Old traditions meet new twists at Easter celebrations in Goa

Following the 40 days of abstinence during Lent, it’s time to celebrate the resurrection of Christ, and hence, Easter is one of the most important celebrations in the Catholic faith.

While Easter traditions in Goa have been passed down through generations, family customs continue to evolve with time.

From attending Easter balls to munching on eggs to lavish lunches and dinners, here's how Goan families are following old traditions while some young parents are inventing new ones.

MIDNIGHT SERVICE

Making new traditions is something every new papa and mama want for their kids, and Raul Fernandes, from Raia, is doing just that. With his children — a two-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son — he has started a tradition by attending the midnight Easter vigil service.

“I live close to the and I remember that I would go with my parents for midnight mass. We used to walk to church and I take my kids, too. For them, it is a great adventure,” says Raul.

BREAK TIME: A beloved tradition for children involves breaking and sharing colourful Easter eggs.

Ninoschka Pinto, who lives in Candolim, loves to attend the Easter vigil for the memories it holds close to her heart.

“Midnight mass was always such fun. As kids, we’d rush home after church, and break our Easter eggs the moment we walked through the door! But, as we grew older, we would distribute them, and break the eggs at the family lunch,” she says, adding that since the family would reach home late after the services, all the food, except for the and salad, was cooked the previous day.

FAMILY TIME

Getting to eat delicious food is what Socorro Dias looks forwards to on Easter Sunday. “My mother-in-law makes some very tasty food like Sorpotel, sannas, Beef Assado and more. We attend morning mass, and head straight to my mother-in-law’s house after that.”

He explains that his in-laws' family, which stays in an Indo-Portuguese house in , lays out their best crockery and flatware during feasts and celebrations.

Ninoschka Pinto, resident of CandolimMidnight mass was always such fun. As kids, we’d rush home after church, and break our Easter eggs the moment we walked through the door! But, as we grew older, we would distribute them, and break the eggs at the family lunch.

It’s a day of eating and making merry. For the Dias family, this tradition has been the same for the past few years.

Socorro adds, “Dinner is usually at my place. My sister and her family come over, and they usually spend the night with us as well.”

Socorro Dias from FatordaMy mother-in-law makes some very tasty food like Sorpotel, sannas, Beef Assado and more. We attend morning mass, and head straight to my mother-in-law’s house after that.

EASTER EGGS

“As a child, my fondest Easter memories are of Nanu’s Easter eggs — which was long before we truly understood that Easter is about the resurrection of Christ. Growing up, we had a neighbour, who is also our cousin, Alcina Lobo, whom we fondly call 'Nanu',” says Ninochska Pinto.

She fondly recalls how their neighbour, a professional baker, used to make personalised sugar shell eggs for her and her sisters.

From attending Easter balls to munching on eggs to lavish lunches and dinners, here's how Goan families are following old traditions while some young parents are inventing new ones.

“She would write our names on the eggs so artistically. Papa still has a video of the four of us breaking open our Easter eggs, recorded on his old camcorder. Nanu has stopped making eggs for us, now that we're all adults, and I can't find those sugar shell eggs anywhere,” she mentions.

Besides purchasing , some families also made their own. Back in Divar, Hailey would create Easter eggs using biscuit crumbs and cocoa powder, rolled perfectly into sweet, round balls.

EASTER DANCES

While EDM now rules floors around the world, and Goa too, 52-year-old Maria Fernandes, who lives in Assolna, still recalls the days when she danced to the music of Lynn Anderson and Elvis Presley.

“I remember attending Easter balls with my friends and family, dancing the night away. It was always such a fun time. But now, those kinds of dances are few and far between,” says Maria.

So, Easter celebrations aren’t just about Easter eggs, which are, in fact, just a reflection of cherished traditions, both past and present, that make Easter in Goa truly special.