Even though Easter is a Christian religious celebration, that doesn't mean you can only fill it with religious events, you know! Basically, Easter is a commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but most Christians around the world often also fill it with non-religious events such as having lunch with extended families, and coloring and/or looking for Easter eggs. Wondering what you can do to celebrate Easter? Read on for this article to find the answer!
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Method 1 of 3: Making Easter Fun for the Kids
Step 1. Invite your child to color Easter eggs
You can buy tools for coloring eggs at various stores that sell tools for decorating. Prepare a hard-boiled egg and have your child decorate it for Easter.
- The egg coloring process is very easy; You or your child just have to dip the boiled eggs into the bowls of dye. Don't forget to put different colors in different bowls, okay?
- Make sure your child uses old (or unused) clothes when decorating eggs. Be careful, there are times when paint stains are very difficult to remove from fabric.
Step 2. Have an Easter egg search activity
An important part of the Easter tradition is the search for Easter eggs! Try hiding the colored Easter eggs and have your kids look for them. You can also fill plastic eggs with various snacks and then hide them around the house.
- If you prefer to hide plastic eggs that are already filled with treats, try filling them with healthier treats like Pretzels. Meanwhile, some religious people prefer to fill plastic eggs with a piece of paper containing a Bible verse.
- Always remember where the eggs are hiding. Remember, eggs can rot quickly; therefore, make sure you collect all the remaining eggs that you can't find.
- Several religious communities and organizations also hold egg-seeking competitions which are often open to the public. Try to follow it if possible!
Step 3. Make the Easter basket
The Easter basket is another important part of the Easter tradition; In general, children will be delighted when they wake up in the morning and find an Easter basket filled with toys and/or food. Try buying an attractively shaped basket at a nearby store and filling it with candy and/or toys.
- If you are a religious person, try filling a basket with plastic eggs with a scripture verse in it.
- You can also fill it with healthy snacks such as fruit, you know!
- In addition to food, you can also fill the basket with various small toys.
Step 4. Bake various bunny-shaped cakes
The Easter Bunny is an equally important part of any Easter celebration; besides, his figure is also recognized by most of the children celebrating Easter! Baking and serving bunny-shaped cakes is a great way to increase kids' interest in the Easter holiday.
- Try making cookies with bunny molds.
- Bake three cinnamon rolls. Glue the first two cinnamon rolls together to form the bunny's body, then divide the last cinnamon roll into two equal parts. After that, place each piece of bread on the side of the 'head' to form bunny ears; Spray cream cheese frosting to give your Easter bunny ears white. You can also make bunny "eyes" out of chocolate chips or blueberries.
Step 5. Invite your children to make various Easter decorations
Believe me, all little children love to decorate. Therefore, try buying Easter decoration materials at the nearest supermarket or various online stores. After that, invite your children to make various origami or other decorations.
- Placing stickers on windows is also an easy, cost-effective, and fun activity for young children.
- If you're hosting an Easter dinner and inviting loved ones, try asking your child to make a simple sign that will be placed in front of each chair.
Method 2 of 3: Celebrating Easter with a Secular Approach
Step 1. Take your friends and relatives up the mountain
In Western countries, Easter is often used as a moment to climb mountains with loved ones, especially because the weather at Easter is generally warm. If you want to adopt this habit, try getting your family or closest friends to do it!
If your neighborhood doesn't allow it, just invite your closest friends and relatives to take a walk around the complex or visit favorite locations. For example, if you and your family want to buy ice cream at the supermarket, try walking there instead of driving
Step 2. Have an Easter lunch
Some people like to have an early Easter lunch; Therefore, you can invite the people closest to you to dine at a restaurant that serves Easter specialties.
- Easter is closely related to eggs. For that, try eating a variety of dishes made from eggs to reinforce the Easter theme itself.
- Most people serve ham as the main menu of Easter dishes. To top it off, try serving up a variety of side dishes like roasted carrots or mashed potatoes.
- Use the color of cutlery that is synonymous with spring, such as plates, handkerchiefs, tablecloths, and pastel colored spoons and forks.
Step 3. Plant something to celebrate the new life
In many countries, Easter generally falls in the spring; As a result, Easter is often seen as the perfect moment to celebrate new life. Therefore, try visiting the nearest plant seed shop and buy your favorite plant seeds. Arriving at home, spread the seeds in the yard or place them in pots. Trust me, growing a new flower or plant will help you interpret Easter in a unique and positive way!
Step 4. Spend time with your closest friends and relatives
Remember, holidays are the most perfect times to spend time with those closest to you. Generally, all workers have the opportunity to take a vacation on Easter; Take this opportunity to plan fun activities with your loved ones.
For example, you and a group of friends could have dinner together to celebrate Easter Sunday
Step 5. Take as many photos as possible
Taking pictures is a fun and meaningful way to remember every memory that has been engraved. Therefore, make sure you always carry a camera with you when you are dining with a large family or doing other activities. Create as many Easter memories as you can!
Method 3 of 3: Celebrating Easter with a Religious Approach
Step 1. Observe the differences between each day of Holy Week
Remember, Easter is not only celebrated in one day; in fact, Easter is the culmination of the celebration of a series of Easter Holy Weeks. One week before Easter, Christians will celebrate Palm Sunday; at the celebration, Christians focus on reflecting on the meaning of Easter which is summarized in the scriptures. If your church celebrates Palm Sunday through a special celebration or service, make an effort to attend it.
- From Palm Sunday to Holy Tuesday, there will usually be a reading of the bible story about Jesus entering Jerusalem. Meanwhile on Holy Wednesday, Judas Iscariot decided to betray Jesus and lead him to the process of execution on the cross.
- Maundy Thursday is the anniversary of Jesus' last supper with his disciples. Meanwhile, Good Friday is the anniversary of the death of Jesus on the cross.
- Holy Saturday or Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday are the last two days in the series of Holy Week. It is on these two days that the resurrection of Jesus is commemorated and celebrated.
Step 2. Attend Easter services at your church
Most Christian churches hold Easter services on Easter Eve and Easter Sunday, but the details of the process depend on the policies of each church. Try attending Easter services at church to make it easier for you to focus on the true message of Easter. Make sure you attend Easter Eve and Easter Sunday services, OK!
If you have young children, try to find out if your church has special services for children. Understanding the story of Jesus' death and resurrection is a complicated (and sometimes terrifying) process for children. Therefore, it is best to invite them to attend Sunday School or a special Easter service for children which is usually provided on Easter Sunday
Step 3. Read the resurrection stories found in the scriptures
Spend time on the weekends reading the stories of Jesus' resurrection; believe me, this is the perfect way to focus on the true meaning of the Easter holiday. Reminding yourself why the moment is celebrated can strengthen your relationship with your religion and the traditions that go with it. Most of the resurrection stories can be found in the New Testament.
If you have small children, try buying a special children's book that contains interesting stories about Easter. In this way, they can understand the story of Jesus' death and resurrection in an easier and more enjoyable way
Step 4. Discuss Jesus' sacrifice with your family
Easter is actually a commemoration of the sacrifice of the Lord God who was willing to let his son die on the cross to erase the sins of his people. Try discussing the topic with your family and ask what the sacrifice means to you and them. Why do you celebrate Jesus' sacrifice, death, and resurrection?
- At this moment, you can also write down the sins you have committed on a piece of paper. After that, invite all your family members to gather together on Easter Eve and do the same.
- On Easter Sunday, do something to destroy the paper. For example, you can burn it or tear it into small pieces. This act represents Jesus Christ who has blotted out your sins and saved you from the abyss. After that, you can give thanks while following the Holy Communion procession.
Step 5. Focus on what Easter personally means to you
Attending Easter services or reading the story of Jesus' resurrection are perfect ways to fill your Easter holiday. You can also set aside time on Easter Sunday to reflect on what Easter really means to you.
- Meditate on your religion. How does it impact your life as a whole? What lessons can you learn from your religion? How does the life story of Jesus affect your daily life?
- You can also seek answers from other people. For example, at dinner with your extended family, you could ask everyone there to testify about the effect Christian teachings have had on their lives.
Step 6. Perform various non-religious celebrations
Even if you're a devout Christian, that doesn't mean everything Easter has to be religious. Try getting your whole family together for lunch or some other fun activity (like hiking together) when Easter arrives. This step is especially important if someone in your family is not religious but wants to celebrate Easter with you.
