Easter is my favorite holiday of the year. It means so much to me because it is really the one time of the year that the sacrifice made for us by Christ is actually recognized. Even non-Christians stop to see the significance of the day.
However, I must say I never quite celebrated the day like I do now after being married. It is funny how the question as to how couples will celebrate holidays never comes up until after they are married or, more specifically, when they have kids.
I have to admit when I was first married (AKA before the kids came) I was disappointed in spending Easter with my husband. Easter was, like every other holiday, a big production for my mom.
She would spend days cooking, getting things ready. There would be ham, mom’s famous potato salad, green beans, etc. Tons of candy left over from a basket was never enough, either, for dessert. Our mom, even when we were in college, still prepared extravagant homemade baskets. I have to admit the first few years with my husband were disappointing. One year, we actually ate at Luby’s, and I was excited about it, if you get the drift.
But then we had kids, and I began to marvel at my husband. His family growing up did the most awesome thing Easter morning that we now do for our kids. We have begun to make Easter our own and I would like to share some of the traditions we do. I think that is the most important thing when you bring two families together and create a new family. Realizing that something more beautiful can happen. That is why God puts two people together anyhow, right? So that the best qualities come out of each person and something more amazing and wonderful is created? Here are a few of our traditions. Feel free to steal and personalize.
Scavenger Hunt
The most awesome thing my husband taught me is the scavenger hunt. It is the coolest thing we do every Easter. Instead of traditionally hiding Easter baskets in your child’s room every Easter, we hide an egg. Inside the egg is a clue. The clue is usually a brilliant rhyme that will lead the child or children to the next egg. If you have more than one child, there first clue for each of them should lead to the same second clue where they can do the hunt together. There is no age limit on this activity. We started when our son was barely two and my brother–in-laws still do it when they are home from college. With the younger kids, the clues have to be simple and basic and you will have to read the clues to them.
As each clue leads them from room to room, you can leave little gift trails, like a lollipop or a book or an egg filled with money. They enjoy getting things as they go and it builds even more excitement. We have hidden eggs in the bathroom, refrigerator, dryer–you name it, we have hidden an egg there. You can be as creative as you want on the rhymes and the hiding places. Here is an example of one of the rhymes we used:
“For your next clue, you won't need to go far. Head to where mommy's shoes are!"
Remembering the true meaning of Easter
It was hard for me as a mom of preschoolers to teach my kids that Easter is more than the bunny, egg hunts and candy. Some parents go the extreme and completely leave the bunny, etc. out of their houses. We decided that we wanted our kids to be able to have both but realize the importance of the holiday. Honestly, this has been a struggle at times.
There are a lot of products on the market to help with this time of year. One of course is the Resurrection Eggs. The eggs use different symbols to help tell the story of Christ. Probably, my most proud moment as a mom was listening to my son, who was four at the time, recite the meanings.
Also for those younger preschoolers, there is a great book called Easter is ... For Me! by Christine Tangvald. The book explains what Easter is using bright pictures and rhyming. It simplifies it for the kids. It talks about how eggs are a symbol for new life and Jesus gives us new life. It talks about Easter traditions and relates them to God. It is a great book.
Finally, we always include something special in their basket. It may be a new Bible book or a Christian CD. All of these products can be found at your local Christian store.
Pray as a family
We are very fortunate to have a church that stays open 24 hours starting on Maundy Thursday through Good Friday. It is a wonderful time for us to go as a family and pray and concentrate on who God is, what he expects from us and just show gratitude to him. I invite you to create an altar in your own home if your church is not open. It could even be at your dining room table. We also have Good Friday services as well as Easter morning services. I invite you, if you have never been to church, to attend on Easter. It is a spirit-opening time that can change your life forever.
I hope that these traditions inspire your creativity and give you a renewed spirit this Easter. No, the Easter meal was never settled. It is probably still the most disappointing part of Easter. Partly because my mother-in-law now has cats. I am allergic and spend the meal time with my eyes swelling shut. But the other stuff makes up for it, right?
I invite and encourage you to comment if you too have some Easter traditions. All of them could help one of those families just starting out find their own way to celebrate.
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