Easter

For all that Europeans, including Germans, are notoriously more secular than Americans (on average) - as measured in poll after poll during much of the postwar period - Easter is taken very, very seriously. It appears to be at least as big as Christmas.

So, while my devout countrymen are slaving at work on the Friday before and Monday after Western Easter, Germans are enjoying a four-day weekend. Painting eggs rather than houses, among other traditions.

Because of all this, while I contemplate my navel this extended weekend, I've realized there is a downside to being married to someone of Eastern Orthodox faith.

Don't get me wrong, Easterners stuff themselves silly in a warm family environment.

But, by the time you figure out what time of year it is, the Catholics and Protestants have long since stripped the chocolate Easter bunnies off the grocery shelves.

This has happened to me every year for at least the last ten years.


But not this time.



Easter