Ascension Picnic

In Cooking for Christ, Florence Berger writes about the tradition in some areas of picnicking on hilltops to celebrate the Feast of the Ascension. You can pack the picnic basket with some symbolic Ascension themed foods to enjoy including chicken or chicken salad sandwiches to represent birds, fruit or fruit salad for the “first fruits of the Holy Spirit,” cream puffs representing the clouds, and a bubbly carbonated beverage for the “rising” bubbles!

Catholic Cuisine Contributor Mary Machado first posted about this tradition here at Catholic Cuisine back in 2008 and our family has enjoyed Ascension Picnics ever since. As we prepare to celebrate this year's feast of the Ascension I thought I would share a couple pictures from last year's picnic.

.: Our Ascension Picnic Menu :.

Curried Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Chinese Chicken Salad

(It is traditional to eat some sort of bird since Jesus "flew" to heaven.)

Strawberries

(The fruit represents Christ, the first fruit of all men.)

Cream Puffs

(Symbolizing the clouds that were in the sky.)

Sparkling Grape Juice

(Chosen for the "rising" bubbles.)

I'll also be serving Ascension Pancakes once again (originally shared by Jamie and found in the archives here) for breakfast .  You can find additional ideas for the Feast of the Ascension in the archives.

Our Lady of Fatima Miracle Morning Breakfast

Adapted from Creative Kid Snacks

 

~May 13th is the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima~

The Blessed Virgin Mary first appeared to three shepherd children on this day in Fatima, Portugal in 1917.  She continued to appear to them on the 13th of each month, until the famous Miracle of the Sun on October 13th.  The call to conversion, repentance and dedication to praying the Rosary still echoes today...

 

A Miracle (of the Sun) Morning Breakfast

and Rosary prayer would be a beautiful way to celebrate this feast!

This would also be a great way to celebrate the Miracle of the Sun on October 13th. 

The Miracle of the Sun was a solar phenomenon where the sun was seen to be spinning with many brilliant colors.

Ingredients:
Eggs according to number of people serving
Colorful fruit of choice

Instructions:
Scramble eggs and set aside.
Arrange dishes according to what you have...This is what we used: (These small glass bowls can be found in a set of 3 at the Dollar Tree)

Place scrambled eggs in bowls at the center of the plate to represent the sun.

Arrange fruit around the bowls to represent the colors that were seen during this miracle.

 Enjoy your Miracle Morning Breakfast!
(And it's healthy too:)
+Happy Feast Day+
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of Hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those who are in most need of thy mercy.