Two years ago, I started a new Easter tradition with my family. I wanted Easter to feel like a sacred season to honor our Savior's loving sacrifice for us, not just a weekend to eat way too much candy. Inspired by this mom's tradition, we spent each day of Holy Week reading scriptures about what happened in Jesus's life that day, watching a video about it if we could find one, and doing some little activity to make the experience fun for our kids. It transformed Easter from a second-tier holiday about candy to a memorable, inspiring time that our family really looks forward to.
Here's how things went this year:
On Palm Sunday, we read about Christ's triumphal entry, then acted it out. Everyone always wants a turn being the donkey. Also, by popular demand, I bought kale leaves to use for palm fronds, like we did the first time when we were living in Arkansas. Apparently, donkeys are big fans of kale.
On "Temple Monday," we read about and reenacted Christ cleansing the temple. Last night, Phillip pointed out that it kind of detracts from the sacred mood if I whip out my camera during a reenactment, so tonight I asked the kids to all pose for some production shots, then I put the camera away and Daniel cleansed that temple like a boss (much to the relief of Anna, the worshiper who was saddened by the vendor's offensive noise).
On "Teaching Tuesday," we discussed why Christ taught in parables, then we divided into two groups that each chose a parable to draw. Or at least, that was the original plan. Instead, Joy and Anna decided to draw the same parable the same way, then see if I could guess whose drawing was whose. Joy did such a good job of copying Anna's style that it was hard to tell the difference.
On Spy Wednesday, we talked about Judas agreeing to betray Jesus for the price of a slave, and how Jesus then liberated us from bondage to sin and death. We then lightened the mood by dyeing Easter eggs. I suppose I could try to turn egg dyeing into a symbolic discussion, but honestly, we just do it because it's fun.
On Passover Thursday, I made a mostly-authentic Passover feast with braised lamb, grape juice, and almost-unleavened lavash bread (because I just can't get into matzo crackers). The meal takes a bit of work and planning, but I feel like it's worth it. My kids think it's really cool, and I love feasting together as we discuss the symbolism of the original Passover, how it relates to Christ's atonement, and how He must have felt eating that last Passover supper that symbolized what He was about to endure for the whole world. There's something solemn and inspiring about participating in that ancient tradition, even if we have adapted it a bit.
On Good Friday, we read about Christ's suffering and death on the cross, then watched a moving video about it. I usually make hot cross buns to celebrate Good Friday, but I'd been working on a hot cross muffin recipe for my recipe blog all week, and we had four different experimental batches of hot cross muffins in our kitchen. So yeah, we celebrated with hot cross muffins this year. We also each wrote our name on a piece of paper and decorated it, then arranged those papers in a cross shape on our Holy Week Wall (see below), to remind us that Jesus died for each one of us.
On "Spirit World Saturday" we had an Easter egg hunt (just because it's traditional and fun), then in the evening we talked about the Bible reference to Christ teaching the spirits in prison after He died. Modern revelation clarifies that He organized the spirits of good and faithful people to teach the millions who had rejected Him or had never heard His Gospel in mortality. This has always been a rather abstract concept for us before, but it hit home this year because my dad and my last two living grandparents have all died in the last six months. They loved the Lord so much, and it's easy to imagine them sharing that joy and hope with others in the spirit world.
As we've observed Holy Week the last two years, I always felt like our approach to Easter Sunday was a little anticlimactic. While we enjoyed watching several wonderful videos about the resurrected Lord's visits to His disciples, there was no fun food or activity to go with it. After Thursday's inspiring feast, I wanted to come up with an Easter feast that was symbolic in its own meaningful ways (e.g. bread because Christ is the bread of life, fish because He ate it when he visited his disciples, etc.). That Easter feast is still a work in progress, but one new Easter tradition is definitely here to stay: Empty Tomb Rolls. Basically, you wrap a big marshmallow in crescent dough with some butter and cinnamon, then while you bake it the marshmallow melts and leaves an empty space inside the roll. Our empty tomb rolls baked and cooled while we watched our favorite resurrection videos, then we enjoyed the delicious rolls and discussed the symbolism of Christ's empty tomb, and why it matters for us. I love holiday activities that are both meaningful and fun. :)
Whew! Our Holy Week celebration is a lot of work, and by the end I need a holiday from holidays! Still, I wouldn't trade the fond memories and thoughtful discussions it inspires. I'll probably leave our Holy Week Wall decorations up long after April is over. They are a colorful reminder of the fun, inspiring experiences our family shared as we honored the most important event in history.
Thank you, dear Savior, for all that You did and continue to do for us. We love You so much.
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