Does your family’s Resurrection Day celebration include the Easter bunny? as the inclusion of gift-giving rabbits and overflowing treat baskets detracted or added to the meaning of this holiday for you? Are there ways to utilize fun traditions to emphasize the importance of Easter’s truths?
Some sources credit the origin of the Easter Hare on German Lutherans who brought this tradition to America in the 1700s. Colored eggs, apparently laid by this talented rabbit, were gifted to good children. Even today, parents continue this behavioral modification technique using tangible rewards and hare-y warnings because, just like Santa, he “knows when you’ve been bad or good.”
Are we able to teach children to understand the difference between these myths and our omniscient God, whose grace-gifts do not require their best behavior? Thanks to baptism and the Holy Spirit in even the youngest of hearts, little ones can know Jesus loves them unconditionally. The Easter Bunny’s appearance with his chocolate treats is law-based fantasy. Might this confuse their understanding of Gospel truth?
Eggs represented fertility in ancient pagan festivals. In part this is due to Spring bringing longer periods of light, prompting chickens to lay eggs after their winter hiatus. Easter reminds Christians of the Sonshine in their hearts, and the eternal life that our Savior’s perfect life, crucifixion, death and resurrection now guarantees. Having children participate in planting “dead” bulbs and seeing them grow into colorful blooms, is one way to demonstrate God’s resurrection power.
The shape of an egg can remind us of Christ’s tomb, especially the rock sealed over its entrance. (One source claims this is the reason for the egg-rolling tradition.) An excellent way to include egg hiding fun as well as sharing the true Easter story is to make up (or purchase) Resurrection Eggs (see directions below). My family enjoyed hiding and using them with Lenten devotions, and making them to give as gifts.
What are ways you and your loved ones emphasize and celebrate Resurrection Day?
Resurrection Eggs
Place one of the following objects in each plastic, colored egg, along with a rolled up piece of paper with the corresponding Scripture verse.(If you can’t find an object, make or cut out a picture of it.)For older children, don’t write out the Scripture, but have them hunt for it in their Bible.
Small dice (John 19:24)
A small piece of a sponge with a few drops of vinegar (Mathew 27:34)
A toy rooster (Mark 14:72)
A small cross (Matthew 27:26)
A stem with thorns (John 19:2)
A sign “KING OF THE JEWS” (Luke 23:38)
A toy sword (John 19:33-34)
Picture of a bonfire (John 18:18)
A candy kiss (John 18:18)
A round white stone (Luke 24:2)
White strips of cloth, some cinnamon (John 19:40; 20:6)
An angel, or a feather to represent an angel (Matthew 28:1-2)
