Our Family Easter Celebration

Reflecting on Our Heritage

Looking back at our celebration, I connected with traditions deeply rooted in my cultural background. Our Puerto Rican Easter heritage combines Taíno, Spanish, and African influences that have evolved over centuries.

Though we celebrated on Saturday rather than following the full traditional Semana Santa schedule, we incorporated key elements that helped us feel connected to our roots while adapting to our modern family’s needs.

Our Saturday Celebration

We adjusted our celebration to Saturday since many of us had to work on Good Friday. Thankfully, we closed the office at 3pm, giving me enough time to get home and start preparing for our gathering.

Cultural traditions can evolve to fit the lives of those who practice them. For our family, shifting the celebration to Saturday allowed everyone to attend without rushing, giving us the full day to enjoy each other while still honoring our Puerto Rican Easter heritage.

Our Multicultural Feast

The table was truly the centerpiece of our celebration, laden with dishes that represented both my Puerto Rican heritage and Jawanza’s African American traditions. Here’s what we served:

Traditional Puerto Rican Dishes

Vianda con Bacalao: I prepared this traditional cod with Caribbean root vegetables dish to honor the Good Friday tradition of avoiding red meat. Even on Saturday, this dish helped us connect with our heritage. The root vegetables—yuca, yautía, and batata—represented Taíno influence, while the bacalao showcased Spanish heritage.

Arroz con Gandules: This rice with pigeon peas dish appears at every Puerto Rican celebration. The aromatic rice cooked with sofrito (made with recao, ají dulce, and indigenous herbs) became a huge hit at our table. The vibrant yellow color from the achiote and savory flavors had everyone reaching for seconds.

Papa Ensalada: I made this traditional Puerto Rican potato salad using my father’s recipe, which includes apples for sweetness. This creamy, seasoned dish pleased the crowd—the bowl ended nearly scraped clean. Dad joked that it was “almost as good” as his version, which I consider high praise!

Fusion and Family Favorites

Caramelized Brown Sugar Pineapple Ham: While not traditional to Puerto Rican Easter, our family enjoys this sweet-glazed ham instead of lechón or pernil. It has become our unique Easter tradition—a delicious deviation everyone anticipates each year. The contrast between the caramelized exterior and juicy meat inside created a perfect centerpiece for our table.

Beef Pot Roast: I also prepared a beef pot roast for those who preferred not to eat ham. I made it in the Instant Pot, producing fork-tender meat in rich gravy. Everyone enjoyed it—even dedicated ham lovers tried a piece. Using the Instant Pot while managing other dishes saved me time to focus on traditional offerings while providing variety.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese: This soul food staple from Jawanza’s family shows how our blended family brings together different cultural influences. Over the years, I’ve refined our mac and cheese recipe, making it egg-free so his niece with allergies can enjoy it. It has become essential at all family gatherings.

While serving the meal, I almost forgot the mac and cheese in the oven! I rescued it just in time but forgot to take a photo in my rush. With its crispy top and creamy interior, it disappeared first. No leftovers remained for guests to take home—the ultimate sign of success!

Green Bean & Carrot Medley: To add color and fresh texture, I prepared a vegetable medley with green beans and rainbow heirloom carrots in purple, yellow, orange, and white. This colorful side brought a visual wow-factor that impressed everyone. The bright vegetables balanced our heartier dishes perfectly.

Sweet Endings

Mini Strawberry Cheesecakes: We served these bite-sized treats as our birthday dessert since we also celebrated my nephew’s and bonus sister’s birthdays. Singing “Happy Birthday” created joyful moments, and the light, creamy cheesecakes perfectly followed our hearty meal.

Coco Flan: No Puerto Rican Easter celebration feels complete without flan, and this marked my first attempt at making one! Though I don’t enjoy this sweet treat personally, I wanted to include it as part of our heritage celebration. My Bonus Mom blessed the flan, but I achieved only partial success. The caramel sauce needed longer cooking to reach that beautiful amber color. We got a simple syrup topping that looked less attractive and tasted too sweet. I’ll improve my technique next time. This represents my journey to reconnect with our culinary traditions—sometimes messy but always meaningful as I preserve these heritage recipes for our family.

Easter Egg Hunt for All Ages

While Easter eggs don’t traditionally belong to Puerto Rican Easter heritage, our family enjoys this activity. We organized a combined hunt for both children and adults in front of our apartment building.

Kids searched for smaller eggs with treats and money, while adults hunted jumbo eggs containing mini flavored moonshine, vodka, and chocolates. Our neighbors got to enjoy watching the fun and joined in the laughter, creating a festive atmosphere beyond just our family.

A highlight occurred when Jawanza’s brother began casually searching, then suddenly rushed past my bonus mom to grab an egg—a competitive moment we recorded and shared on our TikTok!

This blend of traditional elements with modern fun shows how we approach our Puerto Rican Easter heritage—respecting the past while creating new traditions for our family.

Moments of Connection

The real highlights went beyond food and activities to simple family connections. After eating, we gathered in the living room, caught up with each other, and sipped watermelon margaritas. A spirited game of Uno brought out everyone’s competitive side with laughter as cards flew around the table.

These relaxed moments define what holidays truly mean—creating space to enjoy each other away from daily routines. In our busy world, opportunities to slow down and reconnect feel precious. Our celebration provided the perfect backdrop for strengthening family bonds.