The Friday Five: Spring Holidays

[smallhobbit]

From thefridayfive but a week late:

1) What spring holiday(s) do you celebrate?
Easter

2) How do you celebrate it?
We share chocolate and I will go to church.

3) How was your celebration different in 2020 and/or 2021?
Last year churches weren't open, so I wrote a short virtual service which was sent to our Family Praise members.  This temporary monthly virtual service is still going strong, and again I've written something which has gone out, although we are now able to meet.

4) What special foods do you make or acquire for your spring holiday?
Simnel cakes (see icon), although this year SM made them.  We always make three - one for us, one went in the post to our daughter, and we'll take one with us when we go to see our son and granddaughter tomorrow (daughter-in-law will be at work, she's a nurse).  Plus Easter eggs - this year everyone's getting small eggs with knitted egg cosies.  The daughter sent money for me to buy eggs for everyone, so we'll have those.

5) Is there special music for your spring holiday?
The church will have certain hymns, although no singing is allowed.  Last Sunday (Palm Sunday) we handed out the musical instruments and rattled our way through the hymn with tambourines, castanets and similar.  And there are the classic big pieces, like Handel's Messiah and Bach's St Matthew Passion.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Heh, heh, you are much kinder than me. I do NOT share my chocolate. But the boys' father likes Reese's peanut butter cups so I bought him a big bag of peanut butter eggs. Minor doesn't eat chocolate so I have to get jelly beans or Skittles.

[smallhobbit]

So long as I get some I'm happy to share. If Minor doesn't like chocolate it means yours is safe!

[howsmyenglish]

Happy holidays! And the bunnies are just lovely!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. I'm glad you like them.

[aome]

You ... share chocolate?? O_o

I had to look up what a Simnel cake was - looks like a fruit cake of some type? The recipes I looked up said that the decorations on top are to represent the 11 apostles (not Judas) but the ones in your icon have more than 11 so I'm guessing sometimes it just becomes a plain ol' decoration and not one with particular significance? Anyway, it looks tasty!

I'll be watching my Easter service online. They do allow hymns at church, but they often seem to deliberately pick pieces that nobody but the cantor knows, to cut back on singing. And everyone is masked, anyway. Meanwhile, at some point at home on Sunday, we'll break out into a round of Jesus Christ is Risen Today, Aaaaaalleeluuujah because I'm pretty sure there's a rule somewhere that says you have to sing that on Easter, or it doesn't count as a proper holiday. ;-)

[smallhobbit]

Simnel cakes are fruit cakes with a layer of marzipan baked in the middle and a further layer on top. The traditional decoration is 11 small balls of marzipan but they are tedious to do and using mini Easter eggs is more fun.

[luthienberen]

Share chocolate? *faints dramatically* Seriously though, I need my brother to usually finish my chocolate as I'm a slow eater (I'm on my own when it comes to dark choc though eeps).

Like you, Easter Masses are very different. Unlike 2020 we can celebrate in church this year (the Triduum so far has proceeded with a limited congregation), but with limited numbers and following COVID restrictions. All of the Easter Masses & services are being streamed however, and ordinary Mass will continue to be streamed. (I do pray that the virtual aspect continues once we return to semi-normal, because I think it does open so many opportunities for people bed-ridden or too ill to come to church etc. to still access the Mass and be part of the Faithful.)

I wish you a blessed Easter both in church and with your family. :-) May the eggs stay safe in their knitted jumpers until they are devoured!

[smallhobbit]

I rarely eat masses of chocolate at one time, so I'm normally happy to share it - so long as I have a bit I'm content.

I agree that online forms do make such a difference to those who can't get to services. This year I've taken part in a Lent group organised by the Jesuits which has been online, and has had some Scottish, some English, one from Ireland and one from the States, which has been absolutely lovely to share with such a wide group.

Thank you very much - we dropped the little tray off at my son today, and so far the bunnies still have their contents (my granddaughter's chocolate is safe in a top cupboard!)

[luthienberen]

I wish you happy sharing of chocolate ~ with the right amount for yourself! ;)

That sounds fantastic the online Lent group! Prior to this pandemic such an opportunity across the pond would have been tricky if not impossible due to no one considering online a viable option. I do pray for normality to return, but if we could keep the positive aspects of this time (such as these opportunities) it would be wonderful.

Ooo, the bunnies are being carefully guarded by the unassailable (hopefully) cupboard! :)

[luthienberen]

Also cute bunnies & chicks - love the colours!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much!

[verdande_mi]

Happy Easter <3

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. And Happy Easter to you!

[moth2fic]

Happy Easter! Enjoy both church and chocolate!
We had hoped to socialise outdoors (weather is still good) but grandson brought a virus (not Covid) home from school and kindly gave it to his parents so all socialising is on hold.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - we even held the end of the service outside because it was sunny.

I'm sorry about that - frustrating but inevitable with kids. We saw my granddaughter who showed me all around their garden, because they moved house back in January and this was our first chance to see it.

[scfrankles]

Happy Easter! And I have to say, the image of you (potentially) playing the castanets put a very big smile on my face ^____^

[smallhobbit]

Thank you. Yesterday I shook a tambourine very enthusiastically! (Spot the inner Ferret!)

[debriswoman]

Cute bunnies and chicks:-)

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much :)