Growing up Easter was always one of the most special days of the year. My sister and I would wake up at the crack of dawn to see big, beautiful baskets stuffed with green plastic grass, overflowing with candies and toys, all courtesy of the Easter Bunny. The carrots we left out for a late-night bunny treat would be so carefully gnawed on and we would be tickled to see our treasures. We would put on our frilly dresses and head to church all in anticipation of what we knew was waiting for us after mass. Year after year, we would celebrate the holiday at my Nana’s house. She would put together the most beautiful Easter buffet complete with so many Italian favorites and what seemed like endless desserts! After lunch, we would partake in the annual Easter egg hunt. My Nana would hide hundreds of eggs outside in her yard which was made for such an event and we would all scurry to fill our baskets. My Uncle Veto would follow around with his video camera catching the smiles on our faces as we found the eggs under leaves, in trees, and my personal favorite – in the rain gutters! The whole holiday was straight out of a storybook.
Ah the good ole days…
Family Traditions
Family traditions are one of my favorite things – the rituals, the memories, the nostalgic feelings of family traditions provide me so much joy. I was raised in a Catholic family and we celebrated holidays in a big way. All the major holidays were big deals in my family and celebrated way more than birthdays, so holidays are super important to me. One of my favorite things about my husband is that he is Jewish, and I have spent the last 7 years not only getting to celebrate the major holidays I grew up with but also celebrating all the Jewish holidays. I was pretty familiar with Hanukkah and even Rosh Hashanah, but full disclosure, I knew nothing about Passover. I vividly remember going to my future brother and sister-in-law’s house for Passover the first time. I was super excited to attend and learn about all the traditions of Passover. I won’t lie – I was also intimidated because I was hosting Passover the second night to a big crowd, and somewhat terrified about that experience. Ok fine – I was more than terrified. I sat at the table soaking it all in, completely mesmerized by all the prayers, songs, new to me foods, the wine (so much wine), and all the traditions. I also fell even more in love with matzo ball soup that night.
My favorite Passover menu item!
Love is in the Air!
Engagement season is underway and we are loving all of your romantic proposals and engagement rings on our social media! But what comes after the champagne toasts and congratulations? Wedding planning, of course! It’s easy, right? Wedding planning with a full-time job and chores and errands…ok maybe it’s a big ask. That’s why we’re here to help! Here are some things to think about while planning your unique wedding:
We Are All Together For Yom Kippur
One of our favorite things about Catering by Michaels is the different cultures and religions on our team. Many members of our team are not familiar with the Jewish holidays when they join our company. Since these holidays are a big part of our business, we always take the time every year to teach the traditions and cuisine of each holiday.
On Yom Kippur, people will come together for fasting and prayer from before sundown on the previous night until after sundown on the day of the fast. This means no food or drink is consumed for 24 hours. Foods that are comforting, filling, and requiring minimal preparation are the perfect foods to eat after a day of fasting.
Food and Tradition
Rosh Hashanah: A New Year for Us All
This year, Rosh Hashanah is particularly meaningful. The holiday marks the beginning of a new year in the Jewish calendar. And beginnings are an opportunity to look toward the future while acknowledging the past which brought us here.
Rosh Hashanah is a time to reflect on family, happiness, and humility. During these times of the COVID-19 pandemic and political/social uncertainty, all of us at Catering by Michaels believe family, happiness, and humility are the perfect antidotes to the extraordinary circumstances of 2020.
We read an amazing article in The Jerusalem Post about celebrating Rosh Hashanah during COVID-19. Andy Slavitt, a former Obama administration official who ran Medicare and Medicaid, says, “This is a year for maximum creativity! When I say use creativity, don’t lose the spirit of what makes the holiday special!” We couldn’t agree more and can help be your creative partner.
