Catholic traditions: Blessing food at Easter Time

The tradition of blessing food at Easter time is a Slavic tradition that was brought to the United States by immigrants from Poland, Ukraine, Russia and other Slavic countries. It is a centuries-old custom rich in symbolism and something that the whole family can do together. In Connecticut, it is mainly Poles who practice this tradition; however, with the ethnic church becoming a thing of the past, many parishes are adopting this practice, and it is spreading to parishioners of other nationalities.

“Swieconka” is the Polish name for the blessing of the food. If it is something that is being offered in your parish this is what you need to do. Get a large basket; one with a handle is traditional, but whatever you have will be fine. You can place one or all of the traditional items in the basket.
Traditional items

Maslo: butter shaped like a lamb or in the form of a cross. This is to remind you of the goodness of Christ. These are really cute, too, and sure to please the kids in the family.

Babka: Easter bread. Christ is called the bread of life and the babka usually has a cross or a fish on top of it. You should be able to purchase a babka at your local grocery store.

Chrzan: Horseradish with grated red beets, this symbolizes Christ’s passion, but the sweetness is a reminder of his resurrection.

Jajka: eggs. They are the sign of new life and the Christ rising from the tomb.
Kielbasa: sausage to remind you of Christ’s generous spirit.

Szynka: smoked ham, to remind you of God’s generous nature in giving his son and his mercy.

Sol: salt. Jesus said you are the salt of the Earth.

Ser: cheese. This is usually shaped in a ball as a symbol of moderation.

Finally, a candle is usually inserted into the basket to represent Christ, the Light of the World. The basket is covered with a linen cloth and brought to the church to be blessed.

Now, most people who are not of a Slavic tradition are not going to be serving most of these items. That does not mean that your Easter meal should not be blessed. If you are having ham put your ham in the basket with a couple of whole potatoes, some colored Easter eggs if you have done them, fresh vegetables or your Easter dessert.

It doesn’t matter what you are serving, what is important is that you are asking God to bless your meal. You, in turn, are thanking him for the blessing he has given to your family and the gift of his only son. Easter is a celebration of Jesus’ victory over death and the hope of eternal life that he has given his people. “Swieconka” is a wonderful way to celebrate this.

Places to find handcrafted items

Buying handcrafted items is a good idea, it helps to support our economy and the economy of developing countries. It gives small cottage industries a chance to flourish. Fair-trade items are for sale that are also very well priced.

Buying handcrafted items from places such as Haiti, India, and Vietnam are going to be a bargain by American standards. This, of course, is a very good additional reason to buy them. Many people are aware of the organization Ten Thousand Villages which offers artisans in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America the opportunity to sell their crafts at a fair price. Ten Thousand Villages operates over 150 stores all over the United States and also sells handcrafted items online.

If you haven't visited one of their stores or festivals you are in for a wonderful surprise. Not only is the quality of the items offered heirloom, the prices are amazingly reasonable. You can purchase dangling sterling silver earrings with real gems stones and in India for $48. That is a bargain that is hard to beat anywhere.

If you are looking for something a little less exotic in handcrafted items at a bargain price the best place to look is at your local church fairs. Most church fairs offer a variety of crafts produced by the ladies of the church at prices that are ridiculously low. These are produced as a donation so no matter how cheaply they are being sold the church is making 100 percent profit.

The Internet has lots of handcrafted items and even some bargains. Sites such as Etsy offer a wide selection of items all at one site. Prices are set by the vendor so you will have to determine what is selling at a bargain price and if you are willing to pay what they are asking. Cottage industry is alive and well on the Internet.

Another place to look for bargain priced handcrafted treasures is at the local senior center or convalescent home. Many homes offer craft classes and the crafts that are produced by the people who visit or reside there are then sold at small craft fairs. This is a great place to get crocheted and knitted items, potholders and kitchen crafts.

If you are looking for the cheapest possible handicrafts check out your local hospital auxiliary shop, the Salvation Army, Goodwill or second-hand shop. Many crafts end up here when the original owner changes decor or moves. Determined bargain hunters leave no stone un-turned. As you can see, there are many ways to find bargain handcrafted items, you just have to look.

Why women hide their age

Society, especially in the United States is very youth-driven. You only have to watch the commercials that are constantly running on TV and in magazines. It is all about youth and beauty and when age is shown, it is in the context of trying to make the aging person look younger. Aging is not something celebrated, it is something that needs to be beaten by any means available is the message women are getting. The image of aging in the media is negative and stereotypical. Older women are portrayed as needing help in some way either with fragile bones, dysfunctional sex, or hot flashes.

It is all about what people look like. This is perpetuated by Hollywood where even the most beautiful of stars fin their opportunities to work decrease exponentially with their age. The same can be said for many other businesses where youth is valued much more than maturity. With women already earning less than men, the fact that they are aging is placing them in an even more vulnerable position.

It is no wonder women are desperate to hide their real age. The common perception is men age like a fine wine and women just get older. No one ever mentions how many wrinkles a man has but if a woman gets just one, it is common knowledge. Have you ever heard a woman's gray hair described as distinguished? It is common to refer to men that way.

Women are desperate to hide their age because reproductively they have an expiration date. Men, on the other hand, don't.

Times are changing in that respect and women are able to reproduce even into their old age these days with some help. Somehow the point where women can no longer bear children has become the demarcation of when their youth departs. Naturally, most women don't want to be thought of as over the hill so they keep their biological age a secret. Nothing makes a grandmother happier than being mistaken for a mother.

Women who marry younger men seem to be prone to hiding their real age. They aren't necessarily hiding their age from their spouse but from the world at large. While May and December when the man is December has been accepted forever, when the man is the younger partner there has been a stigma attached and now there is even the name cougar attached to this phenomenon. It actually makes perfect sense for women to marry younger men when women have a longer life expectancy.

Aging in the western world is not something that is revered. The world is driven by looks, not by wisdom and when looks start to fade, generally respect goes with it. Women desperately trying to hide their age to give themselves a fighting chance in a world where they are still not equal to men in pay or prestige.

A whole generation of older women is coming into power, and with any luck, women will no longer have to try to hide their real age and be allowed to age gracefully.  Since women live longer than men it is very much overdue.

Trademen who merit a Christmas tip

Christmas is a big time for tips. Many employees count on the gratuities that they get at this time of the year to supplement their income. There are many tradesmen who offer services to people throughout the year; these are just a few of the ones who it is always nice to remember at the holidays.

Newspaper delivery person

There was a time when this was most likely a neighborhood child. In many parts of the country, that has gone the way of the dinosaur. Their place has been taken by adult delivery people. Assuming that you have had good service and have not had to look for your newspaper in the bushes and trees, it is a nice gesture to give the carrier a tip to show that you appreciate the fact that they put the newspaper where you want and that it arrives every day.

Barber or beautician

The person that does your hair is very important to the way you look. Most people use the same person all the time because you can be sure that they will give you exactly what you ask for. The amount of your tip is dependent on the number of services they perform for you. If they color, cut and style your hair, their tip should be larger than if they only cut your hair.

The person who does your manicure, pedicure, facials etc should get their own tip. If your stylist is the owner of the salon, you might feel awkward giving them a monetary tip. A gift certificate or if you know them well, a gift will also be appreciated. However, there are very few people, owners included who would be insulted by a monetary gift.

Dog groomer/walker

The person who cares for your pampered pooch is also someone who you can feel free to tip. If you go to a large establishment where you have a different groomer every time this may be quite difficult and it is usually easier to just tip when the service is performed. If the service is consistently excellent, giving an additional gift at the holidays is always appreciated.

Delivery person

If you receive deliveries on a regular basis from a particular service such as UPS or FEDEX, it is always nice to tip your delivery person at Christmas especially if they are really good at their job. Many of these delivery persons will go the extra mile to be sure that your package is placed in a dry and secure place for you if you are not at home.

When it comes to the postal service, there are rules about how much they can accept, so be sure to check that out before you give your gift.

If you have a service station that you frequent where they still pump the gas for you, tipping the person who is pumping the gas is a very much appreciated gesture. These are not high paying jobs and they need to pump in all kinds of weather. Show them that their service is special to you by giving them a Christmas tip and a card.

These are just some of the tradespeople who offer services all year long whom it is nice to show special appreciation to at Christmas time. You may have others; look around you and see who is making your life easier.

Practical Christmas gifts for dad

Christmas is right around the corner and if you haven’t decided what to get for Dad here are a few practical choices that will guarantee that you don’t have to give him a tie again this year.

Tassimo

If dad has a Starbucks habit, a practical gift for him will be the Tassimo coffee brewer. You can give him a selection of coffees from places like Starbucks and he can even make espresso and cappuccino with this great little coffee maker. The initial price is a little high but the amount of money that dad will save over a year’s time will amaze him and he will appreciate that you were thoughtful enough to think of this for him.

Battery charger

There is nothing quite as annoying as to go out and try to start your car and have the battery be dead. The same holds true for dad. There are several different types of battery chargers. One really practical version is the one that actually plugs into the car lighter. This is helpful because of course cars being what they are they often chose not to start when you are away from home. This way your dad can give his battery a quick charge no matter where he happens to be. 

Ladder

If you dad is a handy man he will have a hundred projects that he is doing around the house. There are many jobs that require a ladder. Most people have a regular ladder but they now have the new ladders that can lock into a variety of positions including a horizontal one so that if he needs a scaffolding to stand on to paint, he can use his ladder. This can end up being a very practical gift and no doubt dad will come up with a lot of ways to use it.

Sports

If your dad is a sport loving dad there are a wide variety of sports related gifts that he will really appreciate. If he loves to go and watch local games getting him a folding chair with his favorite team on it is a practical choice. If he likes sitting on the bleachers then a cushion for sitting on is another great choice. You can get him a throw, a baseball hat or other memorabilia with his favorite sports logo on it.

Car

If dad loves his car, giving him a gift certificate to have his car detailed or all the products he needs to detail his car himself is a practical gift. He may not already have a small car vacuum or a steam cleaner to keep his car carpet in tip top shape.

Gift cards

Gift cards can always be a practical gift. There is almost no man in the world who can’t find a bunch of things he would love to own at Home Depot or Lowe’s. If Dad is not the handy type, then a gift card to his favorite coffee shop or restaurant is always a thoughtful choice.

You know your father; you can surely come up with a bunch of practical Christmas gifts for dad.

Saving money on holiday groceries

Christmas can be a time when many people find themselves short of money. The economy has not made the comeback that many had predicted and with money tight, every area of the Christmas holiday may need to be scaled back. Saving money on holiday groceries is easier than many other areas. If you are resourceful, no one will even notice the difference.

Plan ahead

It is more important than ever to plan ahead for Christmas.  Plan the meals and the goodies that you will be making. Don’t forget to get out your cookie recipes and start to check your baking supplies. Write down any ingredients that are non-perishable and check the weekly sales fliers. It will be much easier when Christmas rolls around if you have prepared well in advance. It is always much easier to buy a few things at a time rather than buying everything all at once.

Make it yourself

Another way to save a lot of money on your Christmas groceries is to prepare things yourself instead of buying prepackaged or store-bought items. It may be more convenient and easier but it is more expensive to buy these items. If you are having a gathering where you will serve a cheese and cracker tray, cutting the cheese yourself can save a lot of money.

You can also check with the deli at your local grocer to see if they sell cheese ends. These are the ends of the large pieces that they slice for deli cheese. When they sell these they are usually less than half the price that the cheese normally is. Many also sell meat ends. These ends can be used in many ways to stretch your holiday food budget. The same holds true of veggie and fruit platters.

Check the reduced stand

Many fruits and vegetables show up on the reduced stand that can still be perfect to use if you use them quickly. If you see something that you can use such as sweet potatoes or asparagus, you can take them home, prepare them and put them in the freezer. You can then thaw and add the finishing touches when Christmas rolls around.

Discount stores

Discount stores such as Walmart and Target offer very good prices on many food items. You don’t need to buy in bulk to get great prices. If you have a membership at a club like Sam’s, BJ’s or Costco you may be able to save money. Don’t assume that their prices are always the best and if it means you need to buy more than you need or really want then it is not saving you money, it may, in fact, be costing you money. Talk to your friends, maybe you can share an over-sized package of meat or vegetables.

Use coupons

Lots of coupons are out offered. Don’t just count on the newspaper fliers to find the best coupons. Sign up for some of the great Internet coupon sites. The hardest coupons to find are ones for meat. While you may find one for a ham, a turkey is less likely. One way to get a turkey as cheap as possible is to buy two at Thanksgiving when they are usually at their all-time low for the year. A turkey can stay frozen for the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you do a roast, consider buying a cheaper cut and cooking it a little longer to provide the tenderness you are looking for. Pot roast is a delicious alternative to a prime rib or roast.

When money is tight you need to work a little harder and plan a little longer to be able to give your family the Christmas meals and treats that they are expecting. This is going to be a great Christmas season and with a little effort, you will be able to provide all the usual holiday items with only small modifications.

Creating the perfect Christmas centerpiece

Your Christmas centerpiece is one of the main attractions to your dinner table. Typically, a centerpiece reflects the tone of the occasion and Christmas pieces are usually festive and suited to reflect the holiday season. If you were to go to the store to purchase a Christmas centerpiece you're likely to be taken aback by how expensive centerpieces can be for even the simplest construction of pieces. These can run $50 or more. If you find these prices are more than you want to pay, there is another option to store purchased Christmas centerpieces.

A much less expensive way to go is to make the centerpiece yourself! It's fun, affordable and you can have the satisfaction of creating a masterpiece of your own.

You can express your creative side in many ways when you make your own Christmas centerpiece. The best part of creating your own centerpiece is you can custom design it any way you like.

The first thing you'll want to do is decide what kind of centerpiece you would like. Do you want something really fancy and elaborate or do you want something more on the simple side? Once you've decided what style of centerpiece you want, then you can begin to plan and gather the materials you'll need. Here are a few ideas you can consider as a centerpiece project:

Light the Table with the Elegance of Candles

A very inexpensive centerpiece can be made of candles, greens and pine cones. You can use tall tapered candles or votives, depending on what's your preference, and place them in crystal style candle holders. Beautiful, yet inexpensive, candle holders can be found in any dollar store or the craft store. It can be simple or elaborate as you'd like. I tend to go with simple as it takes up less room on the table. 

For an added touch of elegance, you can make "rings" of greenery to rest at the base of your candle holders to encircle them. These can be pieces of artificial greens or you can gather fresh greens from outside. You can glue mini pine cones and attach small red bows around the greens to make the base look more festive. A glue gun is a perfect tool for this task because it ensures your piece stays together.

For your candles, green, white or reds are always good choices. Gold or silver is usually available too. Or, if you have little ones and/or want to avoid lighting candles, you can go with a flameless candle (they have some good options on Amazon in red, green or white/silver that look pretty).

Scented candles are also nice because they give off a pleasant aroma as you light your centerpiece to make it both visually appealing and smell good too. This kind of centerpiece has a tendency to put everyone in the holiday spirit because of its ability to heighten the senses.

Feature the Beauty of Flowers

Flowers are simple, elegant and there is lots of variety to choose from. You can go with fresh flowers or with silk ones. For a fresh flower, centerpiece you can use any kind of flowers you prefer; I tend to go with reds and whites. 

Carnations are nice because they last longer, but you can use roses or your other favorite floral stems too. All you need to do is arrange your flowers and keep them freshly watered.

If you opt to go with silk flowers you'll likely have more of a variety to choose from. If you visit the floral aisle of your craft store there are tons of types to choose from. 

Essentially, you can shop by color and choose from an entire range of flowers to make your centerpiece really unique. The benefit of the silk is you can use them for decoration the whole season without worrying about wilting flowers or falling petals. You can use clear or green colored rocks to help hold your flowers in one place. If you prefer, you can also use artificially-dried grass to use as a foundation to "plant" your flowers.

Whichever you choose, you'll need a vase to arrange your floral arrangement in. Your vase can be Christmas themed or a simple clear ordinary one will do. I prefer to use a vase with a neck so I can tie some green, red, gold or silver ribbon around the neck of the vase to make it look more festive.

Show Festivity with a Mini Christmas tree

If you want to go on the fancy side you can create a miniature Christmas tree. This isn't hard to do, but it does take a bit of time to decorate, but it looks spectacular when you're done. What you'll need is a piece of styrofoam cone and some artificial greenery which you can purchase at any craft store. 

Wrap the greenery around the styrofoam and secure it in place to shape your Christmas tree. For the ornaments you can buy small bags of "mini" ornaments at the craft store also; try and find ones which come with hooks, but if not you can purchase those separately.

Construction is fairly simple because all you have to do is "hang" your ornaments around the tree. A nice touch is to add some satin ribbon or mini pine cones. For the top of your tree, you can either make a star or you can purchase a small plastic or metallic looking one. These can also be found in the craft store. If an angel is your preference you can either use a small wooden ornament or if you like you can get really creative and make one out of a spool, some paint, yarn and a pipe cleaner for the halo.

These are only a handful of ideas you can try. There are many terrific centerpieces you can make to decorate your Christmas table. Making your own centerpiece is very complementary to your home cooked meal and a satisfying project once you see the beautiful creation you've made.