Easter Traditions

*Posted originally on strongandmindful

I’ve been thinking how our Easter traditions change and evolve each year.

There’s a quote by a greek philosopher, Heraclitus, “the only thing that is constant is change.”

For us, the more we center our why for Easter around Christ, the more simple the traditions feel. What we do and how we do it will continue to change, but letting go of the ‘should’ (we should be doing …) and focusing on our why can help us feel filled rather than depleted.

There are so many awesome ideas of traditions that bring Christ to the central focus. It’s simply fantastic. But if our family tried to do all of them, I know I’d walk away completely overwhelmed, burnt out, exhausted and grouchy.

How do we choose what matters most? What family traditions are okay to let go of and what others do we keep?

A simple question: “does this fit in with our why?” can create simplicity and awareness. If the tradition fits in and feels doable, go for it. If it doesn’t, let it go. Guilt free!

And while the list below includes many of the whats for our family, it’s most important to be mindful of what works for you, here and now, today. Looking at this list, I realize this: these traditions did not happen overnight, and we haven’t done all of them every year. This is a culmination of trial/error, letting go of some things to add others and will continue to evolve. We’ve had new baby years where the most we could do is pull together a few stories. One year our kids were sick the whole week before Easter, and we skipped many of these and ended up doing the ones we felt were most important after Easter. Depending on the ages/stages of our kids, and the ages/stages of our personal self, the list has varied. And that’s completely okay! Learning is part of the journey life.

• DECORATIONS: We keep it simple. Moving four times in six years we learned this: we don’t like to store a lot of decorations, nor do we love spending time decorating (and un-decorating). Keeping it minimal feels right for us. We use fresh cut flowers (either bulbs from our yard or will pick some up) to represent spring and new life. At this stage, the kiddos enjoy making spring/flower decorations out of construction paper for their doors.
• MORNING DEVOTIONAL: We circle up each morning for a 5-minute morning devotional (usually over breakfast). The week of Easter, we center this devotional time on Christ. Whether it’s a story from the Friend or New Era magazine, or a short bible video, or a scripture. It’s something simple, short and feels more like a conversation.
• SCRIPTURE CONNECTION: Each evening we connect through the scriptures as part of our bedtime stories. We’re actually using the word ‘connect’ with intention, as we want to teach that scriptures are how we can connect with God. For a couple weeks prior to Easter, we’ll focus on different parts of the life of Christ. We’ve done this many ways in the past – this year, we’ve enjoyed the Easter Study Guide, focusing specifically on faith through the life of Jesus Christ.
• PALM SUNDAY: We read/watch the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem and the kids act out laying/walking on palm branches (made out of construction paper).
• EASTER EGGS: We dye eggs sometime before Easter. I’d love to say it happens on a set day, but really it’s when I can get the whole crew together. After we dye them, we’ll put them in a jar for display.
• THURSDAY PRIOR TO EASTER: We have a simple dinner of something similar to what would have been eaten during the last supper. We keep it pretty informal, and allow space for questions and natural conversation surrounding the event.
• EGG HUNT: Sometime before Easter, we’ll do an Easter egg hunt. In the years we’ve lived away from extended family, we loved getting together as a neighborhood or with others who also live away from extended family.
• EASTER BASKETS: We focus on simplicity. The baskets typically include a book to read, something to color with for church, bubbles or chalk for outside, and a few treats.
• EASTER OUTFITS: Attending church is our most favorite part of Easter, but we don’t have a set tradition on clothing. I remember I tried one year to get everyone matching outfits, and it really stressed me out! Often they are in need of something as the season is changing – and depending on the kiddo, there is typically something there for them, but it isn’t the same for everyone.
• SUNDAY NIGHT DEVOTIONAL: For our family, circling up on the evening of Easter is our ‘finale’ to the holiday. We focus on the resurrection – our younger kiddos enjoy the Easter egg activity centered on Christ (our older kids have done it enough times that instead of watching they are now the ones doing it for their younger siblings). Last year we gave each kiddo a picture of an LDS temple for their room (something we felt was super important for them to have as a visual reminder). This year, we are giving them a simple laminated copy of the Living Christ as we will be focusing on studying it together as a family.

I have no doubt these whats will continue to change over time. I also have no doubt the center of our why will remain constant.

These words, ” and we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write…that our children may know to what source they may look…(Alma 2:26)” speak directly to a Christ-centered why.

Giving ourselves the freedom to strengthen traditions centered around Christ, however that looks or feels to us, will bring the spirit of Easter into our hearts. Trust that calm quiet voice that gives ideas and light to you as you ask! Any effort, no matter how small, is worth it!