Feast of the Holy Family

Cooking Through the Christian Year

Late Winter

ABOUT THE ART

Enríquez, Nicolás. The Return of the Holy Family from Egypt. 1773. Mexican. Oil on copper. Dimensions: 22 1/4 × 16 1/2 in. (56.5 × 41.9 cm). Framed: 25 in. × 19 1/2 in. × 1 1/2 in. (63.5 × 49.5 × 3.8 cm). Purchase, Louis V. Bell, Harris Brisbane Dick, Fletcher, and Rogers Funds and Joseph Pulitzer Bequest and several members of The Chairman’s Council Gifts, 2014. Accession Number: 2014.174. New York City, New York. The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Nicolás Enríquez, an artist who worked for over 60 years, is recognized for his expertise in creating paintings on copper. In this artwork, Enríquez drew inspiration from a piece by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens, as he frequently utilized European prints to inform his compositions. The subject of this painting, where the divine Trinity is reflected in the Holy Family on Earth, became increasingly popular due to the rising significance of the cult of Saint Joseph. Depicted here as a young father and husband, Saint Joseph was named the patron saint of New Spain in 1555.

Feast of the Holy Family – Sunday after Christmas Day

There are many opportunities to celebrate during the twelve days of Christmas. One day that we love is the Feast of the Holy Family, which is observed on the Sunday after Christmas Day. This festival focuses on the fact that Jesus had a family, Mary and Joseph, and some brothers and sisters. This day reminds us of the importance of family in our lives. You get to choose your friends by selecting people that share your interests, but by and large, family are people whom God has chosen for you. You are stuck with them! This festival helps us to see family as a gift from God.

For this celebration, we have chosen gingerbread, because it is the most human-centered baked good. You can make gingerbread men using cookie cutters or a paper pattern to get the image you want. Making a cookie to represent each member of your family and decorating them distinctly may be a fun way to involve everyone. We made images of the Holy Family in a Nativity Scene and really liked the recipe below.

Gingerbread Cookies

Gingerbread Cookies

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Gingerbread cookies have a distinctive sweet and spicy flavor. The sweetness comes from the sugar, molasses, or honey used in the recipe, while the spiciness comes from the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. The ginger provides a warm, slightly zesty taste with a hint of heat, while the cinnamon adds a sweet and woody flavor. The cloves contribute a strong, pungent flavor with a slightly bitter taste, while the nutmeg provides a slightly sweet and nutty taste. The combination of these flavors creates a delicious, comforting taste that is perfect for the holiday season.

Cook Mode

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Ingredients

  • 4 ounces 4 unsalted butter, softened

  • 1/2 cup 1/2 (4 ounces) light brown sugar

  • 1/3 cup 1/3 (4 ounces) plain baking molasses

  • 1 tablespoon 1 (1/2 ounce) vanilla extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 orange zest

  • 3/4 teaspoon 3/4 salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 baking soda

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon 1 1/2 ground ginger

  • 1 1/4 teaspoon 1 1/4 ground cinnamon

  • 1/8 teaspoon 1/8 ground cloves

  • 1/8 teaspoon 1/8 ground coriander

  • 1/8 teaspoon 1/8 nutmeg

  • 2 cups 2 + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

  • Royal Icing to decorate (we like the store bought the best, but you can make your own as well)

Directions

  • Combine the 4 ounces unsalted softened butter, 1/2 cup (4 ounces) light brown sugar , 1/3 cup (4 ounces) plain baking molasses, 1 tablespoon (1/2 ounce) vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon orange zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves, 1/8 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg in a bowl. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, mix on low speed briefly then increase to medium and beat for 5 or so minutes or until fluffy and light.
  • Add the 2 cups + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour all at once and continue mixing until well combined. Form into a smooth ball, divide in half and flatten each half into discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. On a flour-dusted counter, roll out dough until 1/8 inch thick and make cookies of your desired shape and size. Arrange cookies on parchment lined cookie sheets.
  • Bake the gingerbread using the center oven rack for about 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet. Enjoy!