The Easter morning bear
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Easter | 15 comments
Photo: Old fashioned daffodils
When we were small children my mum always gave us cardboard eggs on Easter Day, which we opened to reveal a present. I’m sure that we must have been given chocolate eggs too but it’s the cardboard ones that have stayed in my memory.
One year she made small bears for my sister and I. They lay curled in the cardboard egg shells. The bears had boot button eyes and were made of brown furry bear material. I was enchanted.
As a special treat we were allowed to take the bears to church with us. I walked with my bear sitting in my pocket with his head looking out so he could see what was going on. For years I thought that my toys were alive and only pretended to be toys when I was around. So, even though they never appeared to respond, I talked and confided in them. Somehow they provided a good sounding board for all my joys and hopes and fears. I trusted them and they were ‘loyal companions’ for many, many years.
The entrance into Great St Mary’s (Cambridge) at Easter was always quite overwhelming. Out of the brightness of the spring morning into the darkened gloom of the church. But the heavy wooden pews meant that we could play with our toys quietly during the service and no one except the vicar in his high pulpit could see.
I remember letting my bear sit beside me and then lifting him down to explore the floor area beside our kneelers. He had long legs, far-apart eyes and small crescent ears for listening. I suspected that he wouldn’t really be interested in the church service and looked forward to walking home in the sunshine and getting to know him.
Finally the service was over and we were outside, going home. Me running ahead in my Easter bonnet, thrilled with the thought of lunch and egg hunts and getting to know my new friend.
But when we got home I discovered that the bear had vanished. How could have I taken it for granted that he’d stay in my pocket? We went back to the church the next day and searched frantically under the pews. A fruitless exercise.
Fifty years later I still think of that lost Easter bear. I knew him for just a few hours and still hope that he found a happy home and was given a really good name.
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Bless! It is funny how things which really get to us stay with us forever. I had to let you know about our chooks, they’re doing so well at the moment – 4 hens and 4 eggs today!! 3 yesterday!! They really are supplying us with Easter eggs. Hope all your birds and animals are well.
What if someone reads this and all these years later you find out what happened to your Easter Bear? Wouldn’t that be amazing?
We had plastic eggs with a few Lindt chocolate eggs inside from my parents. As the eggs were identical our initials were written on the base with magic marker. Once the chocolate eggs had been eaten – and mine never lasted long – the plastic eggs were returned and put away for next year. I was always very jealous of friends who received loads of ‘real’ Easter eggs.
Oh Fiona that is a very vivid memory and shared so beautifully with us.
I to hope he found a lovely home.
My mother used to reuse the same cardboard eggs for us. although we had chcolate buttons and a yellow chick each year.
Hope you had a lovely Easter and many blessings to come.
Happy Easter. I’m sure the bear found a happy home.
Someone somewhere thinks “I remember the Easter Sunday I found a this little bear lying on the path in King’s Parade – and he’s been my lucky mascot ever since.”
Happy Easter Monday F & D
Celia
xx
What a bitter-sweet story! I always feel great sorrow when I see lost toys because I know that somewhere someone (could be any age) is grieving.
Such a sweet story!
Yes,I’ll bet another small child loved your bear very much, but how sad for you!Perhaps he went to live with the gentle church mice?
What a lovely idea your mother had, so special, and better than choccie eggs which disappear so quickly.My mother always gave us new pyjamas!Can’t think why it is an easter thing? Perhaps because in the southern hemisphere it is starting to cool down after the long summer.
Oh how sweet and sad, I hope he went to live with the velveteen rabbit….
Happy Easter!
Oh no, how awful! Magical though, the mind of a child. I can just imagine you thinking all your toys were real. I always believed that there were very small, tiny people that lived in our house and garden.
I’m sure your bear had a great life and was very much loved.