My friend Hilde

Easter is approaching, and especially on the farm this time of year is linked to many traditions. I asked my friend Hilde from Embach, a really lovely, funny former farm wife, what Easter was like in her childhood, and I’m very happy that we still know and “live” almost all the rituals today!

Hilde recounts:

“I have very fond memories of Easter. Dyeing eggs was especially beautiful; back then, there were no dyes, so we collected onion skins and herbs. The onion skins were cut into small pieces, with primroses underneath. To fix the herbs and onion skins, we cut up old silk stockings, put the eggs inside, and tied them tightly at both ends.

The different days of Holy Week were, of course, taken very seriously, even with getting up early. Each day has its special name: whoever was last to breakfast on Palm Sunday became the “Palm Donkey.” This continued all the way to Easter Sunday with the “Easter Lamb” and the Monday animal on Easter Monday. Tying the palm branches was always lovely too. We children were allowed to search for our Easter nests on Holy Saturday evening, either in the garden or, if there was a lot of snow or bad weather, in the barn or farmhouse. Of course, we children were always told fairy tales about the Easter Bunny. I remember that my brothers were a little afraid of the Easter Bunny and initially didn’t dare to search; that was quite funny. On Easter Sunday, we then went to church for the Easter blessing, a beautiful memory.

I also lovingly remember my godmother – when I was 6 years old, she gave me a beautiful apron dress with ruffles in houndstooth fabric and red zigzag trim, along with white stockings for Easter. I was especially proud of it; it was such a beautiful dress.”

THANK YOU Hilde for these beautiful memories. I hope we’ll get another short story from you soon :-) We wish all readers a wonderful Easter, a cozy get-together, and joy at the church services and while searching for nests.

Hilde from Embach and Katharina from Zittrauerhof in Gastein. In the next farm stories, there will be a delicious recipe from my mom – the Easter tarts, my favorites for Easter.