In our home, Easter isn’t about the Easter Bunny.
Imagination and wonder have their place—in the pages of books, in tales of frogs who go fishing and mice who drink tea. In little boys exploring the woods on grand adventures. In little girls twirling in their mama’s best dresses.
But Easter already holds its own meaning.
Its own wonder.
Its own miracles.
It’s about honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ and celebrating His victory over death.
We want our children to experience the depth of these holy days in a way that always points directly to Christ.
That doesn’t mean Easter is any less special—or any less fun! Over the past few years, we’ve found a few traditions that we truly love.
Holy Week Scripture Reading Plan
The week leading up to Easter, starting with Palm Sunday, we follow a Holy Week scripture reading plan. It’s a meaningful way for our family to reflect on the events leading up to the resurrection of Jesus. Reading aloud together, talking about what happened, and praying as a family.
Good Friday
On Good Friday, we turn off all the lights and use candlelight until Sunday morning, when we celebrate our risen Savior. It’s a symbolic way for us to remember the darkness of the days He was in the grave. Then, on Sunday morning, when He arose, the Light of the World, we turn the lights back on. He is Risen! (Say it with me: He is Risen indeed!)
Note: On years when we have newborns, we skip this tradition, but we look forward to returning to it when life is a little easier to manage.
Good Friday Passover Inspired Dinner
Also on Good Friday, we prepare a simple “Passover” dinner—not meant to replicate the Jewish feast, but to help us reflect on the Last Supper and Jesus as the Lamb of God. We serve lamb, potatoes, “unleavened” bread (Pita bread, Naan bread), and grape juice. It’s not a feast—just a humble meal by candlelight. We choose a few hymns to sing, read scripture together, and finish the evening with a chocolate lamb as a sweet reminder of the Lamb of God.
John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”
Easter Morning – Resurrection Sunday
On Resurrection Sunday, the boys wake up to Easter baskets at the foot of their beds. In each basket, we place:
- A new church outfit: By now, they’ve outgrown their winter clothes, the weather is warming, and it’s time for a new outfit. This becomes their church outfit for Sundays throughout the spring and summer. To add meaning, we pin a Bible verse to the shirt:
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, all things have become new.” - A new Bible book: This year, we chose: A Wonderful Surprise by Sally Michael.
Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” - Cross-shaped bookmarks: We remember the cross with bookmarks to hold our place in God’s Word. *
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” - A fruit cup: Symbolizing the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”
Each item serves as a simple but powerful reminder of the gospel: Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. In Him, we are a new creation, filled with His Spirit.
*At night when Dad reads the Bible, it’s our littlest one’s special job to hold the bookmark and put it back after we finish. It keeps his little hands busy and gives him a role in our time together .
Easter Sunday Breakfast
Each Easter morning, I decorate the table with my best table cloth and a vase of fresh flowers. For breakfast, we enjoy granola, our fruit cups, and, because it’s Easter, cinnamon rolls. We read the resurrection account, sing hymns, and dress in our new church clothes before heading to the Easter service.
*In South Africa, we traditionally eat hot cross buns over Easter. They’re not easy to find here, so maybe I should try making them myself one day! Until then, cinnamon rolls will do. I’ve also spotted chocolate chip brioche rolls, so perhaps we’ll give those a try this year!
Easter Sunday Lunch
For lunch, we have fish and chips, a reminder of when the Risen Jesus shared a meal of fish with His disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Right now, with little ones in tow, we don’t go out for Easter lunch. Instead, we bake frozen fish and fries in the oven after church. To make it feel a little more special (and a little less frozen), I serve it in baskets, lined with paper (you could use newspaper, we don’t), and add garlic bread, lemon slices, and tartar sauce on the side.
Easter Sunday Dinner
For dinner, we have a traditional Easter meal: ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, broccoli-cauliflower casserole, and rolls. For dessert, we’re having Malva pudding — a family favorite that we only make twice a year, at Christmas and Easter.
And with that, we wrap up a very special weekend.
If you’re looking for meaningful, Christ-centered ways to celebrate Easter with your family, consider starting small:
- Light a candle and read a Scripture passage together.
- Add a Bible verse to your Easter baskets.
- Reflect on the resurrection over a shared meal.
No matter how you celebrate, may your home be filled with the wonder of the empty tomb this Easter.
He is Risen. He is Risen indeed!
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