Easter Traditions

I wanted to add to my Easter Holliday traditions. I have found Easter to be a truly sacred and powerful celebration in my life and I wanted this very special holliday to be prominent in my family as we remember the Atonement and Resurrection. I have also learned the importance of having traditions and rituals, for the right reasons, because they can aid in your progression towards reaching your family goals {Sam and I have been having a lot of fun deciding what traditions and rituals we want to keep in our family and what new ones we want to start}.

Elder L. Tom Perry said: “The Lord has not been so explicit in providing us religious customs along the order of feasts and festivals to remind us of the blessings we receive from Him today. However, the practice of having traditions to keep us close to the great heritage which is ours to enjoy should be something every family should try to keep alive” (“Family Traditions,” Ensign, May 1990, 20).

The egg has become an almost universal symbol of Easter to represent the Savior’s breaking the bands of death through His Resurrection. Thus coloring and hiding eggs for an Easter egg hunt and giving Easter baskets are common traditions.

Traditions:
* Easter Basket- Hidden in the morning {we bought ours last year and I am so excited to use it}

* Special Easter scrapbook that chronicles every year of happy family memories-- After Easter dinner, take a photograph of all the family members and other dear friends who shared dinner with us {Then include the testimonies}
* Include written testimony; a personal treat/ inside joke {Got Sammy Nutter Butters this year}
* Watch atonement movie on Saturday
* Express JOY about the resurrection!!

* Sharing Easter Music--Music can have a wonderful influence on us at Easter. {Gather at the piano to sing hymns and Primary songs about Easter.} 

* Share an Easter {Family} Meal Together {Go out to semi-fancy restaurant to show how extraordinary and meaningful Easter is}

* Attend the temple

Ideas with future kids:
* Each evening during the week before Easter have a short lesson on the things that happened during the last week of the Savior’s life. Would be a good time to talk about the egg as a symbol of new life and the Resurrection.{Include testimony bearing in FHE routine}

* When kids are young, put in a message with the Easter egg hunt. {Place message inside a plastic egg a small item that symbolizes something related to Christ’s death and Resurrection and a scripture to read. Then number the eggs in sequence of the Easter story. As the children open the eggs in order, they learn of Christ’s Atonement and Resurrection.}

* Seeking out Easter-related concerts to help them remember the Savior’s sacrifice.
* Children are grown: invite other adult friends to a special dinner and share memories and reflect on what Easter means. 

Note: I got some of these ideas from a great article that was recently released by the church.

http://motherhoodmatters.blogs.deseretnews.com/2013/03/06/a-deliberate-mothers-guide-to-a-christ-centered-easter/