by Graziella Fons
Ancient civilizations already considered the egg as a concrete representation of the fusion of the earth with the sky. Heaven and earth in the egg merged into a single reality. For example, the ancient Egyptians symbolically attributed to the egg the concentration of the four elements that make up the universe: earth, water, air and fire.
Christianity has taken up the symbolism linked to the egg, as a symbol of life and rebirth, linking it to the very meaning of the sacred festival of Easter, in which the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated, who annually in the rites of Holy Week renew hope in eternal life.
The egg, in fact, contains a new life within itself, just as the empty tomb, after death, actually represents the possible hope of a rebirth into eternity.
This symbol of the resurrection has become an auspicious gift since the Middle Ages.
In a feudal society, as then, the egg became a gift from the masters to the servants. For the preciousness and joy of Christ's victory over death, during the Easter period eggs began to be decorated to symbolize the rebirth of man in Christ: a new man, radically restructured with a destiny of eternity.
The tradition of exchanging eggs as gifts on Easter day began in Germany, but artificial eggs began to be manufactured to be offered as gifts as early as the Middle Ages. These were eggs made using precious metals, such as gold, often richly decorated and commissioned by the sovereigns to artisans so that they could be donated during the festival.
May
«Cherries for tasting in May, cherries in handfuls for June»
In May the garden woke up a few weeks ago. So, what are the jobs to do in May? What to sow in open ground? Which vegetables and greens should you transplant? What to collect? What to tuck in?
The warmth of the month of May gives us a lot to do in the garden, let's see what jobs in particular await us: there is weeding, trimming, working the soil with fertilization.
We can sow celery, pumpkin, watermelons, beans and green beans, radicchio, autumn cabbage and winter cabbage, chicory and escarole, summer peas and spinach, autumn harvested leek in the open ground.
In this month the following are transplanted into the open ground: autumn leek, cabbage, escarole and chicory.
But also cauliflower, tomatoes, courgettes and pumpkins, peppers and chicory.
Remember to earth up potatoes sown in March; supports or guardians for the tomatoes are also prepared.
In May we also begin to harvest the fruits: broad beans, first fruits of peas, asparagus and fennel.
Recipe
Summer risotto
(With seasonal vegetables you can prepare this risotto at any time of the year)
Ingredients: Rice 350 g,. 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 small onion, 2 shallots, 1 small turnip, 2 courgettes, 2 peppers, 1/2 carrot 1 celery, 2 stalks of shelled peas, 3 tablespoons of parsley, 1 sprig of basil, 8 dl about vegetable broth, salt and pepper to taste.
1) Clean the vegetables, wash them and chop them coarsely. Let them dry gently in a pan, preferably terracotta, together with the oil.
2) When the vegetables are half cooked, add the rice, mix several times with a wooden spoon, season it with salt and freshly ground pepper and let it soak in the seasoning for about 5 minutes.
3) Then cover it with the boiling broth and, without stirring further, cook it covered at a very slow heat for about 15 minutes, then add the chopped parsley and basil, mix well and serve.
The Rose of Jericho
It is said that while Mary and Joseph were fleeing with the Child to Egypt to avoid Herod's guards, they arrived in the land of Jericho and stopped in the middle of a plain, the Madonna came down to rest on her donkey with the Child in her arms and the earth was thrilled to welcome the Virgin and the Savior. So where the Madonna placed her feet she gave birth to two soft and velvety flowers which were called "Roses of Jericho".
