Ask Rufus: Easter Dinner
Pictured is an Easter card from Mary Billups’ 1883 Columbus scrapbook. Courtesy photo
Most Christians today will celebrate Easter, enjoying a traditional meal at one of the year’s most important family gathering times.
Ham and turkey seem to be the most popular main course, taking over from the once more popular lamb. Whatever the course, it is one of the biggest feasts of the year. Interestingly it is not until the late 1800s that Easter menus and recipes appeared to fill popular magazines and newspapers.
In Columbus, the old Gilmer Hotel advertised in the 1908 Easter Sunday Columbus Commercial that the hotel would be serving “Easter Dinner.” The first course was sliced tomatoes, celery, dill pickles and fresh cucumbers with Roman punch.