My Polish Easter Basket

In our church is a  traditions, shared from our  Polish parishioners, to bless the Easter Baskets. This  early-medieval tradition  is called "Święconka," 

The Baskets can contain a sampling of Easter foods to be blessed on Holy Saturday for gatherings on Easter Sunday. In some countries, the food in the Polish Easter Basket is similar to the Jewish Passover Menu, but you can add additional items to the basket such as a good Easter Book.

Prepare a Polish Easter Basket :

The foods in the baskets have a symbolic meaning as follow:

Eggs - symbolize life and Christ's resurrection

Bread - symbolic of Jesus

Lamb - represents Christ

Salt - represents purification.

Horseradish - symbolic of the bitter sacrifice of Christ

Ham - symbolic of great joy and abundance

 EASTER BASKET IDEAS 

One excellent advice to prepare the Easter Basket for children is: 

Have something to read, to eat, to drink and some games to have fun. 

More ideas visit: https://www.catherinespascha.com/sweetest-easter-basket-treats/

Activity for kids

We are all connected in one way or another in faith and traditions.This year, I selected these readings to celebrate diverse traditions during Easter's Sunday: 

Compare and Contrast Eastern and Western Easter Readings:

Read: Tekla’s Easter  (1962) and Catherine’s Pascha (2015) Children's Stories.

Both books tell the story of one little girl who is celebrating Easter. 

The Eastern and Western point of view had one thing in common: 

Celebrate Easter with family and church community.

For More Reviews visit:  http://www.catherinespascha.com/teklas-easter-a-review/

For dessert what about and individual Easter Bread?

CookingActivity - Recetas

For Recipe Visit: http://christinascucina.com/2012/04/individual-italian-easter-bread.html

Golden Easter Punch

Spring Parties, Easter Parties and Golden Easter Punch to celebrate the Season. I learned this recipe helping in my children's school activities as volunteer mom. Now as teacher, I make punch for spring activities or special occasions at home. Let’s celebrate Spring/Easter with a Golden Punch and bilingual literature.

Golden Easter Punch Recipe

http://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2012/03/golden-easter-punch.html

Ingredients:
1 (46 ounce) can pineapple juice
1 (12 ounce) can orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 (6 ounce) can lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 (2 liter) bottle 7-up (or other carbonated lemon-lime beverage)
1 quart pineapple sherbet

Directions:
Mix juices and vanilla in a large punchbowl.  

Add 7-up, stirring well.

Add sherbet just before serving.

                    

                                                  Welcome Easter!

Welcome new Season, 

With colors and golden punch, 
Happy days to come!

BENDICIÓN DE LAS CANASTAS DE PASCUA

En nuestra parroquia es tradición bendecir las canastas de pascua. Tradición qué proviene de Polonia llamada : Święconka

Todos estamos conectados de una manera u otra en la fe y tradiciones. Este año, he seleccionado estas lecturas para celebrar diversas tradiciones durante el domingo de Pascua. Celebremos nustras tradiciones y comidas durante las Festividades.

¡Felices Pascuas!

Thank you for your support!🌷 Gracias #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator and Translator

Read your World Board of Trustees and Member: FWA, Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 

ANLMI & Gremio Poético Colombiano 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple 2006, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016 

                   Premio Verso Dorado 2022  

Mexican Cascaron for Easter - Cascarón para la Pascua

What about Mexican Cascarones for Easter?

Eggs are a symbol of hope, bringing forth new life.

Mexican Cascarones, like the dye and decorated Easter Eggs, are good option for Easter. I adopted these traditions from the United States and my Mexican friends.

The legend originated the Cascarones in China and been brought to Europe by Marco Polo. In Italy they were used as a courting ritual, filled with perfume power. The custom traveled from Spain to Mexico in the mid-1800s by Emperor Maximilian’s wife. It was in Mexico that the perfumed powder was replaced with confetti. In addition to Easter, Cascarones have become popular for occasions like birthdays, weddings, Day of the Dead, and Cinco de Mayo.

To prepare the Mexican Cascarones, remove the inside egg from the shell before decorating and replacing it with confetti. With this Hispanic tradition, use the inside egg for any recipe. I use it to make my delicious  "Huevos Pericos" (Colombian Scrambled Eggs). 

Huevos Pericos" Recipe 

(Colombian Scrambled Eggs~ Perfect Easter Brunch)

Ingredients         

2 teaspoons butter        

2 teaspoons olive oil 

1 roman tomato diced 

2 green onions, white and green parts, sliced thin 

4 eggs, beaten with fork 

2 tablespoons milk 

salt & pepper

Directions 

1. Heat olive oil and butter in skillet. 

2. Add diced tomatoes and green onions until liquid from tomato evaporates. 

3. Sprinkle a little salt over cooked vegetables in pan. 

4. Add milk to 4 eggs and beat slightly with a fork. 

5. Add eggs to pan and scramble them over medium heat until done. 

6. Add salt and pepper, if desired

Serve with arepas, corn bread, tortillas or any bread

More recipes for Easter visit:

 http://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2018/02/fun-cuisine-for-lent-comidas-para-la.html

Let's celebrate our traditions! 

Happy Easter!

Mis Cascarones Mexicano

El huevo es símbolo de Nueva Vida y por ello de Resurrection. En los Estados Unidos conocí la tradición del Huevo de Pascua, pero con mis amistades Mexicanas conocí la de los "Cascarones" . La tradición viajo de China a Europa por Marco Polo y años después de España a México a mediados de 1800s por la esposa del Emperador Maximiliano. Fue en México donde se remplazó el talco perfumado, que se usaba en Europa, por confeti.

Para preparar los Cascarones Mexicanos, se debe retirar el interior del huevo antes de decorar. Tarea que no es nada fácil. Después se rellenan con confeti. Con ésta tradición hispana, se puede utilizar el interior para preparar cualquier receta con huevo. Yo los uso para hacer mis delicious "Huevos Pericos", muy conocidos en Colombia. 
Además de usar los “cascarones” para la semana Santa, también se usan en ocasiones populares como cumpleaños, bodas, día de los muertos y Cinco de Mayo. Es importante conectarnos con nuestras raices y celebrar las tradiciones.

¡Celebremos las tradiciones! 

Felices Pascuas!

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Website:www.luzdelmes.com

Mother, Educator, Bilingual Author and Translator

Holy Week Activities ~ Semana Santa

I grew up with the idea that Holy Week is Holy Week, a time of silence and prayer. For me, during the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday-Saturday), it is not vacation time, work, or a regular week. 

Holy Week is a time to reflect and connect with the true reason for the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Don't miss the gift of Holy Week!

HolyWeek: Ideas for families

Palm Sunday

Begin your celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem going to Mass. If you can go you can celebrate it at home.

• Put a small statue of Jesus in the center of your dinner table.
• Remember, we begin the Most Important Week on our Liturgical Calendar.

Holy Week Preparation Days: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

• Think of spring housekeeping as a prayerful preparation for Easter in the same way that Jewish families clean in preparation for Passover.
• Separate cloths, toys or can foods to donate to any charity.

Holy Thursday

This day recalls the Last Supper when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. It reminds us that we are called to serve one another. Let’s pray the Luminous Mysteries.

Good Friday

This day commemorates the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. It is the most solemn and sorrowful day of the Church calendar. Let’s pray the Stations of the Cross.

Holy Saturday

This day commemorates the time of darkness and waiting when Jesus was in the tomb. It is also a day for final preparations before Easter. Read the Bible.

Easter Sunday

Celebrate the risen Lord at Mass with the singing of the Gloria and alleluias, the renewal of baptismal vows, a sprinkling with Easter water and receiving the Eucharist.                      

Don’t miss this special Easter Mass.

The time you spend on your Holy Week preparations will make Easter Sunday more meaningful for the whole family. 

Don't miss out on the gift of Holy Week!

 ¡Semana Santa es Semana Santa! 

Crecí con la idea de que la Semana Santa es la Semana Santa, un tiempo de silencio y oración. Para mi, durante el Triduo Pascual (Jueves-Sábado Santos), no es tiempo de vacaciones, trabajo, o una semana regular. La Semana Santa es tiempo para reflexionar y conectar con la verdadera razón de la pasión y resurrección de Jesucristo. 

¡No dejes escapar el regalo de la Semana Santa!

Más poemas: www.luzdelmes.com

Thank you for your support!🌷 Gracias #LuzDelMes 🌠

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza MartineMejia

Mother, Theologian, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: Read your Wold Board of Trusteed, Read to Me, Day! Ambassador 

ANLMI & Gremio Poético Colombiano 

FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry 2015, Latino Book Awards 2016, Premio Verso Dorado 2022