Why do we sometimes stop doing things that bring us joy? Riding a bike hands-free? Dancing with abandon until the birds begin to sing? Playing hide-and-seek? Easter is an opportunity to look for some of that lightness again—and to find it. Because while the last Easter egg may still turn up months later, tucked behind the spines of Hegel, Homer, or Siri Hustvedt, it is never too late to let a sense of carefree ease come back to life, if only for a moment. Let yourself glide through the holidays, the festive days, and this special Sunday.

Every holiday has its rituals—and Easter may well be the most spirited of them all. Traditionally, it begins with brunch. Perhaps you are just setting out for that blend of breakfast and lunch? Or returning from a generous gathering that started in the morning and unfolded into the afternoon with ever new creations? We have looked to the South for inspiration, serving, among other things, Colomba from Sicily, magiritsa from Greece, and Andalusian rosquillas for Easter brunch. This hybrid meal is said to have originated around 1895, according to the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink. In Hunter’s Weekly, the British writer, hunter, and bon vivant Guy Beringer promoted the combination of breakfast and lunch as the ideal weekend routine: “A brunch is cheerful, sociable and stimulating. It puts you in a good mood; you are satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings. It sweeps away the worries and the dust of the week.”

Hopefully, this Sunday feels the same for you.