Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Easter Season Celebrations ~ Celebraciones de Pascua

 

Easter Season

By Maritza Martinez Mejia


The cross

The empty tomb

Real symbols

What is this about?

 

A sacrifice

A miracle

A reminder…

All the immense love

 

A God

A Man

A Spirit

What a mystery!

 HAPPY EASTER!

In our church there is a tradition of blessing Easter baskets.  This has been shared by our Polish parishioners, it comes from the early medieval times 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.

 ¡Felices Pascuas!

En nuestra iglesia existe una tradición de bendecir las canasta de Pascua.  Esta ha sido compartida por nuestros feligreses polacos, proviene del altomedieval llamada "Święconka". 

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 

Monday, March 25, 2024

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:

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
Mother, Educator, Bilingual Author and Translator

Saturday, March 23, 2024

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 

Friday, March 22, 2024

Perfect Reading for Holy Week - Lectura para Semana Santa

        Get inspire and build recilence with Award Winning Books 

 Inspirate y crea resilencia

Hazel Eyes, Award-Winning Book and inspirational memoir for teenagers and adults. Each chapter takes the reader on a journey to discover the author’s spiritual experience of faith and teach you how to build resilience.

Comments about this book:
By Author Lisa Waters - March 2016
"Reading Author Maritza Martinez Mejia’s Hazel Eyes is somewhat of a mesmerizing memoir. It’s never very easy to write about one’s life, but the author captures the essence of her life in a way that’s unquestionably an outstanding and unbelievable journey. You’ll discover the young life of the author, her struggles and challenges living in Colombia, growing up and being subjected to worldly influences whereby she began to rebel. The author reveals how God touched her and she underwent a transformation not only in life but her views and behavior. During her early adult life she embarked upon a pilgrimage to Monte Carmelo in central Chile where she witnessed a miraculous apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus and you’ll learn how her life progressed. The memoir will leave you in awe, fill you with hope, encourage you to renew your faith, cherish life, believe in the power of the Lord, and most of all bestow the acts of kindness and love upon all mankind."
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2020

I loved this beautiful story about Maritza's Christian journey from her childhood to adulthood. This book really touched my heart because her journey is very similar to my personal Christian journey up to my high school years and beyond! Although my family is not Catholic, we still have the same fundamental Christian beliefs in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, along with the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It was an honor to read about her journey as an early writer but intriguing to read her statement "I don't consider myself a writer, but I do consider myself the author of several works." I do not agree because I think she is a brilliant writer who has authored several works! I can't wait to read more of her amazing books!
                               

Ojos Avellana, Ha sido un placer traducir Hazel Eyes al español. Ganador del Latino Book Awards por Mejor traducción del inglés al español. Es mi recorrido y testimonio de fe, legado para futuras generaciones. Te enseña a superar dificultades y construir resilencia.
 Comentario Por autora Rose Marie Tapia R.

"Un testimonio hermoso de fe. Atrapa al lector desde las primeras páginas, ese es el verdadero talento del escritor. Leí el libro de corrido, sin interrumpir para nada.
Hay similitudes en la historia con la mía: la muerte de mis padres, que me hicieron conectarme con la autora. Me emocionó las escenas de la despedida de su madre.
En fin es un testimonio de amor, fe y esperanza. Felicitaciones a la autora".
Saludos desde Panamá
Rose Marie Tapia R.
Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2016

Ojos avellana describe como una experiencia común de fe en la vida del autor, se transforma en extraordinaria a través de la oración.
Jorge

Libro nomindado al Carmenluisa Pinto 2016
 y ganador del ILBA 2016
Libro Disponible: http://www.amazon.com/Maritza-Martinez-Mejia/e/B009DKDXFW

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