A tradition that is practiced by many families in the area is the making of Easter Bread.  The main ingredient in the bread is anise seed.  Anise has a licorice flavor, but the genuine seed can only come from Italy, it is getting harder and harder to come by.  At some specialty shops you can purchase anise seed, but the seeds are brown. The authentic seed is black.

 

Another tradition that I want to share with you was taught to my sister, Joan, and me in the 1940s by our grandmother Annie Audia Veneziano. Back in the 1940s money was tight with most families, but our parents always tried to make the holidays extra special for us.

 

We would get up early on Easter morning and after going to mass we would go to our grandmothers in North View.  Grandma always made Easter bread and usually baked it at Health Bread (D’Annunzio’s) in their ovens.

 

Grandma always made beautiful braids and loaves for the family.  But there was always something special waiting for me and Joan.  She would make baby dolls for us out of the bread.  She rolled a long strip, braided it, and placed an egg in the center to make the face.  We were so thrilled to receive this special treat on Easter. 

 

Now I want to tell you that early on for us there was no such thing as an Easter basket filled with candy and all the stuffed animals.  If there was extra money, we would receive an Easter outfit.  Sometimes we would get a chocolate bunny.  To my sister and me the baby doll was the epitome of an Easter gift.  It became a tradition in our family even after we started getting Easter baskets.

 

I must tell you how we treasured these dolls.  Grandma would let us draw faces on the egg.  Then we would start sneaking bites from the bottom up until it was all gone.  Sometimes it would take us a week to finish the doll.

 

So now the tradition has been passed on to my great granddaughter.  She is the daughter of Hollie Queen and Ryan Jarvis and the granddaughter of Martin Queen and Linda Queen.

 

You know traditions are an important part of our lives, so if you have any, be sure to pass them on.

 

On a final note, I want to congratulate the Clarksburg Mission on the wonderful presentation of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. It was so very meaningful.

 

Take care.  Spring is here and until next week, “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”

 

Editor's Note: Pictured is Payton Emily Jarvis ,all dolled up in her Easter finery, holding the Easter bread doll, a tradition that has been in the family for many years.