Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Wishing for Something Special

When I was growing up, chickens were always bought "whole," and there were a few favorite parts, the drumstick and the wishbone.  For a family of five, there aren't enough drumsticks, and there are fewer wishbones.

Whoever found themselves with a wishbone could do the wishbone wish with a partner.  The wishbone is that two-pronged bone in the picture.  Two of us would each hold an end of the bone, make a wish and then break it.

Whoever found him/herself holding the larger piece "would have her/his wish come true."  At least, that was the legend we were raised with.  I have no memory of what I used to wish for.

It's funny that although I've been buying whole chickens from Rami Levi (great low prices) for months, just this week, during Pesach, did I find a wishbone on my plate.  There was nobody else at home, so I couldn't share it for a wish.

Usually, I carve up the chicken well before cooking it in the oven. But for Passover, there's no meat oven, and I cook it whole in a pot on the stove.  As soon as I saw that wishbone my plate, all those childhood memories flooded my mind.

4 comments:

Miriam said...

Batya I loved this posting. As I was reading, I was remembering that my brother and I played the wishbone game. We would count 1 2 3 break and then my father would make a production who won. Serious business for us kids. Thanks for the memory.

Batya said...

Miriam, I had been wondering if my family were the only ones... thanks

Hadassa said...

Shalom!
We used to wait until the wishbone was completely dried out, and then play the wishbone game.

Batya said...

Hadassa, we're not the patient type, so we didn't wait. Or at least I don't remember waiting. Bones also never lasted long in my house. My father loves to eat them, and so do I.