8 meaningful family traditions for celebrating Easter

I loved Easter clothes shopping for my girls when they were little;  bonnets, white gloves, frilly socks, and pink, lacy dresses.

(I had a son too, but mamas you know it’s just not the same.)

Sunday morning brought with it a flurry of adjusting curls, straightening lace, and flattening cowlicks.

(Again – because boys.)

We piled in the van, anticipating the Easter cantata (does anyone still do those?).  Bow the knee ran three years in a row due to rave reviews from parishoners.

The choir, dressed in the garb of Jesus’ day, staged a drama.  My middle child’s life ambition was to play the part of “the little dead girl”.

Finally –  on year three –  she got her wish.

As the staged crowd leaned in, (my robed daughters among them), the little dead girl aka Hayley was carried in on the mat.

“Jesus”, taking her hand, spoke those life-giving words, “Little girl, arise!”

Like an emerging butterfly, she slowly opened her eyes and sat up, grinning from ear to ear.

Simultaneously, her sister’s faces lit with joy as if she really had come to life!

(Talk about good acting – pretty sure they broke out in a fight over Easter candy later.)

Celebrating the joy of our resurrection in Christ was a treasured family tradition when raising our kids.

If you’re looking to form meaningful family traditions for celebrating Easter, I have a treat for you!

Check out these 8 meaningful ways to celebrate Easter with your family from 8 blogger-mamas.

Each one contains a corresponding blog post link – all with either free Easter printables or information to access terrific resurrection-teaching resources!

8 meaningful family traditions for celebrating Easter

1.  Nightly Scripture Reading and Scripture egg hunt

Easter in our family is a celebration of the life and sacrifice of Jesus! To prepare our hearts for the sacred celebration, we read a few verses each night about the last week of Jesus’ life. (Access the free printable reading guide here).

This year, we’ll also have a Christ-Centered egg hunt. The plan is to have the kids hunt for eggs as usual. Some eggs will contain candy, and others will have cards that discuss the sacrifice of Jesus.  It’s the perfect conversation starter about the Gospel and to make the Good News of Easter more meaningful for all.

For more details about the Christ-Centered egg hunt and other bible based family fun, visit Christian Easter activities for families.

Sarah Ann, Faith Along the Way

2.  Easter books; differentiating “spring activities”

My kids dye Easter eggs, go on an egg hunt, get an Easter basket and will probably get a keepsake photo with the Easter bunny.  For us, we distinguish these American activities of the Easter bunny and eggs as merely spring activities. They aren’t the focus of Easter to us.

One way we gently teach our young children the real meaning of Easter is our basket of carefully chosen children’s books. The weeks leading up to Easter, we curl up and read aloud together from our seasonal Easter themed basket of children’s books.

For more fun resources, read Beyond the bunny; tips for celebrating Easter while keeping the focus on Christ.

Victoria Osborn, Creative Home Keeper

>>>Check out this non-candy Easter Basket idea:  Road Trip in a Box!<<<

3.  Easter worship dresses

Growing up, my sisters and I always got a new dress for Easter. I never understood why so as I entered adulthood myself and became a mom, that tradition fell by the wayside. Without meaning, getting a new dress seemed to be an unnecessary expense.

But then I read Revelation 19:7-10 regarding the future wedding feast of the Lamb (Jesus Christ).

Jesus is the Lamb we celebrate on Easter as slain, risen, and exalted, and one day, we will be presented as His bride. Wearing a new (especially white) dress on Easter began to make sense to me. It is a symbol of our desire for Him, our longing to live holy and pure lives, and our willingness to make ourselves ready for His coming. Who knew a new dress could be an act of worship!

So this year, my daughters and I will each purchase a new dress and talk about the real meaning behind this family tradition for celebrating Easter.

Go here for a downloadable Easter story scavenger hunt!

Arabah Joy, Arabah Joy.com

4.  Grace baskets

Growing up, Easter baskets were not a tradition for either me or my husband, so we didn’t make them for our kids. Then we realized they thought we were being cheapskates who just wanted to deny them fun!

We decided to fix that problem quickly and made them baskets that year. I’m not sure what we’ll give them this year, but there will be a gift, completely undeserved, because that’s what the grace of God through Jesus is!

Click here for ideas for a Jesus-themed Easter basket and correlate a verse for each object.  Including pretty printable verse cards.

Abi, Joy in My Kitchen

5.  A Christian Passover

Our family’s favorite Easter-time tradition…is to celebrate Passover!

When our oldest kids were small, my husband and I decided to continue a tradition that my aunt and uncle did for many years. Since then, we all make a bigger deal of our Christian Passover Seder – celebrated each year near Easter. It’s so much less commercialized and so very significant to our Christian roots!

Here is an Easter week devotional (which I am using – so good)!

Pat, PatAndCandy

6.  Resurrection eggs

For many years we used Family Life’s Resurrection Eggs to teach our kids the story of Easter.

Twelve eggs, each containing an item they could touch and feel, teach the major elements of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Each year the kids understood a little more. Eventually, they told me the story using the Resurrection Eggs.

As an adult, I anticipate an annual Passion Week Experience at a local church. Eight life-size “stations of the cross” lead visitors through a unique worship experience. In our comfy culture, I need this stark reminder of Christ’s suffering.

Get your Resurrection Eggs here or read this short devotional on The Fragrance of Suffering

Dianne Thornton, Sweeter Than Honey

7.  Jelly Bean story bags

One of my favourite Easter traditions with my kids was making up little bags of the Jelly Bean story.

The kids filled ziplock bags with jelly beans of different colours – each one representing part of the gospel story. Also included was the little poem from the story.

The kids gave these to all the kids at church. This gave opportunity to remind the kids what Easter was all about. I loved it because it gave my kids an opportunity to give.

Here’s a copy of the Jelly Bean story to use with your children!

Belinda, Live Life with Your Kids