Borderland Residents Continue ‘Cascarones’ Traditions

Across the country, families are preparing for a day of food, fun and, of course, the easter egg hunt.

In the Borderland, there is a unique tradition that begins months before Easter Sunday.

Real egg shells are collected, rinsed, painted and filled with confetti. In El Paso, they’re also known as “cascarones”.

Come Easter Sunday, the eggs are cracked on the top of friends’ and family members’ heads.

Resident Araceli Calderon said the tradition has lived on for generations in her family.

“Oh gosh, I can remember as far back as elementary school, my mom had them. We painted them,” said Calderon.

Now, the younger generations of her family start the egg-painting on Good Friday, continue Saturday and have them ready by Sunday.

She said her family is open to new ideas.

“We started this new tradition of buying the plastic ones and filling them with money, and we hide those as well,” said Calderon.

Jaime Gonzalez, assistant curator at the International Museum of Art, said the tradition of using the egg as a symbol of Easter goes back to pagan times as a sign of rebirth and new beginnings.

That tradition was given a twist along the border.

“It was the Mexicans and Mexican-Americans who took it to a fun level,” said Gonzalez.

“I think it’s a unique tradition that we have as Latinos,” said Calderon.

The city of El Paso will be holding several Easter egg hunts Saturday across the area.