Women Who Wine: Easter Bonnets

In your Easter bonnet
with all the frills upon it,
You'll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.
~ Irving Berlin ~

The tradition of wearing Easter hats or bonnets appears to have origins in the Christian custom of Easter being the time for new clothes after the fasting of Lent, and the Church-going notion of wearing your "Sunday Best", meaning that at Easter your best had to be "better than best" to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. There are also roots in the more secular and pagan notion of Spring being the time of fertility, new life and rebirth. A time when wreaths of flowers and leaves were worn in the hair to celebrate the cycle of life and the seasons.

The custom of wearing hats at Easter is also inextricably tied to the American tradition of The Easter Parade, which emerged in the 1870s after the end of the Civil War. People were stepping out with positivity in their lives, and would stream out of the churches following the Easter service dressed up to the nines in their best hats. The first Easter Parade was the Fifth Avenue Parade in New York in 1870, which doesn't appear to have been an organised affair but organically came into being when the beautiful people came out of St. Patrick's Cathedral and surrounding churches and walked down 5th Avenue. Each successive year it gained in popularity reaching a peak in the 1940's where it's estimated a million people attended, but as it grew, lost some of its religious significance and became more about a show of prosperity and frivolity.

Ann Miller, Easter Bonnet 1947
Is that a REAL bunny?!

Connie, our benefic, or in this case, bunefic hostess, for the day with her sidekick and partner, Pam, organized our day of treats and delights. About 3 weeks prior to the event, this dynamic duo delivered bonnets to each of the ladies to decorate for the event. Our instructions were "HAVE FUN and we'll see who has the most creative and decorative bonnet of all. Let your imagination run wild!"

We were sad that Vicky was not able to attend but we saved a hat for her return!

With Mimosas served on the patio, the first order of business was oohing and aahing over the bonnets! Each lady voted for her favorite. It was close but Connie proclaimed Daryl's hat the winner and took home a lovely pot of tulips!

LtoR - Susie, Kathy and Judy
Lots of feathers here!

LtoR - Daryl and Connie
Which way did that peacock go?

LtoR - Judy and Christy
Ladies in blue!

LtoR - Carole and Ruth
Elegant bonnets

LtoR - Connie and Kelly
Lovely spring bonnets

LtoR - Christy, Pam and Debbie
Easter baskets, no bonnets! Debbie's has real candy!

While Connie busied herself in the kitchen Pam led us in a game called "What is the Bunny Thinking?" Some of us believe the bunny is either off his meds or has had a break with reality! Game so hard! Debbie, who apparently has Easter in her veins, had the most correct answers for this game!

Debbie is excited about winning the game!

Luncheon is served...

LtoR - Carole, Judy, Pam, Connie, Debbie (seated), Ruth,
Cathy, Kelly, Christy, and Susie

LtoR - Daryl, Judy, Pam, Connie, Debbie (seated), ruth,
Cathy, Kelly, Christy and Susie

Following a delicious luncheon, we headed outdoors for an Easter Egg hunt! It's been years for all of us! Serious competition for the most eggs and, of course, to find the golden one!

Cathy points out an Easter Egg to Carole

LtoR - Carole, Kelly and Susie
Look up...in the tree!

LtoR - Daryl, Cathy and Carole

When we returned to the house, we discovered Debbie was in her element and found the golden egg for the prize of a beautiful pot of tulips. Winner again!

After the Easter Egg Hunt, Pam told us a very "bunny" story. It was left, then right, then left, left and right. It was hard to keep up with the directions, but Judy was in the right place at the right time and ended up with the prize!