Holy Week is my favorite season of the church year–a sacred stretch of days filled with reverence, reflection, and joy. Over the years, our family has practiced different meaningful Easter traditions, but as life changes, so do our rhythms. You have new children, the children get older and enjoy different activities, you become an empty nester, then a grandparent… Or maybe you’re simply looking to refocus and refresh your Easter celebrations. Whatever your situation, this post offers five Christ-centered ways to celebrate Easter that keep the focus where it belongs–on Jesus.
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and goes through Easter Sunday. It’s pretty obvious why this week is special as the focus on the holiest of events – the death and resurrection of Christ. It is truly a holiday, a holy day.
I love everything about this week – the music, the traditional services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, the stripping of the altar, the Bible readings, the prayers, and then the glorious celebration on Easter Day.
Before I share our five Christ-centered ways to celebrate Easter, I wanted to share a little bit of history…
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History of Easter
Easter is the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection. But there’s more to it. Understanding the history of Easter and its traditions requires a deep dive which we aren’t going to do here. But let’s look at a few details.
The date, for starters. In the early days of Christianity, the churches argued about when the resurrection should be celebrated. This is often called the Easter Controversy. Yes, really. Powerful people argued about when they should celebrate these important events in Christ’s life.
Finally in 325, the Council of Nicaea (perhaps familiar because that’s where we get the Nicene Creed) decided the timing. Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Whew! That’s why the date for Easter changes every single year between March 22 and April 25.
I watched an interesting documentary that explains this as well as more history behind our rich Easter traditions.
Five Christ-Centered Ways to Celebrate Easter
#1. Worship.
Perhaps the most important Christ-centered way to celebrate Easter: worship. Sometimes our secular traditions crowd out this religious holiday and the reason we celebrate it. If we aren’t careful, Easter can be all about chocolate-covered bunnies or yellow Peeps, colorful egg hunts with jelly beans and prizes, and a brunch buffet with ham and waffles and fresh-squeezed orange juice.
For many, attending worship isn’t part of their routine. Or perhaps a visit to church is squeezed in between an Easter parade and kite-flying. Sadly, some regular church attendees bemoan these Christmas-Easter people who take their pew. What?! (Please remember, that our churches aren’t filled with holy and healthy people. Our churches are filled with sinners who need and receive redemption.) Even if it is only twice a year (Christmas and Easter), the pews will be filled. And men and women who are not sure what they believe will hear the beautiful message that Christ died and rose for them. That’s a beautiful thing. Alleluia!
Your faith and your culture traditions will determine how you walk through Holy Week and Easter Sunday. If you are part of a liturgical church, then you may spend several days at your parish or house of worship. My faith tradition always holds services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and then Resurrection Sunday. Some churches practice the Stations of the Cross which follow Christ’s last day on earth. As I’ve chatted with believers of different denominations, I have found that many are curious about the church year, even if their church doesn’t “walk through it” with their calendar as liturgical churches do. Holy Week is a beautiful time to read these passages and experience this yourself or with your family.
Worship During Holy Week
Here is a brief overview of Holy Week. (Reminder. I am not a theologian. I’m a practicing Christian who loves to share my faith in simple ways. Also, I’m sharing my own church’s practices which are just one of many beautiful Christ-centered rhythms.)
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday focuses on the Last Supper when Jesus gathered with His disciples to celebrate the Passover. Many churches will have Holy Communion as well as washing of the feet. You could remember these important events by reading several passages in your Bible. Here is my church’s discussion of this day along with the Bible readings.
Good Friday
Good Friday is when we remember Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of the world. Many churches will adorn their altar with black to symbolize the darkness of the day. Again, here is an explanation with readings from my denomination.
Easter Vigil
Many churches practice this traditional candlelight service on Saturday night and even into the early hours of Easter Sunday. Here’s one description if you are curious.
Easter! The Resurrection of Our Lord
Alleluias will return to our churches on this day after being omitted from services during Lent, so there will be a lot of Alleluias! Many churches will be adorned with lilies and the altar paraments will be white to symbolize the purity and completeness of this event. For readings and a full description, check this out.
#2. Gather around the dinner table.
A beautiful part of any celebration is gathering with family and friends around a table. Again, like so many things, your culture and faith tradition will play into what sits on your plate for Easter dinner.
My childhood Easter dinners always included roast lamb and the mint jelly that just had to be part of that. I shifted to a less expensive choice, a spiral ham, along with my Mom’s potato casserole and fresh asparagus. Oh yes, we always have orange jello with mandarin oranges because it’s colorful. (And oh so good for you!)
I’m always curious about what meals are traditionally served and found this excellent article about the symbolism of the Easter dinner. Bottom line? There is no one menu that equals Easter! The best gift you can give your family and friends is an invitation to gather at your table – or to bring food to another gathering. And during this season and always, we are called to remember those who may not have enough. Take time to contact your local shelter or food pantry and help or donate during these holy days.
#3. Try Visual Faith® activities.
Visual faith coloring is a simple low-cost activity for all ages. Visit Visual Faith® Ministry for all kinds of resources! But because there are so many projects to choose from there, I’ll share a handful for your Easter activities.
All you need is a printer, copy paper, colored pencils, a pair of scissors, and your imagination.
You might make these for the shut-ins at your church or to share with family and neighbors. Invite your little children and grandchildren to help you!
Bookmarks and Bible Margins
- “He is not here, He has risen!” (Luke 24:6a)
- One of my favorites is “It Is Finished” (John 19:30)
- He was Raised! (1 Corinthians 15:4)
- Alleluia!
- Raise this temple! (John 3:19)
- I Am the Resurrection (John 11:25)
- He Is Risen (Mark 16:6)
Coloring Pages for All Ages
- Easter Greetings
- Hosanna!
- This Is the Lord! (Isaiah 25:9)
Chalk Talk
Here is a creative resource with ways to share your Easter joy by doing “Chalk Talk.” Super fun and easy ideas for chalking messages on your neighborhood sidewalks or on your driveway. Kids and grownups will love this activity which will share faith in a simple way.
Vintage Easter Cards
Perhaps you’ve seen lovely vintage cards when you are antiquing or browsing online. Here are several free downloads for you to print and then personalize to mail or give to neighbors.
#4. Do an at-home Easter project.
Easter Cross Resist Art
This is a simple activity for kids of all ages.
What you’ll need:
- One sheet of white card stock.
- Watercolor, acrylic, or gelato paints; colored pencils or crayons work but paint is best for the finished effect.
- A roll of painter’s tape or washi tape; something that is easy to remove when done.
How to create it:
- Cut the painter’s tape and adhere it to the paper in the shape of a cross. Big, little, any size works.
- Invite the kids to paint all over the paper, to mix colors, be creative!
- Let the paint dry.
- Slowly peel back the tape, careful not to tear the paper.
- The finished image is beautiful!
Resurrection Rolls
This is a beautiful hands-on baking activity which will help you tell the Easter story with simple ingredients you probably have on hand. Here’s a complete description with pictures and a recipe. I am making these soon with the little children in our family.
#5. Read a Christ-centered book.
There’s nothing better than actually reading from your Bible, but oftentimes, a devotional book or a story can bring the beautiful Gospel message to little (and big) children in new ways. Here are just a few of my favorites this time of year.
An Easter Egg Hunt for Jesus by Glenys Nellist is a lovely picture book with beautiful illustrations. It tells the Easter story to the rhythm of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which makes it easy for little ones to follow along.
The Easter Gift is one of my favorite Arch Books, a simple but powerful way to engage your little ones.
The Donkey Who Carried a King is a fictionalized tale of Davey, the young donkey who was given the job of his life. Readers hear the story of Christ’s passion from a unique perspective.
The Tale of Three Trees has been a long-time favorite in our home. Angela Elwell Hunt retells this folktale about the three trees and how they played a role in the life of Jesus. It’s a gem.
Sing for joy!
Most importantly, as we use these five Christ-centered ways to celebrate Easter (and other old and new traditions), may we always focus on the beautiful words from Job 19:25. This verse is the heart of one of the Easter hymns that always makes me teary-eyed, especially with trumpets.
I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead,
He lives, my everliving head.
(Lutheran Service Book 461)
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