Mask on or not, most of us are back in church this Easter, celebrating the most joyful day of the liturgical year.

It’s a wonderful, hopeful day, even in these dark times. My own favorite memories of Easter include one Easter morning at St. Ignatius in Southeast Portland when the sleep-deprived priests were so giddily happy that they didn’t just sprinkle the congregation with Holy Water, they drenched us, and laughter overwhelmed the sanctuary.

Jesus would have laughed too.

Even families who don’t typically come to Mass have traditionally come on Easter, and that is a fine tradition to maintain, not to sneer at, for it shows a bond, however tenuous. It’s enough to make you wish for the dress-up days of old days, when Easter meant a new dress for the girls or a new suit for the boys — and dads showed the boys how to polish their shoes and moms made sure the girls’ hair was tied up.

In fact, why wait for the Seminary Tea (June1 this year)? Here’s a vote for Jackie O-style hats on Easter.

Even church people, including priests, surely know Mass is not the most memorable part of Easter for kids (with the possible exception of some 6-year-old future seminarians?). Part of the Alleluia! for kids is also dyeing the eggs, the egg hunt and the feast, which in our family always included an apple pie or cheesecake and deviled eggs. So many deviled eggs, their whites tinged blue or orange from the dye.