Capitalizing on the date, the family continued the tradition of egg hunts and storytelling
Holding hands, family members pray minutes before lunch. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami)
Tradition and unity characterize the meetings of the Mortari family, which does not ignore any commemorative date. It shouldn’t be any different at Easter and this Sunday (09) the family met again at the same address as always, Chácara Mortari.
The Mortari family is not small at all and in the early hours of this Sunday afternoon there were already around 40 people there. This number represents just under half of the family, which has passed the tradition of gatherings from generation to generation.
Parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, grandchildren and granddaughters celebrated another Easter together with storytelling and chocolate egg hunts. The barbecue could not be missing, as well as the terrace for playing for the elderly.
Bar of chocolate is part of the Easter tradition. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami)
Today there are few children left, but those who grew up playing now find another way to have fun with their family members and organize a surprise for the little ones.
Camila Mortari, 30, talks about the decadeslong tradition. “Every year we get together, we celebrate all the festive dates because my grandfather (José) has 10 brothers. They always come together and the tradition has always been continued. The joy is to come together on all dates and not just at Easter,” he says.
The farm was the dream of José Jayr, 80 years old, who wanted a place for the whole family. Today he lives this dream together with his brothers, four children and six grandchildren. José talks about the moment of encounter and the meaning it has.
José Jayr thanks God for seeing the family together. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami)
“Easter comes to complete this family reunion and to see in us joy, faith and children all healthy. It’s a blessing from God, it’s wonderful, I just have to thank God,” he says.
Joana Mortari, 56, has been the family’s official storyteller for 40 years. Regardless of the date, she always has a story to tell. In the case of Easter there are two, the playful one and the one related to the Christian message.
Joana explains that at the moment everyone is coming together to help. “At Christmas we celebrate Christmas and at Easter it’s the story of the rabbit who comes to lay the eggs. The whole family is involved and a huge amount of chocolate comes out because everyone knows it’s a joke,” he says.
Ariane Mortaria with daughters Catarina and Cora. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami) The “younger” generation of the family follows the tradition of the older ones. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami)
Ariane Mortari, 39 years old, has gone through all the stations of the tradition and today sees her daughters Catarina, 7 years old, and Cora, 4 years old. “They love it, the eldest already gets it, so she says, ‘Mom, I’m going to be the helper.’ So let’s set things up for the youngest. They love it very much,” he says.
In the midst of celebration, it is inevitable not to remember the previous ones. Camila’s mother, Maria Cláudia Mortari, 51, remembers when her children and nephews were children. “When these kids were little it was a party, we even played BBB, we spent 15 days here with these kids. If only the family gathers here, there are about 80 people,” he reports.
Before storytelling and Easter egg hunts, the family gathers around the table. The hymn “We thank the Lord for the food we shall have” precedes the noon prayer. José is the first to speak and thank God for everyone being there.
Then they pray the Lord’s Prayer and this begins another Easter celebration of the Mortari family.
The prayer anticipates the family’s Easter dinner. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami) The family enjoys Sunday lunch on the farm. (Photo: Henrique Kawaminami)Children looking for Easter eggs. (Photo: Camila Mortari) The whole family joins in the chocolate hunt game. (Photo: Camila Mortari)
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