While the warmth and coziness of Christmas can be conveyed with music, baked goods, twinkling lights, wishes of goodwill and good cheer, the candlelight service on December 24th, and the smell of pine and cinnamon… capturing the “magic” of Easter is a little more elusive.
In my family, we didn’t hold Easter traditions as tightly as the ones we held dear at Christmas time simply because of logistics. My mom was the choir director at church. She was also a trumpet player. If you’ve attended Easter Sunday services at a traditional church, there’s nearly always a choir singing their hearts out and a brass player or two trumpeting the alleluias. My mom’s job was intense during Holy Week and on Easter Sunday; our day started before dawn with the sunrise services. {Side note: because we had to be at church so early on Easter, the clever ‘Easter Bunny’ hid our Easter baskets right in our carseats! Wasn’t that so smart?!}
With three tired kids in tow, our family traditions had to be flexible. So we held them loosely.
We spent several years joining precious family friends at their home for an egg hunt in their yard, followed by a beautiful meal around their table. One Easter when I was in college, a friend of mine from school joined our family for the day, as he couldn’t travel to his home, and we enjoyed brunch at a stunning old mansion-turned-restaurant. I spent several Easter Sundays running the youth group Easter brunch at the church where I was the youth director, bussing tables and overseeing the egg bake. In recent years we’ve spent Easter with my husband’s mom, traveling to be with her over the weekend.
Easter never quite looked the same for my family, and you know, that kind of became the tradition. Each year brought a different setting, a different menu, even different people around the table.
Instead of relying on rituals and traditions to set the holiday apart from just another Sunday, I needed to rely on the Holy Spirit to move and bring the awe that comes with a rolled away stone.
And rely I have. It isn’t anything Pinterest-worthy, but the work God does on my heart every year at Easter time is worth all the pins in the world. Because Easter isn’t just about one Sunday; it’s about the journey He took all the way to the cross. It’s worth getting ready for.
Here are a few ways I prepare myself — and my family — for Easter Sunday:
I work with intention to make ready our hearts before the day, leaning into the season of Lent to dig deep into our faith.
I read the Easter story from my favorite Bible. This edition of the Jesus Storybook Bible tells it beautifully (and makes a wonderful gift!).
I set out just a certain few decor items, letting even my coffee mugs remind me of the love I get to live in.
Last year I included these bracelets in the Easter baskets for my girls, and their brother got his own copy of the Jesus Storybook Bible. This year, these placemats will welcome my kiddos to their seat at the table, and this coloring set will keep them entertained so there’s a chance I’ll be able to listen to the sermon at church. Hashtag mom of toddlers.
I’ll don an apron to make my Easter morning caramel rolls, this table runner will cover each leaf my old dining room table can hold, and I’ll set out crayons for kids and adults alike.
I’ll go to church, hug my family and friends, and miss those who can’t be with us. I’ll dress my son in suspenders and my girls in patent leather shoes, make sure my husband has a clean shirt, and wear something pink myself. We’ll resurrect our Alleluias from the somber days of Lent. Wherever I end up and whoever I’m with, we will break bread together, eating with glad and sincere hearts.
And each minute of the day I’ll be giving thanks for a Savior who willingly died, and who didn’t want to be apart from us for more than three days. Ever.
Here’s to the traditions we hold dear, and the holidays we hold loosely. Here’s to the imperfect tables we may set, and the love of Jesus that sets us apart. Here’s to getting ready for the joy of Easter.
Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Anna,
Maybe it’s not a bad thing to not have a lot of Easter “traditions”. Traditions are great, but they can distract us from the real meaning of what is happening. Jesus being brutally beaten and suffocating on a cross does not draw warm and fuzzy feelings. He suffered terribly because He couldn’t imagine eternity without us. He went through the one and only separation from His beloved Heavenly Father, felt forsaken, and withstood it all because of His great love for us. How do you make cookies that speak of that? When my kids were little we did have Easter egg hunts because Easter is about joy….extreme JOY because Jesus put resurrection power on display and overcame the grave. There is SO much worth celebrating. If there was ever a day that deserved a parade, it would be Easter. But, maybe holding it loosely, seeing where the Spirit takes us, and really focusing on what happened and what we are celebrating is the best observance of Easter. Great thoughts to ponder. Have a blessed Easter!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Gail says
amen
I truly cannot distract my family and the lost world watching by conforming with all the easter bunny lies. As true Christians who have a genuine heartfelt understanding of the sacrifice and pain Jesus had gone through to win us back into His family on that Good Friday and then the victory over eternal death that Easter morning, how can we not help but fall to our knees and worship and thank Jesus? Following the world’s man made idea of Easter is an insult and dispect to our Savior and the opportunity to share the Gospel is lost if we do not stay true to telling others why we celebrate Easter. Using the excuse that painting and hunting eggs and eating chocolate bunnies and putting fluffy chick ornaments into baskets is all about new life is so lame and I wonder if those who do this ever get to explaining the Gospel with these “props” to others.. I ask you…what’s wrong with passionately and lovingly speak out the truth about our suffering and then victorious Savior??
Women Seeking Christ says
It’s true there is the warm cozy feeling at Christmas that doesn’t lend itself to Easter. I sometimes think we romanticize Christmas too much. Mary and Joseph probably left their home to travel to Bethlehem under scrutiny and judgment. Mary getting pregnant before marriage and the guys thinking Joseph had been tricked. The trip had to be difficult and Mary was probably in labor a lot of the time. Tired and exhausted they ended up staying in a cave for animals and Jesus was placed in a feeding trough. This was not a romantic, or even cozy, setting at all. Coming to live with humans was a sacrifice. I don’t think we appreciate the sacrifice of Christmas or Good Friday. Meanwhile, Easter is a joyful day. Jesus is back with the Father and our salvation is secure. Yet, I sense more excitement at the Christmas Eve service than Easter. Honestly, that is true in my home too. So Joyful Easter to all. Let’s appreciate the sacrifice and the victory!
Michele Morin says
I agree, Anna, that Easter is one challenging holiday. Getting a big holiday dinner onto the table with all the extra hoopla on Easter Sunday (for years we did our cantata on Easter Sunday!!??) is hard enough without the added pressure of Easter Bunny duty and straightening everyone’s Easter bonnets.
We’ve always enjoyed our “pagan” Easter traditions on the Saturday before Easter. The rousing egg hunt and lots of sugar are out of everyone’s systems in time for our more solemn/joyful celebration of resurrection–and the kids enjoy their dinner more.
We’ve loved collecting “strays” for Easter Sunday, people who don’t have family nearby but don’t mind celebrating a very-much-alive-Jesus in the midst of a bit of chaos.
Gail says
I love this — And each minute of the day I’ll be giving thanks for a Savior who willingly died, and who didn’t want to be apart from us for more than three days. Ever!
Thanks for a great reminder this morning.
Penny says
Anna,
Thank-you for so beautifully putting the real meaning of Easter into words.
Blessings to all,
Penny
Jessie Freer Walters says
Anna, thank you for your words and the sweet pictures of many Easter traditions…each year may look different but isn’t it beautiful that each year, God’s goodness is the same and we get to celebrate?
Best, Jessie
Nancy Ruegg says
Over the last few weeks I’ve been rewriting some Lenten prayers (from St. Ehprem of Syria, Thomas a Kempis, Thomas Merton and others) in my own words–just once a week–to bring my attention back to confession, submission, and newness of life in Christ. Praise God he is risen–he is risen INDEED! Because of his sacrifice we enjoy benefit after benefit, blessing after blessing.
Vickie says
Thank you, Anna! This sentence is so spiritual in many ways: “And each minute of the day I’ll be giving thanks for a Savior who willingly died, and who didn’t want to be apart from us for more than three days. Ever.” I will share this and hope to remember it every Easter. God bless you!
Rebecca Jones says
Easter or Resurrection Day is like Christmas in that it should be in our hearts every day, not just the traditions. Jesus even said traditions of men could make His word of no effect, He didn’t say not to have any but not to let them overwhelm, the meaning.
Beth Williams says
Anna,
I usually go to a sunrise service then on to church. I love watching sun come up over the mountains. Now our little church has it’s own sunrise service & then we all gather for breakfast in our fellowship hall. The regular service begins at 10:50 & then I will go to my pastor’s house for dinner. For the last few year my hubby has worked weekends. Kathy, pastor’s wife, invites all who don’t have family or any place to go for Easter dinner. Our church is also having a Sedar meal March 25 5 pm. We will sample some of the foods & traditions done during the meals. We will have a better appreciation of what they did & how life was back then.
This world has “paganized” the true meaning of Easter. We need to remember the long journey into Jerusalem, & then on to Pilate & Herod. We should feel the sting of the cat o’ nine tales hitting Him 39 times. Look at the bruised & bleeding Jesus who did it all for us!! Daily we should be thankful for all he’s done.
Have a blessed Easter everyone!
Blessings 🙂