Spring Traditions

Dear Moms,

We are halfway through the year and look at all the memories we have made, and all the traditions we have begun. Isn’t it amazing how the little things mean so much to those who are so young, or to those of us that are Young At Heart? No wonder God says in his word, “UNLESS YOU HUMBLE YOURSELF LIKE A LITTLE CHILD, YOU WILL NOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” Keep reading, for I think Spring is in the air. Spring not only means, “NEW LIFE,” but “NEW BEGINNING,” as well. I say, “Let’s spring into Spring!"

The first thing we think about in Spring is Easter, and the death of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. To prepare for Easter every Lenten season, my children and I used to make a KINDNESS BOX, when they were young. We would take a cardboard shoe box, decorate it, both top and bottom separately. Then we would cut out a hole in the top of the box. Next we would sit down together and write out specific kind deeds on small pieces of paper. Some examples are, visit the sick, cook for a sick friend, hug mom, serve dad, or spend time in prayer. When we came up with forty kind deeds, one for each day of lent, we would fold them and place them in the box. Each day ,one of the children would pick a kind deed out of the box, and we would all do what it said. This kindness box helped us to prepare spiritually as a family, as well as, to build family. It was truly a favorite activity.

Our Easter Traditions are pretty standard. We color eggs, hide the Easter baskets with a jelly bean trail (each child, pre-picks the jellybean colors the night before, so that the Easter Bunny doesn’t get confused), and YES, we buy new Easter Clothes and bonnets as well. You should see us in our Easter Bonnets with all the thrills upon it. I always dressed all four girls alike until, they wouldn’t let me any more. Isn’t it funny, Mom, how when the girls are little, you dress them, then in turn, when they are teens or above, they dress you, or at least pick out your clothes for you to wear? How many times have I heard, “Not that mom, It’s 80’s!” How would I have a CLUE? An 80’s word--by the way, I was pregnant almost all of the 80’s. No, we don’t forget God at Easter. Being Roman Catholic, the traditions are rich and built in our faith. They are called the Easter Triduum. Church services begin Holy Thursday, then two services Good Friday, then Holy Saturday, which involves people becoming members of the Church, and last but not least, they are all leading up to the Easter Mass on Sunday. No matter how big, no matter how small our children were, all were in awe of the three-day Easter celebrations. Of course, the littlest ones fell asleep during the services dreaming of the Easter Bunny, but we wouldn’t miss the three day journey for the world. I’ll never forget the year one priest had us each pound a nail into an old rugged Cross. That was powerful, even for a teenager who came because he was told to come. Church Traditions, when done as a ,will impact the children’s faith more than a parent’s wasted words. YOU WOULDN‘T WANT TO CAST YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE, MOM. Even if the swine have your last name. Easter, of course, as every other holiday at the Mongan Family Household, is celebrated with lots of eating, lots of drinking and lots of being merry. Everyone cooks together, while those with younger children hide candy for the Easter Egg Hunt. It is quite an unforgettable celebration!

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and this gal, for one, is Happy to be married to a Irish Man. It gives me an excuse to kiss him, not that I need one. This holiday we always celebrate in one way or another. It is usually, dress in green, and you used to be able to say Go Green, that was before environmentalism was in vogue. We all go to Mass as a family. After Mass, in Augusta, Georgia at least, there is a PARADE that goes down the street that our Church is on. How great is that! Everyone loves a Parade, so of course, parade-watching is part of our tradition. We then go home to a feast of CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE that has been cooking most of the day. What do we do at family dinner? WE EAT, WE DRINK, AND WE BE MERRY, after all it’s in the WORD OF GOD.

That concludes our Spring Traditions. What do you think? It sure makes me hungry. I think I’ll just go and EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY.
What are some of your Spring Traditions?
ELLEN
(You can also reach me at momsbestwisdom@yahoo.com)