easter
How international families are celebrating Easter
Peep dioramas and creepy chocolate bunnies are fun and all, but the really awesome Easter traditions happen across the globe. We swept over five countries to give you a run down of the coolest family Easter customs we could find: some sinister, some delicious, some shocking. Rooted in folklore, these celebratory activities will inspire you to think outside the basket this Easter.
RUSSIA
In Russia, Easter eggs are painted blood red and people crack them open with their fingernails. Some parts of the country also partake of the pussy willow beating tradition à la Ukraine. After these slightly sinister activities, they bake a tall cake called a kulich and frost it with flowers and sprinkles! Often the kulich is carried to the church and blessed by a priest before the family scarfs it. The kulich lasts up to seven days, which is ideal because Russians party for the whole week. Kulich goes great with paskha, a dish made mostly of cheese and formed into the shape of a pyramid. Its white colour symbolizes purity. We reckon eating a pyramid of cheese may have you feeling not so pure afterward, but it’s all about symbolism right? Read more...
Blog
Gumbo, masquerade balls, and stuffing your face with king cake
Some people consider Mardi Gras to be the biggest party of the year and it’s not hard to see why. Here are some ways to bring some of that party to your house:
THROW A LOUISIANA KING CAKE PARTY
No wonder this traditional cake is consumed by the car load in the Southern States. It’s hands down the coolest cake we’ve ever seen.
Deriving its name from the three kings of New Testament fame, this cake is popular around Christmas time in France, Belgium, Quebec, and Switzerland. The season for king cakes extends from the end of the 12 days of Christmas up until Fat Tuesday, February 21st. King cake became an integral part of New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities when it was brought to the Southern States in the 18th century. Mardi Gras parties have centered around this dessert ever since. Read more...
Queer as Moms
Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values
Today after work my partner will go in search of pink hair dye. She wants me to take the time to buy a new dress, like there is something wrong with worn out yoga pants. (There is a lot wrong with worn out yoga pants.) “It’s only once a year,” she tells me when I squawk: “No time! No time!”
Dyke Day is anon, and she wants our family to look good. (And she tells me, have fun.) Half of our family will. Guaranteed. The kids always look great. Hopefully we’ll all have fun.
The kids will be in super hero/fairy princess hats and pink capes. They’ll wave rainbow flags, and both will likely sing: “When I get older, I will be stronger …” on heart-breaking adorable repeat. We’re considering being dykes with tykes on bikes this year. Definitely, once we get there, we’ll search for friends and wonder why we didn’t consider a meet-up spot. Read more...
