Christ-Centered Easter Traditions

I love trying to establish meaningful and fun traditions around the holidays for my kids to learn from and build memories upon. Here are some of our Easter traditions. Let us know if your family has some good ones. It's not fair to keep them all to yourself! ;)

1. Resurrection Eggs by Family Life
-great because there's something for the kids to see and touch as you teach them the story of Easter.
You can add to the fun by starting each night with an Easter egg hunt before diving into the next part of the story.

2. The Story of Easter Read and Share Book
-I use this along with the Resurrection Eggs because it adds great pictures to go along with the story we're telling with the eggs.

3. Resurrection Rolls
-These are anything but healthy, but it's worth it because of the truths learned while making them.
-The preparations symbolize preparing Jesus' body (the marshmallow... almost sounds sac-religious!) for burial by dipping it in "oils and spices" then wrapping it in "linens" (crescent roll.) When they open them up after baking, they find that the "body" is no longer there. Jesus has risen! :)

4. Empty Tomb Cookies/Activity
-This one is a little more involved. There are corresponding Scripture passages for each step in the recipe, each symbolizing a different aspect of Jesus' death and resurrection. You make them on Easter "Eve," they stay in the oven (which has been turned off, don't worry!) overnight, and then you find them "empty" on Easter morning.

5. Purchase and watch "The Animated Passion Triology" DVDs from NEST. It's a worthwhile investment if you use it every year.  Each DVD runs about 30 minutes and they are very well done!

6. Have communion as a family. Buy some yummy bread and grape juice and read Matthew 26:26-30. Then sing a hymn together (like "Christ The LORD is Risen Today, Hallelujah"). A way to make this extra special would be to go somewhere beautiful to share this tradition while watching  the sun rise on Easter morning.

7. Watch "The Passion of the Christ" with your spouse and a box of tissues on Good Friday. Afterward share communion and a time of prayer together by candlelight. (You can watch the entire movie for free on You Tube here.)

8. As you dye Easter eggs, talk with your kids about the how the egg represents new life and symbolizes the new life we have in Christ.

9. Make them work for their Easter baskets by planning a Scavenger Hunt. Put the clues in plastic eggs they have to find, eventually leading them to their Easter basket treasure. Here are some clues I used last year, just to give you an idea. You can add spiritual meaning to this by sharing:

- Jeremiah 29:13 -"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
   
-Proverbs 2:4-5 -"And if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."

10. Here's a link to great Easter egg printables for the kids to color or design.


My prayer is that these ideas might help create opportunities for you and your families to meditate on the amazing gift of salvation that Jesus offers to each of us through His death and resurrection on the cross!

Happy Easter!