It's Ham for Easter, Ma'am - April 1955 Grocery Ads

Have you decided on your menu for Easter dinner yet?

I guess it might depend on how traditional you are. According to the AI Overview on Google (which we know is always right), "Ham is a popular Easter dish, and the tradition is rooted in practicalities and historical customs, not necessarily specific religious meanings. Pigs were often slaughtered in the fall and cured throughout the winter, with the ham being ready for the Easter meal in the spring. 

"Ham also became a more affordable alternative to lamb, which was traditionally the main Easter meat." 

I don't remember Mom making lamb more than once – if at all – when I was growing up. I don't think Dad was all that crazy about it. So Easter dinner was always ham. 

Seventy years ago, ham was very popular as well, and all the local groceries featured it in their weekly full-page ads. Here's an ample sample from the Lorain Journal of April 6 and 7, 1955.

Not everyone had to go out and buy a ham. Those lucky enough to have purchased a major appliance at Sears Roebuck and Company (remember when it was called that?) received their Easter ham free, according to this ad which ran in the Journal on March 31st, 1955.