Passover, Easter

This holiday unites two great religion, Judaism and Christianity through biblical text and music. Pesach for the Jews is about the Exodus from Egypt a re-birth as a people and liberation from slavery in a foreign land. The Israelites saved their new born from the last of the 7 plagues visited upon Egypt by marking their thresholds with lamb's blood. A symbol which re-appears in Christianity.

For Christians it is about Resurrection of the Messiah and Salvation and the promise of Life after death. Religious texts are united in the Eternal promise of God the Father of a Messiah and of Paradise.

In Christian homes roast of lamb is the traditional meal of Easter Sunday.
Easter also is associated with Spring re-birth of nature. We went to the Tenebrae Service on Wednesday evening at the Ottawa RC Cathedral on Sussex Drive. The musical setting by Mgr John E. Ronan with the combined Male Choirs of the University of Ottawa, Notre Dame Cathedral and Alumni of the St-Michael Choir School. The Lessons by Matthew, John, Luke, Peter, Isaiah, were read by 8 women. The service was presided by the Archbishop of Ottawa, Mgr Terrence Prendergast,S.J.

Chag Pesach Sameach!

Happy Easter!

  

Pâques

Today we decided that despite the fact that it will be a quiet Easter at our home we wanted to decorate and do the traditional thing. So we have put together a menu which will include roast lamb with the roast potatoes and green beens, we will start with a giant shrimp cocktail and for dessert we have this wonderful Almond and Apple cake a recipe from our friend B.S.
It is gluten free and is wonderful. We also went to the local bakers, there are two on Elgin street a few steps from each other, both are Japanese. They make wonderful bread, cookies, pies and other special items daily.

 Making coloured Easter Eggs with food colorant

 from our favourite florist Minou at Bel Fiore Flowers on Elgin street

we found these beautiful natural flowers just sprouting out of the clay egg enchanting. This will be our table centre piece.




Russian Easter Festival Music by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The painting is Easter Procession by Illarion Pryanishnikov.

Easter this year was a simple affair, only us and one guest, but it was fun all around and the lunch was wonderful. We ate the coloured eggs.

so simple to make and it makes the table special.

But to start the day we had the traditional Hot Cross Buns

In setting the table we got special bread shaped like Easter bunnies

Our table with the Polish table cloth we purchased 14 years ago near Warsaw while we lived there.
With family tableware that is more than 65 years old and used at so many family events.

We were especially pleased with our centre table flower setting arranged by Minou of Bel Fiore accompanied by the Cristal egg with the small chick inside a gift to both of us some 35 years ago.

To accompany our espresso after the meal the Easter cookies, they are decorated gingerbread.

Today in Saint-Peter's Square, Easter Mass with Pope Francis

Passover-Easter

Tonight we have a full moon and Sunday is Easter. Little do people know that the Apostles did not celebrate Easter but Passover, after all they were Jews. Early Christians or followers of Jesus were mostly Jews. As the centuries went by Christians celebrated Passover with the Jews, it is only with the passing of time that Christians started to develop their own traditions and beliefs independent of Jews. By the third century the scale was tipped and most Christians were non-Jews, pagans were starting to join in other words. By the first Council of Nicea in 325 AD the Emperor as head of the Christian Church decided that all Christian Churches in the Roman Empire would celebrate Easter on the same day instead of having different dates for the celebration and it would be independent from Passover, it would also be celebrated on a Sunday instead of the day of Jewish Sabbath, Saturday. Today we celebrate the Easter Bunny who brings everyone chocolates for your salvation. I am not sure which Council made the Easter Bunny the other son of God.

Anyway enjoy and have a good Easter or Passover.

High Altar Church in Palermo, Sicily


But one tradition which we started last year in Rome is the making of the Pasteria a recipe given to Will by a friend from Napoli, the recipe is from his Grandmother. It is the traditional Easter pastry in Southern Italy.
Made from good quality Ricotta cheese and using such ingredients as pre-cooked grano, vanilla, Orange blossom essence, Cinnamon, Candied fruit, it takes 2 days to make. Last year Will made several Pasteria and brought one to Easter lunch at a friends house. One of the guest was the great grand-daughter of Giuseppe Garibaldi, Anita Garibaldi declared it to be the best Pasteria she had ever tasted, making Will an honorary Italian Citizen. I am glad he is making it this year, it is very good. 

 Pasteria a traditional Italian Easter dish.