with colored, hard-boiled eggs inserted where bread crosses) at their table, hot cross buns have a place of importance. Hot cross buns, traditionally eaten on Good Friday, mark the end of Lent, with the cross representing the Crucifixion of Jesus. The spices symbolize those used to embalm Christ, while their history blends Christian symbolism with older pagan traditions honoring spring, rebirth, and fertility.
Religious Symbolism: The cross on top represents the cross on which Jesus died, and the spices represent the spices used in his burial.
End of Lent: Traditionally, these buns were eaten to mark the end of the fasting season, as they were often made without dairy (before modern recipes).
Pagan Origins: The tradition predates Christianity, with Saxons baking buns marked with a cross to honor the goddess of spring, Eostre, representing the 4 seasons, or the rebirth of the world.
Folklore and Superstition: It was believed that hot cross buns baked on Good Friday would not mold for a year, would protect against fire (when hung in the kitchen), and bring good luck to sailors.
So, this year, while your family probably has its traditions, think about going back in time and prepare what might have been served during the Resurrection celebration then. Think of it as a culinary education on what was eaten at that time, and why.
Mary Cokenour
