Easter Traditions

[LostnFound]

My family was discussing coming up with some new Easter traditions. I wanted to ask everyone on the forum if they have any Easter traditions that they may want to share. I know it can be a difficult holiday to celebrate with children and keep their minds focused on why we are celebrating this beautiful holiday. Let me know what works for your families.

[Dia Minha]

LnF, we do a "traditional" Easter the Saturday before. This is when the kids get their Easter baskets and usually there is an egg hunt at Grandma's house. Then on Sunday we read the Easter story from the bible and watch the church produced video on the resurrection. This way we can still celebrate the commercial part of Easter, but keep the meaning and reverence of the holiday on Sunday.

[runamyrun]

We also have the Easter Bunny come on Saturday. He always leaves a trail of jellybeans from the kids' bedroom to where the baskets are hidden. If the weather is good, he leaves an egg hunt in the backyard. If it is yucky outside, the egg hunt is downstairs. On Sunday we don't do anything special, but we make sure to talk about the real meaning of Easter. I guess it is kind of like a Family Home Evening.

[5ft Diva]

We have a FHE that has become a tradition in our home. I'm sure you've seen it. You get 12 plastic eggs and there is something inside each egg that coincides w/ the story. As you read the story of the Resurrection you open an egg and out comes the object you're talking about. The other tradition we have for the FHE is our treat. I'm sure you've heard of this one too. We get crescent rolls and marshmallows and cinnamon and sugar and butter. The crescent rolls represents the tomb, the marshmallow is Chris's body, the cinnamon and sugar represent spices, and the butter represents the oils. You dip the marshmallow in the butter and spices and then wrap it inside the roll and then you bake it according to the directions on the package and then the oven represents the three days and when you pull them out, the marshmallow is gone. My kids have done it several years in a row and they still love it. You start w/ it and then end w/ it because of the baking time. Anyway, that's what we do. I have heard that others do the egg hunt on Saturday and I think that's what we'll do as well. We'll see how it goes.

[LostnFound]

I had never heard of the crescent roll treat. My kids would absolutely love it. Easter is a little tough because all of my family likes to get together on Sunday for their idea of an Easter Celebration. Which is the Easter Egg hunt and other activities. Not any of my family members are religious , so it makes it difficult to suggest doing it on Saturday instead of Sunday.

[runamyrun]

5ftDiva, hey thanks for reminding me of your FHE. Those are all things I have wanted to do with my kids, but forgot. Oh, and I have made the Empty Tomb rolls, but we just used roll dough. I am excited for Easter!

[crazyK]

Last year was awesome. We celebrated the easter bunny with exstended family on saturday the weekend before easter and it was great because we then could spend the next week concentrating more on Christ. And my kids weren't upset that easter wasn't a big production.

[Dia Minha]

This is kind of last minute. However, I was very intereseted in Diva's FHE idea. I remember seeing this done in primary or somewhere before, but had never done it myself. So I just googled it and found this. [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] It is all done up for you. You just have to print and cut. And then of course find the little things to go in the eggs.

Hope somebody else can use it.

Dia

[Dia Minha]

I just found this too. It is a recipe I had heard about, yet, again never have done with my kids. I'm really excited about trying it this year.

EASTER STORY COOKIES (to be made the evening before Easter)
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300°F.Place
pecans
in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that, after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10- 11. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1c. sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and
belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-

3. Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was
sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and
22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow!
On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1- 9.


Dia

[LostnFound]

Dia,
Thanks for sharing those wonderful ideas for Easter. I am excited to try them. LNF