Family Easter Traditions (Old & New)

As my oldest son nears adulthood, I am increasingly aware of the fact that our days spent together are numbered.  This awareness has led me to become almost fanatical about making every special occasion and holiday extra fun and memorable.  So, despite the fact that we have celebrated several Easter seasons together, I am still on the hunt for traditions I can introduce that my children can carry on with their own families or that will draw them back home to celebrate with us.  Happily, I have stumbled upon several great ones, which I am happy to share in the hopes everyone can enjoy a joyous Easter this year (and for years to come).

Classical Easter Traditions

First, let’s go over the classical traditions just in case some of you were deprived as children or just awoke from a coma with amnesia and don’t have this information already.

1. Decorating eggs
2. Easter Sunday church service
3. Easter baskets
4. Easter egg hunt
5. Easter dinner (usually ham, a couple of sides, and rolls)

New Easter Traditions

Now, here are a few that you might be new to you (they were new to me).

1. Non-Traditional Egg Decorating – click here to check out different ways to color your eggs and click here for other egg decorating techniques.

Magical Chicks and Magical Jellybeans – the chicks (made from plastic eggs) lay magic jellybeans, which you plant and they bloom overnight into lollipops!

Magical Jellybeans – another variation, skipping the bean-laying chicks and planting the beans outside.

You’ve Been Egged! — a dose of fun mischief.  Leave Easter treats for an unsuspecting friend/neighbor.

Egg Wars – hard boiled egg vs. hard boiled egg in a war to crack the other without suffering any damage.

Easter Tree – trim a tree (inside or outside the house) with decorated eggs.

Bunny Tracks – an easy-to-follow tutorial on how to leave bunny footprints from the Easter Bunny’s visit, showing his path as he hid the eggs and/or basket.

Jelly Bean Trail – same concept as bunny tracks but using jelly beans for the trail.

Grow Easter Grass – this takes 10 days so start now if you are going to try it this year!

Jelly Bean Prayer Jar – a great goody to include in your child’s Easter basket that also delivers a message about the true meaning of Easter.

Christ-Centered Easter Traditions

For several really fun and interesting traditions that celebrate the religious meaning of the holiday, check out 12 Christ-Centered Easter Traditions from the Happy Home Fairy.  My favorite is the Easter Garden, complete with Jesus’ tomb from which the stone blocking it is mysteriously moved out of the way on Easter Sunday.

History Behind Easter Traditions

And for those of you with enquiring minds, or who have inquisitive kids, you can find the history behind the classical Easter traditions here (e.g. how bunnies, eggs, and chocolate became associated with this religious holiday).