Both of my children were baptized in a century-old gown, previously worn by their father, aunt, cousins, second cousins, first cousins one-removed, grandfather, great-grandmother, and so on. It is such a lovely tradition, one that has connected generations of family through their children’s first sacraments. My daughter is preparing for another sacrament this spring: her … More Making A Brand-New Heirloom
I don’t usually give much thought to the day before Ash Wednesday– my mind and my plans have already wandered into Lent itself. But this year I made an effort to research some traditional foods for this celebratory Tuesday. Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, the last day of Carnevale– no matter what you call … More A little Indulgence from Italy
February is a strange month. Sometimes it brings a taste of spring, sometimes a return to winter with a vengeance. Today it is cold– almost colder than it’s been all winter– but the sun is shining fiercely, and somewhere nearby, birds are singing. Have they seen singing all winter, without my notice? Or do they, … More Birdsong and Cream Buns: small winter delights
For some of us it’s Ordinary Time again, and for others, this week is Whitsuntide. Whitsuntide– the week following Pentecost, or Whitsunday– was traditionally a very important holiday in the British calendar year. Beginning as a vacation week for Medieval villeins, for centuries it has been celebrated with Bank holidays, church parades, girls in white … More Celebrating Whitsuntide with a Lincolnshire Whitsun Cake
Here, at my home in Midwestern America, the first fruits of the season are gooseberries. I have a large bush in the yard that I planted several years ago, without entirely knowing what I would do with the berries. There was a fond childhood memory associated with them, and the expectation of fruit harvest from … More First fruits, Garden and Spirit
Five weeks into it, I have to admit that I’m not thinking much about the Easter season anymore. Birthdays and Mother’s Day celebrations have taken precedence, as well as school activities, which seem to increase as the end of the year approaches. Much of my attention is now given to my garden, too. (Like most … More Breakfast with Babka Wielkanocna
We love these crisp little Easter biscuits so much that we’ve made them once a week since the Easter season began. They are simple and humble; not too sweet but greatly enhanced by the (very British) addition of dried currants and candied citrus peel. They’ve made a nice little Sunday treat, both at home and … More Mary Berry’s Easter Biscuits, all season long.
I had intended to bake traditional Polish Babka this week, for the Third Sunday of Easter, but plans change. My young son– too sick for school, but not too sick to be up and about– asked to bake something from The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion, which I checked out from the library. One-on-one time … More Flexible plans and crunchy biscuits
The First of May, or May Day, is a holiday with no particular liturgical significance, and yet its history and implications connect so perfectly with the Easter Season that it seems right at home on the liturgical calendar. With roots all over Europe, May Day had an undeniable importance for early agrarian societies. Far fewer … More Welcoming Spring with May Baskets
Easter, like Christmas, is usually celebrated as a single day– however, both holidays are actually much longer than many people realize. Eastertide is 50 days long, beginning on Easter Sunday and ending with Pentecost. This means there are seven Sundays in the Easter Season, and I plan to use every one of them as an … More Italian Easter Cookies
In Due Season 