Monday, April 5, 2010

Everything Old is New Again!

I hope everyone had a beautiful Spring holiday, which ever one you celebrate!
We had a lovely, peaceful day at my sister Claire's house with her husband, Tom, and his Mom, Phyllis, a very cool lady!
Along with being great company, Phyllis made a delicious veggie casserole with mushrooms and zucchini -yum! I have to get the recipe. It seemed simple but tasty, my kind of dish!
We feasted on spiral ham with quince (soooooo good!), homemade potato salad and my sister's own marinated and grilled asparagus, always a treat!
I was pleasantly surprised by wheat pie for dessert ( and cannolis ! score!).
I imagined wheat pie would be a dense wheat-germy type concoction. Was I happily mistaken! It's a yummy custard (I love custards!) with tiny wheat berries and lemon rind. Pleasingly citrus-ie, and the tiny berries have a very appealing flavor. An old Italian tradition for many, a new favorite for me!
My son, at 11, wanted to color eggs ( I let him choose). He prepared the eggs and it went very quickly. He also wanted to hunt candy-filled plastic eggs, and was helpfully mature in offering to fill the eggs if I would hide them!
Babies and little ones are wonderful, but it's nice when the kids become old enough to lend a hand and take the pressure off all the holiday secrecy and preparation!
Last year, I was delighted to discover little exploding, sparkling hens in a variety store here in NEPA, along with exploding eggs. I couldn't resist putting the little explosives in my son's Easter basket last year.
It was fun to add a little colorful excitement to the day. I have referred to the Easter fireworks as a new tradition, and delved in a bit more deeply this year, with the purchase of a few larger sparkling explosives.
My son and his Uncle Tom had a ball creating an Easter night display of fireworks, and it was really very enjoyable!
It occurred to me this morning that fire and Easter,or the Spring Equinox, have long gone hand in hand, as light overcomes darkness at the Equinox - a solar festival.
Primarily in Germany, but also in other areas of Europe, Easter bonfires are lit on traditional hilltops often referred to as Easter Mountains. The flame used to lite the bonfire originates with the local priest.
The extent of the fire's light, how far it casts a glow upon the land, determines the range of safety for homes and fertility of land. The people jump over the dying embers to obtain protection and abundance and the cattle are driven over the embers to ensure agricultural fertility.
So I suppose my attraction to fireworks on Easter isn't coincidental, but a deeply rooted and ancient tendency! I find that comforting, yet another indication that all times and all lives are connected and important to each other - that the modern needs to look to the ancient for knowledge and support!
What do you think? Be well & happy!
I'll be writing once a week on Mondays. I hope you'll all stop by to read and leave your comments!

No comments:

Post a Comment