Plan Your Harvest!
Spring is the time of new hope and new beginnings. A time to plant what is to become the harvest. What do you want to see growing in the fields of your life? It’s time to make a plan for your harvest.
Happy Spring!
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~An Old Irish Blessing~
Marian McCoy Boveri
It’s the time of year when fresh vegetables abound as the harvest is gathered. This delightful recipe is from Eating Well. Since maple syrup is a great option, there is a conversion for maple syrup included in the recipe. Maple syrup amounts are reduced by 1/3 from brown sugar and oven times are reduced by 25°F when maple syrup is added to this recipe.
Sweet and Spicy Roasted Carrots
Ingredients:
Directions:
*you could also substitute the brown sugar with 4 teaspoons of maple syrup. Reduce the oven temperature to 400°F for step 4.
The word Easter originates from the Old English Eostre, the original name for the month we know as April. It is a derivative of Austro with an original root meaning of “to shine”. It has been commonly identified as the name of an Old English goddess of the dawn–although the only reference to this is from a monk named Bede circa 7 AD. It is also translated from Eosturmonath into Paschal month originating from German and Latin Pascha and named for the month in which Passover happens. Bede concluded:
“Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated “Paschal month”, and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance.” (1)
As with many traditions, things commonly associated with a season were brought along into a celebration resulting in new meaning at the same time incorporating things of old. It is important to note that contrary to popular belief, the association of this mythical goddess with the bunny as a part of her lore does not happen until the late 19th century. So where does this bunny come from?
The tradition of bunnies being associated with the arrival of spring and new life goes back to antiquity and would then find itself woven into early Christianity. The hare would eventually become a symbol commonly found in religious art during the Medieval period as well. Due to the bunnies’ ability to proliferate life, they were also seen as a symbol of virgin birth and thereby associated with purity and Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
As for the Easter Bunny himself as we commonly celebrate today, this tradition arrives long before the age of Hallmark with many crediting it origins to the Germans who arrived in America circa 1700s. The Germans held the tradition of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” and naturally brought this tradition with them to America during that time period. This hare also had many similarities to Santa Claus, aka Saint Nicholas, in that he judged children’s behavior during Eastertide. This hare brought children colored eggs along with small toys and candy and placed them in nests the children built outside their homes. (2) The earliest written reference to this hare can be found in a German medical dissertation circa 1682 about how eating the brightly colored eggs without proper condiments resulted in tummy aches. (3) Either way, the hare eventually became a bunny and the nest became a basket.
While eggs are an ancient symbol of new life, they are also connected to Easter through the original fasting obligation that included no eggs during the Lenten fast observed as early as the 5th century. (4) Eggs having a shelf life somewhat longer than other foods if kept in a cooler location allowed for their collection and keeping to be then used in breaking the Lenten fast on Easter. Decorating the eggs would have naturally added to the festivity and celebration of Easter morning. The tradition of dyeing Easter eggs long surpasses any Hallmark influence on the holiday once again with a written record of King Edward I having received “boiled and stained” eggs and distributed them to his household on Easter circa 1290 AD. (5) This evidences the tradition of dyeing eggs and Easter being practiced in the British Isles long before America even existed.
It is not hard to see how common symbols associated with spring and the beginnings of new life would naturally find their way into the traditions of Easter as it celebrates new life through Jesus Christ and the Resurrection. Traditions have a way of incorporating common things into the celebration of special moments while giving us both a sense of familiarity and connectedness. Happy Easter!
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~An Old Irish Blessing
Marian McCoy Boveri
(3) www.livescience.com (easter bunny and eggs)
St. Brigid is one of Ireland’s most popular saints–second only to St. Patrick who was responsible for her conversion. Her feast day coincides with ancient Imbolc which heralds the return of Spring. Brigid shares the name of the Celtic goddess that is associated with Spring, fertility, and healing. St. Brigid was born to a pagan father, who was a chieftain, and a Christian mother, who was a slave. Hence Brigid was born a slave and spent part of her childhood in slavery.
St. Brigid was known for her charity and freely gave whatever she had to the poor. When just a child she gave away all the butter in her home to help feed the poor. It is said to have been miraculously replenished when St. Brigid prayed. Butter plays a part in some of the traditions that are celebrated on St. Brigid’s Day. One of these traditions includes dressing the butter churn as St. Brigid. Another is to leave butter outside on the window sill so that St. Brigid can bless it on the eve of her feast day. It is said she visits homes throughout Ireland to bestow a blessing on that very night. The story of St. Brigid and the butter is captured here in this book for ages 4-7 that shares the delightful story of St. Brigid’s charity. http://amzn.to/2nAvb6Y (not an affiliate link)
St. Brigid is known for founding a monastery called the Church of the Oak on the site of a pagan shrine to the Celtic goddess Brigid. She is known for helping to establish communal consecrated religious life for women in Ireland. She also established two monastic institutions–one for men and the other for women. In addition, she is credited with founding a school of art that was known for metalwork and illumination. The Book of Kildare, which was lost during the Reformation, was created at the school and was said to have been so beautifully illuminated it was as if done by angels.
The most common symbol of the day is St. Brigid’s cross which is made from rushes or straw. The tradition includes making a cross that would then be hung within the home or at the front door as a symbol of blessing and protection of the home from fire.
Making your own St. Brigid’s cross is a simple way to celebrate St. Brigid’s Day. Follow this link for a larger picture of the instructions below: http://www.carrigalineparish.ie/download/st-brigids-cross/
You can discover more about St. Brigid and the traditions of this day at Irish Central by following this link: https://goo.gl/qGHzHC
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~ An Old Irish Blessing
Marian McCoy Boveri
Sources: Wikipedia
“It is the most profound work of motherhood that a mother prepares her family for a world she will never see. She creates the connection to the generations past and the generations to come. Traditions by their very essence create this connection and keep her work alive.” ~ Marian Boveri
Generations to Come
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~An Old Irish Blessing~
Marian McCoy Boveri
What a beautiful and touching blog post from Natasha Lehrer Lewis
about her mother’s belief in the ability to put back together again an old tattered teddy bear. Indeed it even received a newly-knitted red sweater.
On this Mother’s Day, may all the broken people receive a mother’s love–whether from their own or another. I pray that the broken, tattered pieces of you are repaired. May others then gather around you and knit you a brand new sweater.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
~An Old Irish Blessing~
Marian McCoy Boveri
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day…
Giving gifts to the one you love is a tradition on St. Valentine’s Day. The beauty of St. Valentine’s Day is that a simple homemade card will do the job just as well as a fancy gift. The tradition of giving cards began as early the 15th century. Flowers became a gift tradition as early as the 17th century. Chocolate was put into heart-shaped boxes and became a favorite gift in the early 19th century. In the Victorian era, gloves were the gift of choice.
Whether you are in love or are still looking for that certain someone, the truth of St. Valentine’s Day is that anyone can be your Valentine. Love is a universal language that can be expressed to all. So if you’re still looking for your Valentine just write a simple note and give it to someone with the words: “Won’t you be my Valentine?” If you don’t have a note, just ask! This simple gift will surely bring to both of you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
Won’t you be my Valentine?
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day 14:
Gifts of Love
“Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
~ An Old Irish Blessing ~
Marian McCoy Boveri
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day…
The color pink is created by mixing red and white together. Pinks can range from the palest pink to the deepest magenta. Pink is considered to represent innocence, sweetness, affection, understanding, and friendship.
Fun fact: In the early 1900s, clothing retailers advocated dressing boys in pink and girls in blue because pink was considered the stronger color and blue the more delicate one.
Depending on the color, a pink rose takes on different meanings:
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day 13:
Pink
“Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
~ An Old Irish Blessing ~
Marian McCoy Boveri
Source of rose color meanings: http://bit.do/pinkrosemeaning
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day…
White is another color traditionally associated with St. Valentine’s Day. White is the absence of all color and in that is considered to be pure. In its purity white has become the favorite for bridal attire and lace. White is also a symbol of faith and on St. Valentine’s Day denotes the faith between two in love.
A white rose signifies innocence and purity as well as new beginnings. They are also used as a gesture of remembrance and say, “I’m thinking of you.”
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day 12:
White
“Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
~ An Old Irish Blessing ~
Marian McCoy Boveri
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day…
Red is a familiar color for St. Valentine’s Day and it is full of symbolism in itself. Red is the color of blood which is considered to be life in itself. Red is considered the color of passion and in this the color of love. In turn giving something red on St. Valentine’s Day is considered to be romantic.
A red rose represents love, courage, beauty, respect, romantic love, sincere love, and in particular passionate love. They can say: “I love you” or “Job well done”. Different shades of red signify different love messages:
Along the way to St. Valentine’s Day 11:
Red
“Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.”
~ An Old Irish Blessing ~
Marian McCoy Boveri
red rose info source: http://www.rkdn.org/roses/colors.asp and http://bit.do/redrosemeaning
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