Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Smashing Fun

For day one of our Easter Advent Calendar, we smashed our cascerones(cahs-cah-roe-nays) - confetti filled eggs from South America.

Confetti Hair in morning light


As it is also April Fools the girls decided to get the MR early in the morning when he just woke up. They snuck in behind him while he was on the computer and smashed the eggs over his head!! He definately was not expecting it, they were happy - The MR is hard to trick!!



Then we went outside (for easy disposal of all that confetti) to smash the rest over ourselves.

Look at that determined face :)


The little one got bored of waiting for someone to smash one over her she did it to herself!!

Here's how to make if you missed the links before.

Fill empty, clean egg shells with confetti - we just cut up a catalogue


Glue some tissue paper over the hole


Decorate or leave plain and place back in egg box ready to smash over heads!


The girls complained 6 werent enough and that this was the most fun they had in a while - I said that is because they didn't HELP make more than that (they bored easily in the making stage - that'll teach them!!)

Some Cascarones History I found on the net

Cascarones have an uncertain beginning, however historians have traced their birthplace back to China. Its believed that Marco Polo brought them from Asia. These original eggs were filled with a perfumed powder and the eggs were used as gifts. From Italy the tradition was carried to Spain and then to America. Carlotta, the wife of Emperor Maximillian, was so fascinated by the eggs that she brought them to Mexico during her husbands rule in the mid 1800s.

In Mexico people replaced the perfumed powder with confetti. It was then when Mexicans labeled the eggshells.... Cascarones... Which derives from the word "Cascara" which means shell. In Mexico Cascarones were popular at one time, but the tradition eventually faded. Only in the late 1960s and early 1970s Cascarones regained popularity in South Texas, where it has now become a family tradition. Some make very creative Cascarones' designs that sell for as much as $10 for one Cascaron.

Throughout Mexico and the American Southwest, Cascarones are used to celebrate. The fun is derived from breaking the egg over someones head; allowing the confetti to spill out. Prior to Easter or during Fiesta San Antonio churches and schools do fund raisers by selling Cascarones. Others just enjoy cracking them over their friend's heads. Many say... the confetti shower brings good luck and good fortune! But if anything they are lots of fun and almost addictive!

Do Cascarones have a religious link?
It's believed that Cascarones represent the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; the breaking of the egg symbolizes how Christ had risen from the tomb, just like a newborn chick opens the shell.

3 comments:

Sars life said...

What a fun chocolate free tradition. Will have to try it with the boys.

Cowan Family said...

What fun! Now, where on earth do you get all these ideas? You are fabulous and how lucky are your girls to have such a devoted, motivated and inspired mother who does such great activities with them? We're definately doing these this week and we'll surprise Dad with them sometime over the long weekend... hehehe

Hana @ celebrations.com said...

i have never heard of this idea before in my life! but it is a great way to celebrate. Very pretty too. Thanks for sharing!

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