MONTH OF MARY : APPLE BLOSSOMS and LITTLE ALTARS

My childhood memory is of going into an old apple orchard and cutting off branches that held blossoms, putting these in jars or vases on the window cill near a statue of Mary.  (We did not do Maypole dances.)  What might have been especially special was the knowing that honoring Mary was honoring mothers, perhaps all females, and that we were girls.

RECIPE FOR ALL SAINTS CAKE Mindszenti Kalacska - SOUL CAKES

CATHOLIC CULTURE LITURGICAL RECIPES   This cake has lemon or orange rind intended for a little flavor, yeast, lots of eggs.  However this citrus cannot be a traditional cake because citrus was not traditionally available in Hungary.  I know from other research that the source of vitamin C in Hungary was peppers and cabbage. An orange or lemon was imported was a special but unusual treat for a long time.

Small round cakes with a cross on top - be that by cutting or decorating a cross icon - are called SOUL CAKES and other European cultures also had a tradition of giving out these cakes.  An English tradition had children praying for souls and being given these cakes as a kind of treat.

There are also pagan traditions that suggest that food is offered for Hungry (not Hungarian) Ghosts.

If you have a recipe you want to share please send it in a comment~  thanks!