cascarones |cas ca ron| from Spanish cascarón, “eggshell,” the augmentative form of cáscara, “shell”) is a hollowed-out chicken egg filled with confetti or small toys.
Happy Easter Weekend everyone! It is so fun to raise your children with the same fun, holiday family traditions you experienced as a child. One of my favorite Spanish traditions that we have kept in our family for decades is the making of Easter Cascarones!
Cascarones (or hollowed out eggshells) are common throughout Mexico and are very similar to the plastic eggs most countries use in celebration of Easter, because they are painted and filled with confetti or small toys. In Mexico, they are used during Carnival, but because they are so similar to the “Easter egg”, they are used in the United States and bordering Mexican cities as a combined culture Easter tradition. I’m so glad, because my kids love them!
These eggs are decorated, confetti-filled and then are thrown in a game or crushed over someone’s head to shower them with confetti. Having a cascaron broken over your head is said to bring good luck for the year to come–plus, the kids absolutely love it.
Head’s up to all the mothers out there–this is a family activity that requires some clean up. But, it’s totally worth it! It’s a great way to spend time with your kids through an interactive activity that ends in a lot of fun for the whole family. Give it a try with the Harrison Household Cascaron recipe below!
How to Make Your Own Cascarones
Things You’ll Need:
– At least a dozen empty egg shells (all organic for our household!)
– Bag of fun, colorful confetti (can be paper, plastic, shiny–whatever you want!)
– Craft glue
– Colorful tissue paper
– Egg dying kit (or, food coloring will also work!)
Directions:
- The first step is collecting the empty egg shells (I generally start collecting the shells at the beginning of April). When you crack the egg for a cascaron, you need to make sure to only crack it at the top and let the yolk and egg whites drain out. Then, rinse with water and store in the fridge.
- When you’re ready to begin dying the eggs, make sure the kitchen counter is covered with newspaper and your kids are wearing play clothes! Use the Easter egg dying kit or your choice of food coloring and paint the eggs with brushes or by dipping the eggs in the dye. Be creative, and have fun with this!
- After the eggs have completely dried, you can fill them with the colorful confetti of your choice! This step is a little harder for younger children because the eggs are so delicate. Just help them and tell them to be gentle!
- Now, for the tissue paper! First, cut the tissue paper into small squares large enough to cover the hole of the egg. Next, line the rim of the hole with craft blue and cover the hole with the tissue paper square. Easy!
- Let the glue dry, and you’re ready to have some fun!
Tip: It’s always easier clean up to play this game outside, and the eggs crack best with the tissue paper side down.
Remember to bring your camera, because you’ll want to remember the look on your kid’s faces when they experience their first cascaron cracking! I hope you all have a wonderful Easter with your loved one’s family and friends. Please share your Easter family traditions and craft ideas with me so I can try them with my family too!
Happy Easter!
XO-
Sabrina
