Submitted by Riccarda Mescola
NOTICE: This story was written in 2002. The pictures on the next Page were taken in April 2003 of Ricci's second annual coloring sessions
At Easter, I invited my nephew Simone's friend Leo to come and dye Easter Eggs with us this Friday. Leo is the son of Simone's teacher, Caterina.
Caterina called me to ask me if it would be possible for me to come and explain how American children dye Easter Eggs. I said, thanks to the generosity of my COI friends, I can do one better, I can bring Easter Egg coloring kits and we can color Easter Eggs.
She gasped, is that even possible? I assured her that it was, so we made arrangements for me to go down there (last) Saturday to talk with the other 4 teachers. There were three, fifth grade classes, one fourth grade, and one English Class, roughly 50 children.
I told them that I thought we could accommodate them quite easily, and to have each child hardboil a couple eggs each. Well, to say that they were incredulous would be saying little, they just could not believe that I would have the supplies to bring a bit of American tradition to Italian children, but they underestimated my COI friends.
I left some glow in the dark and some glitter crayons to be used to decorate the eggs prior to dipping. I also scanned and printed the egg holders that came with the kits, as well as some that I got from the Internet. I included a short account of the history of coloring eggs for the English teacher, and left all these things for them to plan a lesson around.
Caterina brought jars to dip the eggs into, and I brought 4 traditional egg coloring kits, some that you had to add vinegar to, some that didn't need it. I handed each of the first batch of 24 children a tablet, let them plop it into the water and stir, when it was ready, they could introduce their decorated eggs.
The children were very hesitant at first, both in choosing a color, as well as dipping the eggs. "E' pronto, è pronto?" Is it ready, is it ready...the children were asking. I stopped them and told them that coloring eggs was as unique as each of them, indeed, as each of their designed eggs. If they were happy with the color of their egg, then it was "pronto", if not, then they should wait until they were happy with the color.
For two and a half hours we colored eggs, as the first group finished and waited for theirs to dry, they began to color the holders, and staple them to hold their eggs. When that was done, they placed their eggs in the holders, wrapped them in clear cellophane, and tied them up with a ribbon, while the next group began dying their eggs. I had some of those shrinky dink sleeves, so I prepared 5 eggs at home, one for each of the teachers. I did not have enough for each of the children, and I preferred they learn the "traditional" way, the teachers loved them.
I cannot tell you how hard these kids worked, when someone was stuck, someone else helped out. Some brave souls tried dying one color on top of the other, AND even the teachers got into the act, each one designing and dying their own eggs. This was a first for all of them, young and old alike...America and Italy meeting at the Easter Egg coloring tables.
At the end of the day, the children presented me with a pretty begonia plant, and thanked me for the wonderful experience. I thanked them as well, and told them that without my wonderful friends at COI, my kind and generous friends who sent me Easter Egg coloring kits, none of this could have been possible. Their teachers said..."Ringraziamo gli amici Americani della Riccarda/Let's thank Riccarda's American friends", and they all shouted "Grazie, amici Americani di Riccarda", I am sure you had to have heard them, my ears are still ringing, lol.
I always say that it takes so little to make people happy, but you my friends, made 50+ people happy today, and these people went home and told their parents, and neighbors about their wonderful, marvelous, incredible Easter Egg coloring day, and you know, it doesn't get much better than that. Thank-you my friends, from my heart, and each of the hearts you touched today...Buona Pasqua, the children asked me to tell you, and Buona Pasqua from me too.