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Hey Reader

As this edition of the newsletter hits your inbox on Easter Sunday, I find myself reflecting on what I'm now calling "An Evolving Easter" – the journey of how this holiday has transformed throughout my life, from childhood in Jamaica to adulthood in America.

Growing up in Jamaica, Easter wasn't just a day – it was nearly a week-long observance. Everything shut down from Holy Thursday until the following Tuesday or Wednesday. School was out and for most, life shifted to honor both the religious significance and cultural traditions.

Good Friday meant attending church early with my grandmother, there was often water baptisms happening that day. Then we'd return home to a meal of fried fish and bread. Then there was the iconic Jamaican Easter tradition – bun and cheese! (I'm still curious about the origins of this tradition – if anyone knows, please share!)

Coming to America as a child, I didn't immediately notice how differently Easter was observed because schools were closed for "Spring Break." It wasn't until I began working that I experienced the true culture shock around Easter. Here, Good Friday was just another workday. Easter Monday? It simply doesn't exist.

Recently, I've become more intentional about bridging these worlds. I now take Good Friday as a floating holiday and, at the time of writing this, next year I plan to take Easter Monday off as well. Not solely for religious observance, but to honor and maintain that cultural connection. Even though my family members in America don't get these days off, we still reminisce about "what we would be doing if we were in Jamaica right now."

Food remains a powerful cultural anchor. So the week before Good Friday, my husband put together a care package for my mother who lives in another state without access to "the good-good things" we get in New York. We included Golden Krust Easter buns (which we've found to be more moist and delicious than the traditional HTB buns) along with Jamaican cheese. The joy in my mother's voice when she called to thank us sparked a wonderful conversation about food memories and traditions.

For many Caribbean people, Easter represents a beautiful blend of religious observance, cultural traditions, and food-centered memories. I recognize that some of you may not observe Easter religiously, but I'm curious – are there cultural activities or foods you still enjoy that are traditionally associated with this season? And for those who do celebrate Easter, what traditions from "back home" do you maintain despite geographical distance?

I'd love to hear your stories. How are you preserving, adapting, or evolving your cultural traditions in new environments?

Updates & Opportunities

Latest Podcast Episode: I'm excited to share our conversation with Anthea McLaughlin on "Caribbean Resilience: Transforming Disaster Relief Through Philanthropy." Anthea offers powerful insights into how we can approach disaster response with both heart and strategic thinking. Listen now at CarryOnFriends.com.

For Our Atlanta Family: If you're in Atlanta (or know someone who is), check out this incredible opportunity – a Hammered Hoops & Cuffs Jewelry Workshop! Learn more and grab tickets at The Pink Locket.

Until next time, may we all continue finding ways to carry our cultural heritage forward, adapting and evolving while honoring our roots.

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Have a great week and until next time, Walk good.
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Kerry-Ann
Carry On Friends + Breadfruit Media

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