Pasaka Njema! It means Happy Easter in KiSwahili!
In Kenya, Easter is celebrated with a full four day weekend from Friday through Monday. Awesome right! Many people take this opportunity to travel to their homelands outside of Nairobi, so it becomes a sort of migration for the weekend. And when Sunday comes, there is church and an Easter program by the youngins just like back home.
Back home, each year, we would go to church dressed in our finest Easter day dresses and suits, say our speeches, sing, rejoice, and by afternoon arrive at the family house for the next part of the Easter tradition... "the egg hunt". Children from the neighborhood, my brother, and all of our my cousins would hunt for eggs in my aunt's backyard. It was a stupendous occasion which was preceded by a round of picture taking and followed by hefty dinner... you know, the soul food kind. We would then play more games, and delight in afternoon nap. I loved every moment of it.
Now, this is my second Easter in Kenya. A week shy of a year ago, the day after my flight landed, I traveled with my then roommate to her home town of Eldoret in Western Kenya. It was nice to see how the ideals of family and tradition played out there as well. Though there was no egg hunt, there was still church, a kid's play and hefty dinner all the same. It brought back some exciting memories... particularly the one where my brother procrastinated all spring break to learn his Easter speech, only to memorize it the night before, giving my mother great anxiety, but relief in the end.
We all know of course the true meaning of Easter it is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian Community. These speeches, plays, and songs speak remind of us of the magnificent necessity. While the Easter eggs and other things are more of a secular tradition... they are fun nonetheless and a part of a holiday which I love so dearly. I think I just got a little homesick reminiscing about it all. I hope to be able to carry the traditions as I grow old!
Check out how I celebrated Easter this year at Parkie with their Childrens' play. Thay were so adorable. The play was wonderful, really driving home the sacrifice of the resurrection and what it means for us.
In Kenya, Easter is celebrated with a full four day weekend from Friday through Monday. Awesome right! Many people take this opportunity to travel to their homelands outside of Nairobi, so it becomes a sort of migration for the weekend. And when Sunday comes, there is church and an Easter program by the youngins just like back home.
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| Old family photos from Easters long ago. Good times!! |
Now, this is my second Easter in Kenya. A week shy of a year ago, the day after my flight landed, I traveled with my then roommate to her home town of Eldoret in Western Kenya. It was nice to see how the ideals of family and tradition played out there as well. Though there was no egg hunt, there was still church, a kid's play and hefty dinner all the same. It brought back some exciting memories... particularly the one where my brother procrastinated all spring break to learn his Easter speech, only to memorize it the night before, giving my mother great anxiety, but relief in the end.
We all know of course the true meaning of Easter it is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the Christian Community. These speeches, plays, and songs speak remind of us of the magnificent necessity. While the Easter eggs and other things are more of a secular tradition... they are fun nonetheless and a part of a holiday which I love so dearly. I think I just got a little homesick reminiscing about it all. I hope to be able to carry the traditions as I grow old!
Check out how I celebrated Easter this year at Parkie with their Childrens' play. Thay were so adorable. The play was wonderful, really driving home the sacrifice of the resurrection and what it means for us.
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