Cascarónes

By Julia Baysinger (12th Grade)

I am six years old, standing under the blinding Pasadena sun. It is a hot and dry Easter Sunday, and I am content: heart full of snuggles with my aunties, and belly full of conchas. Lost in a daydream, I watch a beautiful monarch butterfly dance across the park before a loud,
crunchy ‘CRACK’ interrupts my special
moment.

My cousin, Grant, slams a cascarón onto my scalp, laughing as confetti rains down on me from above. I blink, startled, and then smile as the little pieces of rainbow paper stick to my sweaty forehead. Symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection, cascarónes are a quintessential part of every Easter for many Mexican-American families like
mine. We believe that it is good luck to have a confetti egg broken on your head, so it’s a gesture of love when a friend of family member ambushes on you on Easter- because cascarónes aren’t just eggs; they’re a playful reminder that la vida es llena de alegria. Even in the little moments, life is colorful and is to be enjoyed.