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AUSTIN, Texas — In the spring of 2003, Denise Solis faced a bittersweet moment as her mother, Rosemary Valdez, was sent home to hospice care due to stomach cancer. With Easter approaching, their cherished ritual of creating festive Easter baskets for their younger cousins was on her mind, particularly the colorful cascarones — eggs filled with confetti.
“Although she was limited in what she could do,” Solis recalled, “she was able to fill eggs with confetti.” This delightful tradition, prevalent in Texas and Northern Mexico, involves children playfully cracking these decorated eggs over each other’s heads during Easter celebrations, spreading cheerful bits of confetti everywhere.
In those poignant final days, Solis dedicated precious time with her mother, carefully emptying eggshells and filling them with colorful confetti. Tragically, Valdez passed away just a day before Easter at the age of 52. Solis honored her mother’s memory by delivering the beautifully filled Easter baskets to her cousins the following day, a final loving gift from Valdez.
“Chasing each other around and cracking cascarones overhead was such a special memory for me,” Solis reflected. “It’s a moment I always cherish.”
Years later, Solis continues this meaningful tradition with her own son, Noah. As she prepares eggs for cooking, she gently creates cascarones by poking holes in the tops, removing the contents, and ensuring the shells remain intact. After rinsing them, she sometimes dyes the shells in vibrant colors, before filling them with confetti and sealing them with tissue paper and glue.
“The egg represents new beginnings and the entrance to life,” explained Norma Cantu, a Humanities professor at Trinity University in San Antonio, who fondly remembers the cascarones of her childhood in Laredo, Texas. She noted that the symbolism of the egg, associated with fertility and rebirth, predates Christian traditions but has found a natural place within Easter celebrations. “Easter is ultimately about celebrating resurrection,” she added.
Experts believe that the use of cascarones in Texas may have originated during the state’s time as part of Mexico, further deepening their cultural significance.
For Denise Solis, these playful cascarones serve as a profound link to her past, a cherished legacy she is eager to share with her 4-year-old son, Noah. Together with her husband, they hide the filled cascarones in their backyard, prompting joyful hunts where Noah and his friends enthusiastically search for the colorful surprises. The laughter and excitement as they crack the eggs over each other brings Solis back to the fondest memories of her mother.
“She always surrounded us with love and joy, instilling a sense of fun,” Solis shared. “When I see the confetti flying, I truly feel her presence and love.”
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