Holiday Traditions

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Makes a note...
Hyacinth, unpleasant indoors.
This gives me a whole new perspective on Mrs. Bucket
(That's Boooo-kaaaaay dear, yeeees)

 

[IrisAlthea]

So you start these indoors and then plant them outside once the freeze has passed??

Yes, you can put them outside except for the Amaryllis. It doesn't like our climate and who can blame it.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

St Patty' s: I almost missed it!
The City here dyes the San Antonio River (which runs right through downtown and has a lovely riverwalk) green for St Patrick's, turning it into the Shannon for a weekend. That's always fun to see.
But to be honest, I know nothing about the holiday other than drinking
Who has holiday traditions? Special foods? Special drinks?

 

[Endless_Night]

St Patty' s: I almost missed it!
The City here dyes the San Antonio River (which runs right through downtown and has a lovely riverwalk) green for St Patrick's, turning it into the Shannon for a weekend. That's always fun to see.
But to be honest, I know nothing about the holiday other than drinking
Who has holiday traditions? Special foods? Special drinks?

Wow! I had no idea SA dyed the river. That sounds like a pretty spectacular site!

Hmmm. St. Patty's Day. I don't ever celebrate now, but I remember my great-grandmother making a fuss on the day. We'd wear green, of course, and I seem to remember her cooking special food. Soda bread, for sure, but I can't remember anything else specific. We'd usually watch an old movie too, like Darby O'gill and the Little People. Which, now that I'm thinking about it, sounds fun!!! I'll watch it this year.

Cheap beer dyed green, on the other hand. Bleck!

 

[Curious_in_Cali]

I am part Irish, so I will be wearing green on St Patrick's day. I have purchased a lovely lump of corned beef that is waiting in my fridge. I will also sautée cabbage with butter and garlic as well as oven roast some red potatoes.

I know it's not the traditional way to prepare and serve it, but it's become my tradition. I dig it.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

I am part Irish, so I will be wearing green on St Patrick's day. I have purchased a lovely lump of corned beef that is waiting in my fridge. I will also sautée cabbage with butter and garlic as well as oven roast some red potatoes.

I know it's not the traditional way to prepare and serve it, but it's become my tradition. I dig it.

That's ok, as I first began to read, my ridiculously fertile mind imagined you wearing that lump of corned beef as a necklace so regardless what you do with it, I think you're good...

 

[FurryFury]

What do they smell like? That's very important to me. Most scents bother. paperwhites bother.

As for St. Patrick's Day, I sent a noisy card to my mother. I'm considering transplanting some chocolate shamrocks out of my big planter for colleges and friends. My husband might make corned beef or whatever is traditional, I don't eat it because I don't eat meat but I like the cabbage. I do like Potatoes O'Brien too. I would like to get some gold foil covered chocolate coins for my kids and husband. We have a local parade but I don't do crowds.

We have quite a few hyacinths in the garden, that will flower every spring.

I think it is a question of not putting them out too late.
If they only get water, they will burn off all the stored energy. That is OK for the first, early blooming, but then they need to start stockpiling nutrients for next year.

Whenever we get hyacinths as a present, I'll transfer them to the garden as soon as it is socially acceptable.

 

[desertslave]

What do they smell like? That's very important to me. Most scents bother. paperwhites bother.

Hyacinth is a very delicate scent that reminds me of a cross between lilac and lily. It's not very strong unless you stick your face right into them, otherwise (IMO) there's just a subtle sweetness in the air. I think they're less intense than paperwhites.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Our river, green

 

[LWulf]

I am part Irish, so I will be wearing green on St Patrick's day. I have purchased a lovely lump of corned beef that is waiting in my fridge. I will also sautée cabbage with butter and garlic as well as oven roast some red potatoes.

I know it's not the traditional way to prepare and serve it, but it's become my tradition. I dig it.

Sounds interesting. I haven't made anything for St. Patrick's day in a while, maybe I'll give this a try...
Do you do anything special with the red potatoes, like salt them? Don't know why but the sudden thought of salting roasted potatoes popped in my head.

 

[FurryFury]

Good to know. Thanks!

Hyacinth is a very delicate scent that reminds me of a cross between lilac and lily. It's not very strong unless you stick your face right into them, otherwise (IMO) there's just a subtle sweetness in the air. I think they're less intense than paperwhites.

 

[IrisAlthea]

Easter anyone?
Or spring cleaning perhaps?

 

[seela]

Today's the day when kids dress up as witches and go from house to house with decorated willow branches to cast spells of good health and fortune. They leave the branch they've used for the spell in the house and in exchange they get candies or usually chocolate eggs.

Easter food here is typically lamb and we have a special Easter dessert. It's sweet rye and malt porridge or pudding. It tastes a little like very dark and very sweet stout and people usually either love it or hate it. I like it, I always want to have some every year but one serving is enough.

Another typical Easter dessert is Paskha. It's originally Russian and was mainly eaten in the Eastern parts of the country whereas mämmi was originally a Western thing. Now both are eaten throughout the country.

People also grow ryegrass on plates or baskets and decorate them with little chicks and tiny chocolate eggs.

About spring cleaning... I already took care of it before mom came here for a night. I still have to clean one window, but everything else is taken care of. I'm way ahead of schedule this year.

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[IrisAlthea]

Spring cleaning......does it ever end? I have things backwards, downstairs is done, and most of upstairs, but our bedroom .which I know should be a priority, just sees me collapse into bed with exhaustion.....

Oh, that's easy! Springcleaning ends when you have to start calling it summer cleaning.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Lamb is typical here for my family as the main Easter meal, or ham for those who don't do lamb. I think ham is more common in the US, as there are not really a lot of people here that eat lamb. I feel sorry for them ...
For dessert you usually see pastel coloured cakes, but I like to do cupcakes in different coloured icings. A plate full of Easter egg cupcakes
Parents hide plastic eggs or hard boiled eggs (if it is cool enough) and chocolate bunnies outside, and kids are given baskets and left to toddle around and find the hidden goodies. That's always fUN to watch them find candy and get all excited about it.
Otherwise, I'm not sure what Easter traditions may be here? I'm not religious, but I think there is typically a sunrise service that is held outdoors - is that Easter? Also, if there is a sporting event that is associated with this time period, I am totally unaware...

 

[seela]

What do you mean it's kids that look for chocolate eggs? In a time honored tradition J will hide a chocolate egg or two for me to find. And when I say chocolate eggs, that's exactly what I mean. Empty eggshells filled with chocolate or nougat or some such. They look like regular eggs but taste even better.

Here it's not bunny that brings the eggs, but an Easter rooster lays the eggs.

Other Easter traditions are playing Passions in churches. I've played in many Passions, but those are always evening concerts, so I don't know if there are special morning services. Maybe?

It's kind of sad that I know more about the Easter traditions of other religions than the major one here.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Oooohhh! An Easter rooster! I love it!!

 

[La damnee elle la licorne]

 

[IrisAlthea]

Today is Valborgsmässoafton in Sweden. You may know it better as the German Walpurgisnacht.
Here it is both a folksy partynight, with lots of alcohol and rowdiness as per the Swedish tradition and one of biggest celebrations of the university students, with lots of alcohol and rowdiness .
There are huge bonfires lit in the evening and spring songs are sung, preferably by men's choruses.
In the past it was also the traditional day for students to change their winter hats to the summer hat and in the old university towns, this is still traditionally done together in front of the university buildings after the men's chorus has sung.

We used to go on picnic with friends but in later years when everyone started to have this pesky job business to tend to, we have invited friends over in the evening.
We eat gravlax and dill stewed potatoes and then we go to the nearest bonfire.

And then tomorrow we celebrate First of May.

 

[seela]

It's the same here. We celebrate Vappu (or Vappen in Finnish Swedish) with a traditional drink of sima, which is a non-alcoholic mead we brew at home. We also bake donuts and sort of funnel cakes. Some people also make rosettes, but in my family they've rarely been on the menu. My sima finished brewing yesterday and the donut dough is currently rising.

Like in Sweden, it's a huge student party and in every major student town there is a statue that gets a white cap, usually at 6pm, which marks the beginning of vappu celebration. The white cap is a student symbol here and is typically worn on Vappu even by those who are no longer students. Another tradition are Vappy magazines, which are put out by student groups and sold before Vappu.

On May 1st people gather to a brunch picnic in parks. In every major student town there's a park where people gather. Some people have very elaborate settings with tables, chairs, chrystal candle sticks, fancy china and very fancy food. Other's just do a simple bbq. If the weather is good and sunny, there's often over 20.000 people doing their Vappu brunch in the main park here, and thousands in another park. There are always student choirs and brass bands providing music for the brunching crowds.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

Ok, I have never heard of this in Swedish, Finnish, or German! Or Finish Swedish I was wondering what sima was from when you posted about the raisins the other day, seela. Picnics in the park sound.. perfectly springy

 

[desertslave]

Thank you, Iris and seela, for sharing these traditions!

For pagans (like me) tomorrow is Beltane. That used to mean bonfires and May poles and gifts of flowers. I'll probably do some late (for here) planting. Everything, garden-wise, is wonky here. After 14 years you'd think I'd have adapted, but my internal clock is still set to seasons in PA.

 

[Collar_N_Cuffs]

And don't forget, today is actually
Hairstyle Appreciation Day
And National Honesty Day in the US

 

[midwestyankee]

And don't forget, today is actually
Hairstyle Appreciation Day
And National Honesty Day in the US

I don't believe you.