When I was growing up, I always did the same thing for Easter. My immediate family went to the sunrise service at church, “opened” our Easter baskets, had an egg hunt, and dyed eggs. We also went to my aunt and uncle’s house to have a big meal with my extended family and do another egg hunt.
But as my sisters and I transitioned to adulthood, some of our Easter traditions began to fade away. When our family moved to a new state in late 2020, Easter started to feel even more tradition-less. But I’m beginning to learn that many Christians don’t really have Easter traditions.
Why does this holiday not really have any set traditions associated with it? Sure, Easter normally means having an egg hunt and going to church. But we fill the entire month of December with Christmas traditions…meanwhile, we barely celebrate Easter on Easter Sunday itself. Why is that?
Perhaps because the world doesn’t want to celebrate what Easter is really about—the death and resurrection of Jesus. After all, there are strings attached to Jesus’ death and resurrection if they really happened. There has to be a reason He died and came back to life. As believers, we know that reason is our sin and brokenness. If He hadn’t died and risen again, there would be no solution for sin and death.
While there’s nothing wrong with having a tradition-less Easter holiday, I think the fact that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave to conquer death is worth celebrating! And we celebrate well with traditions in place, don’t we? (I believe we also find great comfort in traditions.) So, if you’re interested in starting a new tradition this Easter, I hope you consider these five ideas:
1. Give a gift.
Maybe you no longer get an Easter basket or a bag of candy on Easter, but that doesn’t mean all Easter gift-giving should cease. Think about buying or making small gifts for your family members and/or friends. They might be pleasantly surprised by your generosity since Easter isn’t a typical day for gift-giving.
2. Make something.
Whether it’s a craft, artwork, or baked goods, figure out something you can make that will be enjoyed by others. Anything pastel-colored or floral is a good idea. Also, it’s the perfect time to get creative in the kitchen with spring flavors.
3. Find a movie or song.
I realize that there are not many Easter-centered movies or songs. However, I promise they do exist. I can prove that because here are several of them: Risen, The Case for Heaven, “Because He Lives” by Matt Maher, “Forever” by Kari Jobe, and “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham.
4. Go somewhere.
If you have nowhere that you typically go on Easter, choose a unique destination. Of course, I recommend going to church on Easter, but perhaps there is a new location you could go afterward. If there is a specific park, trail, field, garden, etc. that would be peaceful and relaxing, add it to your Easter itinerary.
5. Be thankful.
Okay, this idea isn’t really my idea; it’s God’s command. God’s will for us is to give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18), so give thanks to God for the death and resurrection of Jesus. Gratitude can be expressed in many ways—from simply saying “thank you” to worshipping with song and dance.
Whether you try to implement one of these Easter traditions or you already have plans in mind, I hope you have a wonderful celebration! Happy Easter!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 NASB 1995)
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