Cascarones are hollowed out chicken eggs filled with confetti, ribbon and small toys traditionally used to celebrate Easter. Instead of Easter egg hunts, Mexican communities have cascarone fights. Parks, backyards and blacktops become battlegrounds, where the goal is to throw or smash the eggs on the heads of as many people as possible. Tradition says having a cascaron smashed on ones head brings good fortune.

The history of the tradition is not fully known, but folklore says the tradition began when Marco Polo brought back something similar from China to Italy. During the Italian renaissance, men would court women with the eggs, which were filled with perfumed powder.

When Emperor Maximiliano’s wife, Carlotta, introduced them to Mexico in the 1860s, they quickly became popular. The perfumed powders were replaced with confetti and given their name “cascarones,” the plural form of “cáscara,” which means egg shell in Spanish.

It is there that cascarones became an Easter tradition, associated with Carnaval, a large parade that precedes Lent in Mexico. Today they are popular in California and the Southwest where in addition to Easter, they are used to celebrate birthdays, weddings and more. Make a few with friends for a fun day out.

Supplies Needed:

Carton of eggs

Easter egg dye kit

Confetti

Tissue paper cut into small squares

Glue

Water

Instructions

1. Using a knife or needle, poke a hole in the egg. Then peel some of the shell to make a dime-sized hole. Drain the egg into a bowl to cook later. Hint: Use a toothpick to poke the yolk to make draining the egg easier.

2. Rinse the eggs and set them out to dry. Prepare the egg dye according to package instructions.

3. Dye the eggs following package instructions, and allow them to fully dry before moving on to the next step.

4. Make a small funnel with a piece of paper, then use it to fill each egg with confetti. Glitter, ribbons and tinsel can also be used if desired.

5. In a small bowl, combine a small amount of glue and water. Using a small brush, apply the mixture around the opening of the egg and place a tissue over the hole. Repeat with another tissue and add more of the glue mixture. Sprinkle glitter on top if desired.

6. Allow them to dry, then have fun!

Alex Hernandez can be reached at [email protected]