In two weeks we will have Passover, Easter, Noah's birthday and the Masters all in the same week. Now, being from a mixed family in the south- it's hard to determine which is more important- Passover, Easter or the Masters....
I am just kidding of course but we do seemed to get pulled in a lot of directions in April. Now being the Catholic, I know the importance of Easter and in how many ways it's bigger than Christmas- which can sometimes also be said about the Masters- but I wasn't so familiar with Passover. After getting unsatisfactory answers from my husband about the importance of Passover and where it ranks among the holidays, I decided to do a little of my own research. Really I wanted to know why they always seem to fall so closely (in other words was I going to have to deal with a collision of major holidays every year)....Here's the skinny (as best as a Southern Shiksa can understand) on Easter, Passover and how they are related and the Masters.
Passover is the celebration of the Jews being freed from Egyptian slavery (and after surviving the plagues). It lasts 8 days and is celebrated with a Seder that includes- asking the three questions, a Seder plate (with an egg, bitter herbs, and lamb shank to name a few), gefilte fish (no thank you) reading from the Haggadah and the kids finding the afikomen. Observant Jews won't eat anything that rises (because when the Jews were leaving Egypt, they didn't have time to let the bread rise before they had to go) which is why they eat matzoh.
Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. The Last Supper, recognized on Holy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter) was a Passover Seder. Catholics use the 40 days before Easter- Lent- as a time to repent and cleanse our selves for the coming of Christ. As Catholics we don't read the Bible as enthusiastically as other denominations so I can't say for sure where Lent is mentioned. Maybe I can tackle that next year. There is also some linkage to Easter being related to a pagan Roman holiday celebrating Spring and new life which is where the bunnies and eggs come from- in case you were wondering what Jesus would have done with all of that pastel Easter grass. Notable foods include peeps, chocolate bunnies and ham (none of which are as symbolic as the Jewish foods).
Passover is based on the Jewish calendar and Easter is based on the vernal equinox. However they seem to fall around the same time every year. To make it even more confusing- the Eastern Christians have a different calculation than the Western Christians which is why you will see different dates on the calendar.
The Masters starts the Wednesday before the first Sunday of April which means it's right in there with Easter, Passover and the big holiday in our house Noah's birthday. Notable traditions include mojitos (while watching at home) chicken sandwiches- famous on the course and wearing your favorite Masters logoed item- the older the better.
Both holidays are marked with family feasts and celebrations which is a okay in my book and both will usually be dates that we work around for Noah's birthday. Now if I could just get them to move the Masters.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Toda, Gratias
There are a few holidays both the Jews and Catholics have in common and of course, Thanksgiving is one of them. Obviously we all know the story of Thanksgiving and in theory what it is supposed to mean. But how many of us really take the time to reflect and act on its basic principles - to give and be grateful. How many of us do it everyday?
This is a challenge Seth and I have. Although we don't always succeed (trust me there are plenty of days that I lose it over not being able to find my keys or let a little road rage ruin my morning) we try to remember it and more importanly practice it everyday. I know Noah doesn't understand yet, but we always say thank you to the men and women we see in uniform whether they be in the military or serving in our communities as police or firemen and we always say a prayer when we see an accident or someone on the streets- a prayer both to watch over them and a prayer of thanks for our blessings. It's funny because I think God has a way of reminding us of Thanksgiving everyday. It seems to be when I am saying something unkind about a fellow driver as I sit in my own warm car with some sort of latte in the cup holder, that I see a mom pushing her two small children in the cold towards the bus stop or a man who obviously spent the night on the streets. And then I am reminded. I am reminded to give and be thankful and we don't have to be in a temple or church to practice that.
This is a challenge Seth and I have. Although we don't always succeed (trust me there are plenty of days that I lose it over not being able to find my keys or let a little road rage ruin my morning) we try to remember it and more importanly practice it everyday. I know Noah doesn't understand yet, but we always say thank you to the men and women we see in uniform whether they be in the military or serving in our communities as police or firemen and we always say a prayer when we see an accident or someone on the streets- a prayer both to watch over them and a prayer of thanks for our blessings. It's funny because I think God has a way of reminding us of Thanksgiving everyday. It seems to be when I am saying something unkind about a fellow driver as I sit in my own warm car with some sort of latte in the cup holder, that I see a mom pushing her two small children in the cold towards the bus stop or a man who obviously spent the night on the streets. And then I am reminded. I am reminded to give and be thankful and we don't have to be in a temple or church to practice that.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
How it all began- softball, stoplights and God
Seth and I met playing softball. It certainly wasn't where I expected to meet my husband nor do I think it's where he expected to meet his wife. But we did and it's been great.
Neither one of us was necessarily looking for a serious relationship. He was dating someone else and in a casual conversation had mentioned how important it was to him and his family that he marry someone Jewish. I wasn't necessarily opposed to marrying someone outside of my religion but always somehow managed to meet nice Catholic boys. My religion was important to me and being Catholic was an important part of my identity. Thus, it just seemed to me that my children would experience religion through the Catholic Church.
We had been dating for just a couple of months and I remember this moment as well as I remember how he proposed to me. We were stopped at a light and I had realized within a few weeks of us dating, that this was more than just a casual fling. We connected in a way I had never known or quite frankly ever imagined was possible. I know, very cheesy and over the top, but there is truly no other way to describe it. At that light, I finally just asked the dreaded question- "Where do you see this going?"
After a long discussion on how we felt about our religions and what was important to us as far as raising a family, we realized we both wanted the same thing. To have a family that honored God in our everyday life and to raise children, as simple as this sounds, who were good people.
We decided at this moment that if this relationship led to marriage, we would teach our children to know and respect both faiths and trust them to make their own decision at the point where they would normally have a confirmation or bar mitzvah.
And so as the saying it goes- that's how it all began...
Neither one of us was necessarily looking for a serious relationship. He was dating someone else and in a casual conversation had mentioned how important it was to him and his family that he marry someone Jewish. I wasn't necessarily opposed to marrying someone outside of my religion but always somehow managed to meet nice Catholic boys. My religion was important to me and being Catholic was an important part of my identity. Thus, it just seemed to me that my children would experience religion through the Catholic Church.
We had been dating for just a couple of months and I remember this moment as well as I remember how he proposed to me. We were stopped at a light and I had realized within a few weeks of us dating, that this was more than just a casual fling. We connected in a way I had never known or quite frankly ever imagined was possible. I know, very cheesy and over the top, but there is truly no other way to describe it. At that light, I finally just asked the dreaded question- "Where do you see this going?"
After a long discussion on how we felt about our religions and what was important to us as far as raising a family, we realized we both wanted the same thing. To have a family that honored God in our everyday life and to raise children, as simple as this sounds, who were good people.
We decided at this moment that if this relationship led to marriage, we would teach our children to know and respect both faiths and trust them to make their own decision at the point where they would normally have a confirmation or bar mitzvah.
And so as the saying it goes- that's how it all began...
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