Celebrating Easter

You may be far from family and old friends but as Easter approaches, we encourage you to implement the traditions that you've established for this holiday. Familiar traditions will help provide you and your family with a sense of continuity and stability in the midst of change.

Do you have special Easter items that are still packed away? You may be busy unpacking today, but try to locate your holiday boxes and unpack them. These little steps are progress in moving on and will help bring familiarity into your new home.

Are you looking to add some new Easter traditions? The following are some fun ideas for you and your family. They also provide a great opportunity for you to invite the family next door. What a wonderful opportunity for you to show that Easter isn't just about eggs and candy but the gift of eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus!

* What Is Easter?
Easter is a day of rejoicing and celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion on Good Friday.  Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring equinox.

The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity; however, it's not clear how the word 'Easter' came to be, many think it was derived from the Teutonic or Anglo-Saxon goddess of Spring, Eostre or Eastre.

* Easter Wreath
Create a wreath for your front door using silk Spring flowers, colorful ribbons and symbols of Holy Week attached to it.

* Easter Devotions
Acquire an Easter devotional to use during Holy Week with your family. Your new church may provide one for you. If you do not have a church home, we encourage you to find one during this special season. Christian bookstores are a good resource to check for a devotional. Another option are online Christian web sites that provide free daily devotionals.
A good start is ACTS International at http://www.actsweb.org also, Heartlight http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals

* Make Homemade Treats
Pretzels originated as a Lenten treat! Some say the twisted center is arms crossed in prayer. A traditional Hot Cross bun has long been a symbol of Good Friday. Today they are sold in bake shops and supermarket bakeries throughout the Easter season. Each bun has an icing cross on top to signify the crucifixion.

* Egg Decorating Kit
Provide all kinds of decorations for kids to use while decorating their Easter eggs: egg dye kit, crayons, stickers, glitter glue, markers.... your imagination sets the limit! For Christians of the Near East, the Easter egg represented the tomb from which Jesus broke forth. They were often coloured red to symbolize the blood of Christ by which all believers were given a share in the new life of Christ. As part of the Easter festivities, Easter eggs are often hidden and left for the children to find. 

* Easter Egg Messages
Before dying the hard-boiled eggs, use crayons to draw pictures or write phrases like "He is Risen" or "Hallelujah" on each egg. Because the dye cannot adhere to the egg through the crayon wax, the message will be easy to read.

* The Cave and The Stone
Provide a clearer idea about the miracle of the tomb rock rolling away. Let your kids craft an small pot out of clay. Lay the pot on its' side and allow to dry. Ask the kids to find a rock large enough to conceal the opening of this pot. Discuss with them how Jesus was placed in a tomb that was sealed by a large rock. Or, if they know the story, allow them to tell it to you. Discuss how only an act of God could put the guards to sleep and move this big stone that guarded the grave. On Easter, replace the rock with flowers and celebrate the resurrection. Read together: John 20:1-3,5-8

* Gift Of Service
Reflect Jesus' love and extend it to others by visiting the sick and the elderly or by serving at a homeless shelter.

* Celebrate Your Baptism
The connection between baptism and Easter can be traced to the church's first centuries. During this time the whole of Lent was not only a time of penance but also when people were prepared for baptism, which was given only once a year at Easter. Do you remember when you or your children were baptised? Discuss this event with your kids and show them photos of their baptism if you have them. Liight a candle to commemorate the event.

* Celebrate With Neighbors
Invite your neighbors over for Easter dinner or have a potluck.

* Neighborhood Parade
Organize an Easter parade and egg hunt for the children in your neighborhood. Provide items for kids to decorate their bikes and have a bike parade. During the Middle Ages in Europe, people in their new Easter clothes would take a long walk after Easter Mass. This was a kind of procession preceded by a crucifix of the Easter Candle. The tradition evolved into Easter Parades.

* Conversation Starters
Along with candy treats, place small symbols of the Holy Week inside plastic eggs for your children to find. What a great way to talk about Christ with your children.

* Celebrate the Resurrection
Attend a sunrise service on Easter day.