Easter weekend brings back so many wonderful memories for me. Lent and Easter were always very special, and my family had a number of traditions through the years. Today, I’d like to share a few of our favorite traditions.
Lenten Traditions
Throughout Lent, we always read Lenten and spring books together. When Will and Christina were preschoolers, we had a number of Montessori-inspired activities for Lent and Easter.
For a few years when Christina was little, I was the Christian education director and led the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium at our church. We also had some Montessori-based religious education shelves in our homeschool classroom with a simplified version. Both Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Godly Play add richness and depth to children’s understanding of Lent and Easter. I’m very grateful that Will and Christina had the opportunity to experience Montessori-based religious education.
One of my favorite Lenten activities was the burying of the Alleluias. The “Alleluias” were simply words decorated by the children in our church and buried on the first Sunday of Lent. Then they were dug up and brought into church for the Easter celebration. We didn’t bury the Alleluias every year, but it was a beautiful, symbolic event when we experienced it.
Easter Traditions
Both Will and Christina were able to start one of our main Easter celebrations when they were 1 year old … Easter egg dyeing, Easter baskets, and the Easter egg hunt. Will and Christina were born 5 years and 2 days apart in March, so Easter came within a couple of weeks to a month after their birthday each year. That probably helped highlight the holiday as well.
Easter egg decorating was on the Saturday before Easter. When Will was one, he decorated his Easter egg by scribbling on it with a washable marker. When Christina was one, Will dyed the eggs and Christina put stickers on eggs.
(Special Note: Christina was actually baptized on Easter, since it was 6 weeks after her birth in 1990. That year, Will did the Easter baskets and Easter egg hunt with his cousin, who was visiting for Christina’s baptism.)
When Will was 9 and Christina was 4, we celebrated Easter at my parents’ house. Then we did the Easter egg dyeing, Easter egg hunt, and Easter baskets with my parents.
Easter Sunday always started with Easter baskets. Each child’s Easter basket had a book, some fun toys and learning activities, and typically some Easter candy. After Will and Christina looked through their Easter baskets, they used their baskets to gather the the hidden Easter eggs. The eggs obviously were very visible for one year olds. When Will was older, he often hid the eggs for Christina. As Christina grew older, the Easter egg hunt moved outdoors and became quite elaborate.
Later on Easter morning, we enjoyed an Easter church celebration. Christina loved to be dressed up for Easter, including wearing an Easter hat when she was little. Easter dinner completed our wonderful Easter weekend.
Wishing you and your family a truly blessed Easter weekend!
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LOVE family traditions! Thank you for sharing with us at Share It Saturday!
Thanks, Sugar Aunts! I always love Share It Saturday! 🙂
What wonderful traditions!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!
Thanks, Carrie! I really appreciate your hosting Sharing Saturday … I always find lots of great ideas there! 🙂
Nice traditions for every one to follow.Thanku for great ideas.