Tag Archives: Celebration

Celebration – Backwards Party

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Here is a fun idea for an April Fool’s party were everything is done in a backwards order – from the invitations to the décor to the food to the games and activities!  Follow some of these simple suggestions and enjoy a fun party to celebrate the day.

Invitations 

On the invitation write all the information spelled backwards, such as: ytraP sdrawkcaB.   Invite your guests to wear their clothes backwards and to speak in a backwards way, such as: goodbye for hello, yes for no, etc.  Have guests enter backwards through the door and for more fun have them walk backwards for the entire party.  Give each guest a name tag to write their name backwards.

Attire

Clothing suggestions: wear a shirt backwards, wear pants or skirts backwards, wear socks and shoes on hands, wear necklaces hanging down the back, put sunglasses on the back of the head, wear a hat backwards, etc.

With the guests wearing their clothes backwards, be sure to have a camera ready to take photos.  Have special prizes for the most creative outfit!

Décor

For the front door either have a welcome sign, spelling out the word backwards.  Hang balloons upside down from ribbons.  Set the table with the plates, glasses and utensils upside down. If possible, create an upside down floral centerpiece. Maybe in a large vase or crystal bowl, put the flowers heads in first with the stems pointing start up.  Set the chairs with the seat facing away from the table.

Menu

Serve the meal in reverse order with dessert first, then the main course, then the appetizers.  Here are some menu suggestions:

  • Backwards Sandwiches – assemble lunchmeat, cheese and lettuce on the outside of a slice of bread, cut the sandwiches in quarters for easier handling.
  • Meatloaf cupcakes – cook meatloaf in cupcake or muffin pans, let them cool after baking, top with mashed potatoes to look like frosting, pour a little gravy on top, garnish with peas or corn and for a finishing touch add a cherry tomato on top.
  • Upside-down Ice Cream Cones – serve a scoop of ice cream in a bowl, with the cone on top.

Games

  • Opposite Charades – tape a word or phrase onto someone’s back, everyone else gives the glues and that person needs to guess, set a time limit.
  • Reverse Alphabet – see you can recite the alphabet backwards in the fastest amount of time, be sure to have a stop watch handy.
  • Palindromes contest – pass out a blank sheet of paper to each contestant, have them write the most palindromes (a word that reads the same spelt forward and backwards, such as: noon, kayak, racecar and deed)
  • Backwards Treasure Hunt – write all the clues backwards, provide a mirror for the contestants to easily read the clue, have them walk backwards from clue to clue, surprise them by leading them back to the starting point to find the hidden treasure.

Celebration – Easter Trivia

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There are so many traditions and custom celebrated during the Easter season.  The origin and history of some the most famous events are listed below: the White House Easter Egg Roll and the New York Easter Parade.  Also, check out some trivia concerning our favorite candies used to fill our Easter baskets: Peeps and Cadbury Eggs.

White House Egg Roll 2012The White House Easter Egg Roll

In the United States there is an annual event held on the White House lawn the first Monday after Easter.  In 1814, Dolley Madison, the wife of President James Madison, invited hundreds of children to bring their decorated eggs and join in games on the grounds of the United States Capitol.  In 1877, when a new lawn was planted the event was cancelled.  Subsequently, Congress passed a law making it illegal to use the grounds as a children’s playground.  In 1878, President Rutherford Hayes brought the event to the White House but during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency the tradition was abandoned and later to be revived by during President Dwight Eisenhower’s administration.  The Egg Roll is a race where children push an egg through the grass with a long-handled spoon across the White House lawn.  The event is attended every year by a large crowd of children and their parents invited by special invitation or selected by a lottery system.  Activities include speeches, book readings, exhibits of decorated Easter eggs and appearances by the President and his family, members of Congress and even famous celebrities but the highlight is always the Easter Bunny.

SPECIAL NOTE: This famous American event was featured in a scene in the 2007 film, “National Treasures: Book of Secrets”.

The New York Easter Parade

Wearing new clothes for Easter has been a tradition since ancient times.  The Pagans celebrated the vernal equinox with a celebration to honor Ostera, the Goddess of Spring, and they believed that wearing new clothes brought them good luck.  In Christianity, during Easter many Christians were baptized and they wore white linen robes to symbolize rebirth and new life.  The Roman Emperor Constantine declared that his court wear their finest new clothes in celebration at Easter.  The tradition eventually evolved to mark the end of Lent, during a time when people would wear the same clothes for weeks, and finally would discard their old clothes for new ones.

Starting as a spontaneous, informal and unorganized event in the 1870s, the New York Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue quickly became an American cultural tradition on Easter Sunday.  The event developed when the New York City churches would decorate their sanctuaries with elaborate floral displays for Easter.  After church, the wealthy New Yorkers, dressed in their new, fashionable clothing with the women wearing their elaborate hats, would try to impress each other with their finery as they stroll down Fifth Avenue walking from one church to the other to see the impressive floral displays.

Over the years, the annual Easter Parade became an important event on the New York social calendar.  By 1900, merchants and milliners began to link their advertisements to the event in hopes of increasing their retail sales.  Not everyone was comfortable with these displays of wealth and extravagance.  Comparisons were made to bring attention to the hardships and working conditions of the sweatshop employees who produced the wealthy consumer’s Easter finery.  During the Great Depression, unemployed workers paraded in their worn clothing and carrying banners that called attention to troubles.  It was pointed out that the cost of a single elaborate gown was equal to a year of welfare for an unemployed worker and their family.

By the mid-20th century, any connection to the religious aspects of the Easter parade had faded.  The community event had changed from a parade of refinement based in a religious celebration to become a reflection of the American’s new idea that a person’s choice of clothing was only linked to their status and wealth.  The decline in attendance continued until the New York Easter Parade became associated with outlandish and tasteless costumes becoming a satirical comment on the parade’s former focus.

peepsPeeps

A traditional Easter treat, Peeps are marshmallow candies sold in the shape of chicks or bunnies.  They are produced by the Just Born candy company founded in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They are made from marshmallow, corn syrup, gelatin and carnauba wax.  The yellow chicks, appropriately named Peeps, were originally created individually by hand until eventually this process was replaced by mass production.   Peeps were originally sold only seasonally to use in Easter baskets but have since expanded to include other holidays, such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween and Christmas.  The Peeps line has also expanded to include items such as lip balms, jewelry, fashion apparel and home accessories.  In 2009 the first Peeps & Co. store opened in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania with additional stores following in two other locations, Maryland and the Mall of America in Minnesota.  Their products are also available online at their website, www.peepsandcompany.com

Cabury Creme EggsCadbury Eggs

Cadbury Crème Egg is a delicious blend of a thick milk chocolate shell in the shape of an egg with a white and yellow fondant filling that is created to resemble the yolk of a real egg.  Crème Eggs are made by Cadbury UK and at the factory in Birmingham 1.5 million are made per day.  The Cadbury Brothers have been making filled eggs since 1923 but the Crème egg with its seemingly realistic egg yolk was introduced in 1963.  In the United States the Hershey Company has the marketing and distribution rights.  Over the years, Cadbury had introduced other related products such as: the Caramel Egg which is a chocolate egg with a caramel filling, the Chocolate Crème Egg with chocolate fondant filling, the Orange Crème Egg similar to the original but with an added orange flavor and the Mint Crème Egg with a green colored yolk and a mint flavored chocolate.

You may be wondering … how do they create these unique Easter treats?  The Cadbury Crème Eggs are created as two half chocolate egg shells, each is filled with white fondant and then a smaller amount of yellow fondant is added.  Both halves are joined together and as they cool the two chocolate pieces bond together to form one whole egg.  The eggs are then removed from the molds and wrapped in foil.

I hope you enjoyed this Easter trivia and maybe it will give you have some interesting facts for conversation at Easter lunch or dinner.

Happy Easter from the Enchanted Manor!

Celebration – First Day of Spring

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The first day of Spring this year will be March 20, 2013.

The four seasons are generally defined as: spring, summer, autumn (also known as fall) and winter.  Each season lasts three months.  The three warmest months are summer and the three coldest months are winter with the months between each of those seasons having the greatest varying of transitional temperatures.

At the time of the vernal equinox, the axis of the Earth is increasing a tilt toward the Sun and the length of daylight increases.  In our case, the Northern hemisphere begins to experience warmer temperatures.  If snow/frost are a normal part of your winter, the temperatures start to warm, the snow begins to melt and the rivers and streams begin to flow with increasing amounts of water. The flower bulbs start to break through the soil sometimes with snow still on the ground.  The crocus is a perennial that traditionally starts to bloom in late winter or early spring which is a good indication that warmer weather is coming soon.  Plants and trees also start to bloom, such as: magnolias and cherry trees.  Forsythia branches can be brought indoors and with the interior warmth of our home the flowers will magically bloom and it is a perfect way of bringing a little bit of spring indoors.  With the temperatures starting to warm, many of us start to pull out those garden catalogs that have been arriving all winter and start to plan our spring/summer gardens.

Before spring, try getting an early start to your garden planting.  Find a good spot will a sunny window, perhaps the kitchen counter, laundry room or even down in the basement with artificial lights.  Sow the seeds in potting soil in several peat pots on a tray to catch the draining water.  Under these indoor growing conditions, smaller plants seem work much better, such as a variety of herbs. As we get closer to outdoor planting time and the danger of frost is gone, we can start to sow the seeds for our garden vegetables.  (This is a great family project with small children because they can learn about the plant growth process and experience the excitement to see the plants begin to sprout!!)

Spring legends

Folklore has it that the vernal equinox is the only day of the year when an egg can be stood on its end, this is not true.  In fact, eggs are nature’s perfect symbol for life, new beginnings and the joys of springtime.

The phoenix earned its legendary immortality by refusing to eat from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. Every 500 years, the bird creates a nest of herbs and spices, sits upon it and then sets itself on fire. After the fire dies down, an egg laid by the phoenix is found among the ashes. The egg hatches, and the phoenix emerges, resurrected.

Spring Cleaning

After the long winter months, we begin to emerge from our hibernation indoors.  Spring brings us renewed energy and usually that energy is turned into spring cleaning.  Below are a list rooms and some basic cleaning tips.

Kitchen –

  1. Clear the contents from both the refrigerator and freezer.  Discard any expired or spoiled items.  Thoroughly clean the interior of both the refrigerator and freezer.
  2. Don’t forget to clean the refrigerator coils, this helps with energy efficiency and will save money, too!
  3. Prepare the oven and stove by removing the burner/covers and knobs.  Thoroughly clean the interiors.  If possible, pull the oven and stove from the wall, sweep and mop the area behind.
  4. Clean the small appliances, such as: microwave, coffeemaker, toaster, blender, etc.
  5. Clear the contents from the kitchen cabinets.  Discard any expired food products or broken/chips plates, dishes and glassware.  Clean the cabinets, both interior and exterior.  Replace shelf liners if necessary.
  6. Thoroughly clean the kitchen sink, be sure the faucet and drains are running properly.  It is a good time to schedule any plumbing repairs.
  7. Clean the windows, both interior and exterior, with a streak-free cleaning solution.
  8. Finally, sweep and mop the floor.  Consider floor wax for the wooden floors.

Bathroom –

  1. Remove items from the medicine cabinet.  Discard any expired prescriptions or medicines.  Clean both the interior and exterior.  Take an inventory of supplies and replenish needed items.
  2. Clear the contents of the bathroom cabinets.  Now is a great time to replace worn towels and purchase new ones.  (Consider donating the old towels to the local animal shelter)  Think about adding new bath soaps/oils and new candles to create a spa-like environment.
  3. Thoroughly clean the tub, shower and toilet.  Please sure to check that all faucets, shower heads, toilets and sink drains are functioning properly.  Schedule any repairs if needed.  Replace the shower curtain and liner; these inexpensive items can help to give the bathroom a fresh look!
  4.  Clean the mirrors and windows with a streak-free cleaning solution.

Bedroom –

  1. Remove all the bed linens, including comforter, fitted and regular sheets, pillow case/protective covers, mattress pads and bed skirts.  (Always check the product labels for the correct cleaning instructions) Most of these items can be cleaned in the washing machine and dried in the dryer, just be cautious NOT overload the machines.    Now is also a great time to replace any worn linens and buy new ones.
  2. Most pillows can be cleaned in the washing machine, be sure to check the label for instructions.  I recommend a maximum of two pillows in the machines at a time and also to completely dry the pillows to avoid dampness that could create mold later.  If a couple of clean tennis balls are added to the dryer, the pillows will return to their normal fluffy shape.
  3. With the bed stripped of the bed linens, it is a good time to flip the bare mattress.  This will create even wear and extend the life of the mattress.
  4. Clear the contents of the dresser and nightstands, use a vacuum to clean the drawers.  Clean both the interior and exterior surfaces.
  5. Remove and clean window coverings.  (Always check the product labels for the proper cleaning instructions, some curtains can only be dry-cleaned)  Consider switching out heavy curtains with a lighter fabric. If the window covering has blinds, carefully clean the dust build-up using a vacuum with special attachment.
  6. Wash windows, both interior and exterior with a streak-free cleaning solution.
  7. Clear the clothes from the bedroom closet.  Now is a great time to determine items to keep, repair, donate or toss.  Make a list of clothing and other items need.  Store the winter clothing in containers and be sure to label the contents.  Dust the shelves before returning the clothing and other items to the closet.
  8. Clean the floors, vacuum the carpet or sweep/mop.

Living room –

  1. Vacuum the floors, now is a great time to consider purchasing or renting a carpet cleaner or hiring a professional company for the entire house.  Also while the furniture is removed for the deep-cleaning, consider rearranging the floor plan.
  2. Cleaning units can also be used for large furniture, such as: sofa and chairs.  If sofa covers are used, remove and clean them.  Afterwards, take the opportunity to add more spring inspired pillows.
  3. Remove everything from the display shelves, dust the surfaces and each item before replacing them back on the shelves.  Take the opportunity to change photos and decorative items, replace with more spring/summer accessories.
  4. Be careful when cleaning the TV screen, it does make a difference and the picture will clearer and sharper.
  5. Dust the lamps; don’t forget the lampshade interior and exterior.
  6. Remove and clean window coverings.  (Always check the product labels for the proper cleaning instructions, some curtains can only be dry-cleaned)  Consider switching out heavy curtains with a lighter fabric. If the window covering has blinds, carefully clean the dust build-up using a vacuum with special attachment.
  7. Clean the windows, both interior and exterior, with a streak-free cleaning solution.

General tips –

  1. Clean the air conditioning filter.
  2. Polish the wood or metal hardware, such as doorknobs, etc.
  3. Dust large wall art and any display photographs.
  4. Wipe down light switches.
  5. Replace batteries in smoke detectors.
  6. Take this opportunity to change the light bulbs to more energy efficient ones.

 

Celebration – St. Patrick’s Day

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St. Patrick's Day vintage card

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17; the anniversary of his death which became an official religious feast day in the early seventeenth century and over the years has become a cultural celebration of Ireland and the Irish people.  Some of the symbols, customs and traditions surrounding this celebration include: shamrocks, leprechauns, festive parades, eating corned beef & cabbage and wearing green so we won’t get pinched!

St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and he was born in Britain in the fourth century to a wealthy family with a father who was a deacon.  At the age of sixteen, Patrick was taken captive by Irish raiders and sent to Ireland as a slave.    He was held somewhere on the west coast of Ireland and eventually returned to Britain and began his studies to become a priest.  Several years later he went back to Ireland as a bishop in an attempt to convert the pagan Irish to Christianity.  One famous legend told is that St. Patrick went to a hilltop (now known as Croagh Patrick) and with his wooden staff he banished all the snakes from Ireland.  This of course is a myth, since snakes were never native to Ireland, and it has become a metaphor for the conversion of the pagan Irish to Christianity.

The shamrock was a scared plant to the Celts in ancient Ireland it was a symbol of the rebirth of spring.  It is said that St. Patrick, in his teachings, used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity since the shamrock being a plant with three leaves represented the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  By the seventeenth century, after the 1798 rebellion of the Irish against British rule, the Irish people began to wear the shamrock on their clothing as a symbol of their pride in their Irish heritage and their displeasure with the English rule.  Over the years this tradition became known as “the wearing of the green” and the association of the color green and St. Patrick’s Day has grown to represent Ireland.

The belief in leprechauns probably comes from the Celtic folktales of fairies or tiny people who used their magical powers for good over evil.  According to legend, leprechauns were responsible for mending the shoes of all the other fairies that paid them with coins that the leprechauns stored them in a hidden pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.  If the leprechauns were ever captured by a human, they would give them three wishes in exchange for their release.  Leprechauns were not originally associated with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.  In 1959, Walt Disney released a film, “Darby O’Gill and the Little People”, which featured a cheerful and friendly leprechaun so different from the cantankerous little man of the Celtic folktales.  It is this image of a leprechaun, a small little man with a beard wearing a hat and a green jacket, which quickly evolved into an image associated with the Irish and became a symbol of St. Patrick’s Day.

The celebration of St. Patrick’s Day was originally observed in Ireland as a religious feast day.  The day usually falls during Lent and Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and then celebrate in the afternoon.  The Lenten custom of not eating meat was waived and there would be dancing, drink and a feast of the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.  Unable to find Irish bacon in America, Irish immigrants living in New York City substituted with corned beef which was a cheaper alternative.

Chicago River dyed green 1The first St. Patrick’s Day parade took place not in Ireland but in Boston in 1737.  Later in 1762, to celebrate and observe St. Patrick’s Day, a group of Irish soldiers serving in the British military marched through the streets of New York City and expressed their Irish pride through their music with bagpipes and drums.  Since that time, the Irish immigrates in America have held annual parades not only in New York City but also Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia.  On very unique tradition developed in Chicago when in 1962 city workers, in an attempt to control pollution and trace illegal sewage leaks, released green dye into the Chicago River.  This idea of dyeing the river has now become an annual event in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day.

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated throughout the world and although the United States holds the largest events, other countries such as Canada, Australia, Japan and Russia have their own festivities.  In Ireland, the day has long been a religious holiday and until the 1970’s Irish laws dictated the closure of local pubs on March 17.  However in 1995, the Irish government began a national campaign to capitalize on the interest in St. Patrick’s Day as a way to showcase Ireland, Irish culture and to increase tourism.  Currently approximately 1 million people annually take part in Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival which has become a celebration over several days featuring parades, concerts and fireworks shows.

St. Patricks Day Trivia

  • Erin go Bragh translates to “Ireland forever.”
  • An estimated 13 million pints of Guinness will be consumed on St. Patrick’s Day.
  • St. Patrick’s true given name was Maewyn Succat.
  • 36 million U.S. residents claim Irish ancestry. This number is almost nine times the population of Ireland itself (slightly more than 4 million).

Celebration – Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit

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Peter Rabbit

During this Easter season, I thought it would be the perfect time to visit the world of Peter Rabbit and find out about the author who wrote these charming and classic children’s books.

Beatrix PotterHelen Beatrix Potter (Born: July 28, 1866 Died: December 22, 1943) was an English author and illustrator, her first book “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was first published in 1902.  She continued to write a series of books featuring such delightful characters as Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Squirrel Nutkin.  Beatrix also drew the beautiful illustrations for her stories which featured the lovely English counrtyside where these small animal friends lived.

Beatrix was born into a wealthy and privileged family and her father was a barrister in London.  They lived in South Kensington and spent their summers in Scotland or the Lake District in England.  Beatrix and her brother were naturally curious children and had such a love of nature that they would keep a variety of small animals and spent their time studying, drawing and painting watercolors of them.

Beatrix and her brother were raised by a governess named Annie Moore and after she left their employment to get married, she remained friends with Beatrix throughout their lives.  Beatrix and Annie kept in touch over the years, writing letters and sometimes Beatrix would enclose stories for Annie’s children that she would illustrate with amusing drawings.  In 1893, one of those stories was to Annie’s son, Noel, and it was a charming tale about four little rabbits named Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail and Peter.  Annie suggested that Beatrix’s stories would make wonderful children books.

In 1901, when Beatrix was unable to find a buyer for her stories, she decided to print them at her own expense for family and friends.  The London publishing house of Warne & Co. was eager to compete in the lucrative children’s book market and they decided to publish Beatrix’s story of Peter Rabbit.  In 1902 “The Tale Peter Rabbit” was published and became an immediate success.  The popularity of Beatrix’s books is credited to her enchanting and imaginative animal stories set in the beautiful rural English countryside and charmingly illustrated.  Beatrix wrote and illustrated two to three of these little books every year eventually writing a total of twenty-three books. Working closely with Norman Warne, her editor, over the course of following years the two became friends and then they fell in love.  In 1905, they were secretly engaged despite the disapproval of her parents but sadly Norman suddenly died a few months later.  Beatrix continued to work with the Warne & Co. until her final book was published after World War I.

Beatrix Potter's Hill Top Farm

With the proceeds from her books and a small inheritance from an aunt, Beatrix bought Hill Top Farm in the Lake District in 1905.  She made many improvements to the property, learned new farming techniques and began raising livestock.  She continued to purchase additional farms hoping to preserve the unique country landscape that she loved.  In 1913, she married William Heelis, a respected solicitor in the area.  Beatrix and Heelis were married thirty years, they had no children, but Heelis came from a large family and they enjoyed their nieces and nephews.  Through the years they continued farming, raising their prized Herwick sheep and more importantly their preservation efforts.  Beatrix also continued to write her stories and to draw, mostly for her own pleasure, until her failing eyesight made it too difficult.  She died from complications of pneumonia and heart disease in 1943 at Castle Cottage.  She left almost all her property, including over 4,000 acres of land, sixteen farms and several cottages to the National Trust.

Beatrix Potter’s lasting legacy are the stories of Peter Rabbit and his friends.  Her children’s books have continued to sell throughout the world and are printed in several different languages.  She left most of the original illustrations for her books to the National Trust and the copyrights to her stories and merchandise were given to Warne & Co.  Her beloved Hill Top Farm was opened to the public by the National Trust in 1946; her artwork was displayed there until 1985 when it was moved to Heelis’s former law offices in Hawkshead, now known as the Beatrix Potter Gallery.

Beatrix Potter Interesting Facts

  • “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” was published commercially in October 1902, with a print run of 8000. Each book cost one shilling each.
  • The character of Mr. McGregor appears in several books. He’s remembered for chasing Peter Rabbit out of his garden in “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”, but he also appears in “The Tale of Benjamin Bunny” and “The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies.”
  • “The Tailor of Gloucester,” was based on a story that her cousin, Caroline Hutton, had told her. She self-published it in 1903, paying for 500 copies to be printed, but after sending one to Norman Warne, he published it as a follow-up to “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” This story was said to be her favorite story (… and mine, too!)
  • To mark the 110th anniversary of the publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Frederick Warne & Co. commissioned British actress Emma Thompson to write “The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit”, in which Peter ends up in Scotland after accidentally hitching a ride on Mr. and Mrs. McGregor’s wagon. The book was released on September 18, 2012.

Movie recommendation

The 2006 movie, “Miss Potter”, stars Renee Zellweger in the title role with Ewan Mcgregor as her publisher, Norman Warne.  The movie tells the story about the life of Beatrix Potter and charmingly incorporates animated characters from her children’s books.