Visiting Vintage: Easter Ham

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Easter Ham

Will you be getting together with family for a big Easter meal? A brief internet search indicates that since traditional lamb (which would be something Jesus ate when He most definitely did NOT eat pork) wasn't readily available, ham was the preferred alternative.

In the United States, ham is a traditional Easter food. In the early days, meat was slaughtered in the fall. There was no refrigeration, and the fresh pork that wasn't consumed during the winter months before Lent was cured for spring. The curing process took a long time, and the first hams were ready around the time Easter rolled around. Thus, ham was a natural choice for the celebratory Easter dinner.

Mid 1950s ads for Easter ham (and pineapple)
Rath Black Hawk Meats