Whether it is to fill an Easter Basket or offer within the Easter Season, this Easter Story Snack Mix will help you share the Good News with your children. You could also use it for scripture memorization.
Easter Story Snack Mix
Mardi Gras Preparations
Celebrate the feast before the fast. The word carnival comes from the Latin carnelevarium which means the removal of meat. Catholics were traditionally not allowed to eat meat and animal products, such as eggs, cream and butter, during the Lenten fast. Prior to the 1800s there was no refrigeration, and those foods would go to waste during the 40+ days of Lent. So the week before Lent begins, there is a festival called Carnival to feast, be merry and prepare. Masks were worn to hide the identity of your social class, so everyone would celebrate together. In parts of the world, especially in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and New Orleans, Louisiana, there are massive celebrations and parades held. It all ends on Mardi Gras, which in French means Fat Tuesday. Christians have also called it Shrove Tuesday, from the archaic English word shrive, which means hear confession. Many would go to Confession to remove sins of the flesh on the day before Ash Wednesday.
While the obligations have slightly changed, there are still some traditions we can continue in the same spirit as before. We are still encouraged to feast before the fast, and can hold a Mardi Gras celebration. We can eat up all the things we won't have during Lent, or donate them. We can make recipes and crafts with symbolic colors and icons. When it comes to living liturgically some occasions will take intentional preparation, and others will flow naturally through the life of the Church. Discern what will most enrich your family's experience of the season.
A Festive Atmosphere
Make it a special party for just your family, or invite friends! Play family friendly Mardi Gras or Brazilian music. Wear your masks, crowns, and beads. You can decorate your table with the colors and symbols. Purple, green and gold represent justice, faith and power, respectively.
You may also see symbols of the French Fleur de Lis, which means the Flower of Lily. It was first used as a symbol of The Immaculate Conception (Mary), Saint Joseph and purity. Later we see it often on the coat of arms of the French and Brazilian culture that keeps this festival alive.
The Feasting
The most traditional foods made are meat stews (Jambalaya), pancakes, (Paczki) doughnuts, and king's cake. Often deserts are tinted or sprinkled with the colors purple, green and gold.
Pancake Recipe (serves 4):
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Food coloring or Sprinkles in Purple, Gold and Green
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in milk, egg and oil. Add food coloring if desired. Mix until smooth. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot. Top with butter, whip cream and sprinkles, syrup, or jam.
King’s Cake & Crowning a King:
Traditionally a King’s Cake is made for the Feast of Epiphany, but it has also been seen on Mardi Gras as it ends this ordinary liturgical time. You can make any circular cake like a Fleur de Lis bundt with batter or monkey bread. Or make a sweet bread dough and braid it into a circle. Sometimes we layer ready to bake Cinnamon Rolls from a can into a bundt cake pan, for the simplest method.
The circle shape represents the king’s crown, the crown of the Magi and of the Christ. It is usually glazed/frosted and sprinkled with purple, green and gold sugars. A token such as a dried red bean or plastic baby (representing the Christ child) is discretely baked or poked hidden inside.
The person who finds the baby/token is crowned king or queen for the day. They can lead the family rosary, redistribute his or her chores, or another royal honor. I've used two options for the crown. There are gold crowns of paper, foam, or metal that you can purchase or make. I also bought a festive purple and gold hat. While the tradition is to have one crowned, in larger families you could have that person choose another, so a king would choose his queen for the day, or the queen her king. In a classroom, I would recommend to still only choose up to two, you could make crowns for a craft and send them home with each child reminding them they are all sons and daughters of the King.
These foam and elastic crowns fit most head sizes.
Festive Fun:
Family Game Night! Play Five Crowns, a card game. This is another way you can crown a winner.
We also took these coins and had fun trying to flip them with our thumb into a cup. You'd be surprised how much adults get into the game. They could win a necklace or keep the coin whenever they get it in.
Make Mardi Gras Masks
The mask was a way for the lower and upper class people to celebrate this feast together around the 14th century. We can make masks to remind us that we are all children of God and special to Him. It also adds some cultural flair to the occasion.
Check out these White Masks ready to be decorated by you.
These masks I found on Amazon with a pack of trinkets.
Other Fun Ideas:
Fat Tuesday Sundaes - have ice cream and the toppings are all the candy and sweets you have left in your pantry.
A Mardi Gras Parade - Children can dress up and have a parade. Make a float from a wagon or sled.
Family Movie - Watch the family movie Rio
A Festival of Nations - Learn about Brazil, we have many ideas on our blog for this!
Shrove - Confessions:
Go to Confession. Otherwise, make plans to go when your parish offers it during the Lenten season.
Removal of Excess:
As a family, consider choosing food from your pantry to donate to a local food shelf or volunteering at a place that serves the poor. Some things to donate would be items you plan to give up for Lent, or food to help make meatless meals.
Another consideration would be to begin the practice of decluttering or minimalizing your home of excess worldly goods. These can be donated. Some like the idea of 40 Bags in 40 Days, a plan to pack up a bag a day during Lent.
When this day (Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival) has passed and Ash Wednesday arrives, we can then focus on our efforts to die to self and grow in virtue. We can then turn our attention to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Plan for simple meals, meatless meals, as well as make a simplified home and schedule. Pack or give away physical items that may tempt you to loose your mortifications. Pray about our how you can be a better steward of your time, talent and treasure, and find opportunities to volunteer in the church or community. We can prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts and homes.
[Read more about Family & Group Activities for Lent on my blogs]
My Rule of Life
It was last year that I was listening to a podcast, then reading a blog, later reading a book, and they all spoke about the necessity for Catholics to have a "Rule of Life" as if everyone had heard of it before. Well, I decided I got to get one of those immediately! After I browsed more online for the details, I realized it was something I've done many times in my life but this simply looked more complete. It encompasses all the aspects of my life, desires, plans and vocation at once, which makes so much sense now.
According to the Catholic Dictionary, a Religious Rule (rule of life for religious) is "The plan of life and discipline, approved by the Holy See, under which religious live in order to grow in Christian perfection and perform the works of the apostolate proper to their institute." Going back a century and a half ago, there is the most popular Rule of Saint Benedict written to bring order to the monk's habits and rhythms in their shared daily life. A religious order's rule would include their charisms, order of the day, and responsibilities. I too have a vocation with such aspects, so there must be a rule for mothers.
Holly Pierlot, author of A Mother's Rule of Life wrote "A Rule of Life is not just a schedule, not just a collection of activities organized into a set pattern for efficient repetition. A Rule is an organization of everything that has to do with your vocation, based on a hierarchy of the priorities that define the vocation and done with the intent to please God. It deals with the essential responsibilities of your state of life, organized to ensure their fulfillment…"
Ah-ha! So what I had been doing was this in pieces, for separate purposes. I was checking off boxes when working on a personal goal like weight loss. Other times I was planning the ideal flow of our homeschool day. Sometimes I would write a list of tasks and priorities. I would journal about my spiritual goals. I love prioritized lists, especially since I'm a procrastinator. I also have many many piles and file folders in my home office. What can we busy mothers do to streamline this Rule of Life planning?
That's when I decided to create a "My Rule of Life" workbook, catered to my own vintage style. After some testing, the Catholic woman's My Rule of Life planner and self-tracker I designed for myself is now available to print.
Take notes of what you want your prayer and spiritual life to look like. Plan out the ideal week. Write down your commitments, personal goals, and the Saints you want to intercede for you. Think about your prayer intentions, including a memorial of souls who have gone before you. Track your progress of your goals and virtues. Take time to do a weekly examination of your life and how it aligns to God's will and your resolutions. Finally jot down any books you hope to read this month.
No matter what your style, the details in the planning are mostly the same. It is important that is personal. If you don't like the vintage look and want to design your own, or you have other items you want to cover, you can look at it for inspiration. I think it most important that you take time to think these things over, no matter where you write it down.
Jenn Giles Kemper of Sacred Ordinary Days writes, "Allow your rule to develop slowly over time. Listen for God and realize that the unique expression of Christ in you, your family, and your church will look different than the expression of Christ in others. It can be helpful to remember that the kingdom is built by the whole of the church body, so you need only seek to be a faithful hand or foot. Ask God how to live your part faithfully. Consider inviting others into this exercise with you, such as a spouse, a spiritual director, or members of your community. Regard your rule as a living document—something you can review and adjust as you live it out."
I think that's a fantastic perspective. Thanks Jenn! Now to go print a copy for my new year and see how God is calling me in my current phase of life.
MY RULE OF LIFE planner is in my Etsy Shop as an INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF FILE.
https://homegrowncatholics.etsy.com/listing/1662850263
In the file is a cover page, 14 worksheets, and the digital use policy. There is enough room for a month of tracking. Then you can reprint whatever pages you need to add on additional months. Staple together, or put in a binder as I have.
Plan out the ideal week.
Write down your commitments, personal goals, and the Saints you want to intercede for you.
Think about your prayer intentions, including a memorial of souls who have gone before you.
Track your progress of your goals and virtues.
Take time to do a weekly examination of your life and how it aligns to God's will and your resolutions.
Finally jot down any books you hope to read this month.
Also included are 3 Prayer Posters and 1 set of 4 prayer cards.
MY RULE OF LIFE planner is in my Etsy Shop as an INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF FILE.
https://homegrowncatholics.etsy.com/listing/1662850263
More Resources I found helpful on the subject:
Sacred Ordinary Days: Rule of Life (very through, with so many resource links)
A Mother's Rule of Life, a book by Holly Pierlot
Good Catholic: Making a Personal Rule of Life
Word on Fire: Creating a Rule of Life PDF Booklet
Need a Mom's Life Coach?
The True Presence Course {Her podcast about a Summer Rule of Life}
AS ALWAYS, I LIKE TO INCLUDE SOMETHING FREE if there is something for sale. So you can print this page by clicking on it and selecting print!
Holy Name of Jesus Art
The month of January, especially on Jan 3rd, is dedicated to The Holy Name of Jesus. "What a powerful name it is!"
I remember way back in the 1980s, my neighbor friends had this wooden optical illusion on the desk. For days I couldn't figure it out, and they eventually had to clue me in. Today, when deciding on a craft for this memorial of Jesus's name, I knew it had to be this illusion art.
The image is drawn upside-down at first, so there aren't any easy guesses. No one has seen the final image but myself. Tell everyone to keep their guesses to themselves, so everyone has a chance to see the final art and discover the image on their own.
A heavy cardstock paper is folded in half lengthwise, and set with the open flap away from you. You could use large grid paper (a 7x20 square grid).
You could also have older students/children draw shapes sideways for a challenge. The key is using a ruler, and the thickness of the shapes is typically 1cm wide (about a finger width).The children began by drawing in pencil what I was drawing, a light 1cm border edge then 7 odd shapes. Adding one on the left, then the right, then the left and so forth until completed. Then I erased the border edge lines, leaving only the shapes.
Tip: The last thing to draw is the smallest rectangle, seen in blue above. You can adjust the width of it if the spacing was off for someone, as we did here.
Next, color in the shapes with one of these options:
1. Color the shapes one color. Leave the maze area white.
2. Color the shapes a variety of colors, then color the maze around them a darker color such as black or gray.
3. Leave the shapes white, and color the rest a solid color.
The key is to make the shape edges crisp and straight as possible. Also, the color of the shapes and backgrounds should have good contrast, or it could be harder to discover as was the camo green sample below.
When everyone was done, I gave them time to turn it over and think about what they see. Those who still don't obviously light up knowing the answer, offer them a hint.... This is the month of? There is no other name like it? It's powerful? Who loves you most?
For the littlest, we did have to trace our fingers on each letter of Jesus for them to see it. They still lit up in amazement.
We hope you can see the most wonderful name of Jesus in our art and yours. God bless your new year!