Easter Traditions from Around the World

Hickory Farms is a holiday tradition that Americans have been enjoying for more than 60 years. And while we look forward to egg hunts, family brunches, and other Easter traditions, this spring, people all over the globe will be celebrating their own special traditions on Easter.

Flying Kites

Burmese tradition is to fly kites on Good Friday. The story goes that a British teacher was trying to teach the story of Jesus’ ascension to his Sunday school class. He used a cross-shaped kite soaring up into the sky to visually demonstrate the lesson.

Photo via Brent Danley/Flickr

Smingus-Dyngus

This unusual sounding tradition comes from Poland, and, if you have sons, be careful of letting them learn about this one! On Easter Monday, boys try to splash water on as many people as they can, using anything from buckets to water guns. It’s believed that girls who get splashed will be married in the coming year. The splashing tradition is thought to stem from the baptism of a Polish prince on Easter Monday in 966 AD.

Photo via Alex Ridgway/Flickr

Breaking Pots

If you ever find yourself on the Greek island of Corfu on the Saturday before Easter, make sure to watch out for falling pots. The locals traditionally throw out pots and pans from their windows and let them break on the streets. One theory of how this tradition originated is that by breaking all of their old pots, people are symbolizing their readiness to collect new crops in new pots in the coming spring.

Photo via pberry041655/Flickr

Painting Eggs

Interestingly enough, egg painting pre-dated the advent of Christianity, and it actually has a rich history in Sorbian culture. Hand-painted Easter eggs in Sorbian tradition feature intricate designs and beautiful colors made with a variety of techniques and materials. The most popular color in Sorbian egg painting traditions is red, since it represents the resurrection.

Photo via abac077/Flickr

If your Easter celebration includes a special family dinner or brunch at home, serving delicious, but easy to prepare dishes is a huge win to keep your stress-level low and your family fun high! Make this Easter special with a HoneyGold® Ham or gourmet sausage and cheese from Hickory Farms.

If you’ve got a great dish or tradition to share, we would love to hear about it! You can also check out our Pinterest page for some of our favorite ideas.

What are your favorite Easter traditions? Share it with us on our Facebook page

Inspiring St. Patrick’s Day Party Ideas

There’s no better way to celebrate the spirit of the Irish than with a St. Patrick’s Day soiree! If you’re planning a St. Patrick’s Day party, you’ll want to start with the color green and lots of shamrocks!

We love the idea of using multiple shades of green for St. Patrick’s Day décor! Various shades of green make a monochromatic color scheme much more fun to work with, and the different shades can also be creatively incorporated into your menu, too.

Photo via Kara’s Party Ideas

If you are feeling extra creative, you can try your hand at some handmade decorations. These felt shamrocks would be easy to make and could be used throughout your party space and spread.

Photo via ImgFave

Or, you can use the real thing. Adding a real shamrock could give a shabby-chic St. Patrick’s Day tablescape a nice natural touch.

Photo via Babble

If you really want to get into the St. Patty’s Day spirit, consider including a bit of Irish folklore into your party theme. You can “catch” a leprechaun and use it as a lucky centerpiece!

Photo via Cottage in the Making

Lively Irish music featuring instruments like the flute and violin are sure to create a festive atmosphere, and perhaps encourage your guests to dance a jig in Riverdance style! You may also want to add a few tunes by groups like Celtic Thunder or Celtic Woman to your playlist for a more modern touch.

No St. Patrick’s Day party is complete without a spread of delicious food, drinks, and desserts. There are lots of traditional Irish dishes that have become St. Patrick’s Day favorites, such as corned beef and cabbage, Irish stews, and soda bread. But don’t be afraid to break away from tradition and find other ways to create a fun and tasty St. Patrick’s Day menu.

Photo via Food 52

Kiwis from our gourmet fruit gift baskets can be used to create a Shamrock Smoothie. You could also use some kiwi and Granny Smith apples in a Spring Green Salad and throw in some gourmet nuts for a little added crunch.

Photo via Extreme Couponing Tips

Photo via Babble

You don’t have to limit yourself to green beer for your drinks, either. Consider a refreshing Irish Mojito adorned with mint and kiwi garnishes or a fabulous Green Apple Martini with a rainbow rim.

Photo via Dreamers Joy

Photo via Oh My! Creative

How do you plan to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Leave your entertaining ideas in a comment below!

Last-Minute Hors D’oeuvres with Gourmet Gift Baskets for Holiday Entertaining

Holiday entertaining is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the season, but it can also get a bit stressful! With so many social engagements and activities, you may end up needing some emergency entertaining ideas.

Whether you’ve just answered the door to find unannounced guests or need a quick and easy idea for your dinner party, take a look at some of our favorite last-minute appetizer ideas.

Maple Summer Sausage

This hors d’oeuvre recipe from Yummly is perfect for keeping your guests happy prior to Thanksgiving dinner. Rich maple summer sausage and maple are perfect for fall and winter, and our gourmet sausage is perfect for adding an extra-special touch to this dish.

Blue Cheese and Pear Tartlets

Combine juicy Crown Comice ® Pears from one of our fruit baskets with rich blue cheese and puff pastry to create these elegant Blue Cheese and Pear Tartlets.

Cheesy Cheddar Fondue

This recipe for Cheesy Cheddar and Apple Cider Fondue provides another great use for our gourmet cheeses. Use our gourmet sausages for dipping, as well as apples or pears from our fruit baskets.

Wine and Cheese Bar

Hickory Holiday Reserve from Hickory Farms

This is actually one of the easiest solutions for holiday appetizers, but it is sure to be a hit with your guests! Set up a wine and cheese bar on a sideboard or table with wine glasses and charms (to identify the owner), a selection of red and white wines, a cheese board with a variety of gourmet cheese, and some delicious gourmet crackers.

Our wine gifts are a great solution for last-minute entertaining, almost like a ready-made party! These gourmet wine gift baskets come in a variety of combinations, accompanied by mixed nuts, orchard fruits, and gourmet sausage and cheese.

Grazing Boards

Another fantastic idea for easy holiday appetizers is to create a grazing board. For some lovely ideas, check out At Home with Kim Valée. Basically, a grazing board should contain some combination of meat, cheese, bread, and an accent like gherkins or caramelized onions.

Beef Summer Sausage from Hickory Farms

Our gourmet gift baskets filled with Beef Summer Sausage, Smoked Gouda and other gourmet cheeses, and delicious specialty condiments like our Sweet Hot Mustard allow you to create a beautiful spread of pre-meal munchies, without the stress.

The Original Cheese Ball from Hickory Farms

Cheese Balls

And of course we can’t forget one of the best time-tested holiday appetizers of all time – the classic cheese ball! Head over to our classic food gifts to order a selection of cheese balls for your next gathering.

How do you use Hickory Farms gourmet gift baskets to simplify your holiday entertaining routine? Share your ideas in the comments section, or head over to our Facebook page!