Easter Mass represents both the symbolic traditions that people have come to accept as fact and serves as an emotional and spiritual awakening. However, it is impossible to have an awakening without at least a question. How can one awaken if they were never “asleep,” so to speak, or off-center about their spiritual beliefs?

The Spiritual Journey and Awakening

When experiencing Easter or Easter Mass in the face of tragedy, or in the wake of a loved one’s death, it can be a stirring time when the soul asks questions about its relevance to the process and the Spirit’s true indignation toward it. Few people readily admit when they are experiencing a time of spiritual crisis or religious questioning. Unfortunately, this is often the case, even though almost all of us go through it, regardless of our denomination or lack thereof.

A spiritual crisis can either lead a person back to Easter Mass or away from it. What is important is that the spiritual journey never concludes. Just like with every other aspect of our lives, the instant we stop learning and growing is the instant we stop truly experiencing life.

As children, we are taught many versions of a basic truth: Good things happen to bad people, and bad things happen to good people. It simply is, and we are not truly in control of such things, which is why we have faith in a higher power. Our faith can be so strong, and yet seem so fragile. Even as adults, when our crisis of spirit and our crisis of life seem overwhelmingly unfair, can Easter Mass really bring us to spiritual enlightenment?

Well, yes, it can, and no, it can’t. Spiritual enlightenment is not a single, mind-blowing flash of light that changes our perceptions forever, after which we can close the book because we now know everything there is to know. Spiritual enlightenment is a perpetual journey that guides us both closer to and farther from God. Much like how we distance ourselves from our parents during adolescence to form our own identity, we must struggle with our beliefs to truly call them our own. In most cases, we inherit our beliefs from our parents, and it is often much later in life that we truly question the basis of those beliefs. What does this have to do with Easter Mass? Everything.

Easter Mass has always been—and always will be—considered one of the most spiritual events known to humanity. Even non-Catholics can sense an energy from Easter Mass, an energy that can only be described as spiritual in nature. It is always a little more likely to experience moments of spiritual growth during the most intense spiritual traditions, though they can also happen while taking a shower or brushing your teeth. Still, the stage is more or less set for awakenings of spiritual proportions on Easter Sunday.

The choir is just a little more in tune, the lighting of the candles takes a moment longer with a little more thought, people who typically show up in jeans dress in their actual Sunday best, and, of course, the sermon is ignited with papal flair. Whether you are wandering back from a spiritual journey that sparked a thirst for greater knowledge or are conflicted with questions that reflect the very essence of who and what we are, spiritual knowledge can be gained by simply opening yourself to the possibilities right in front of you. Be kind to yourself, recognize your spirit’s desires, and allow it to be guided. Perhaps this upcoming Easter Mass will provide you with the right motivation to hear the answers you seek.

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No one ever really did, and eventually, I stopped being so curious about it anyway. Perhaps it sounds a bit dysfunctional to you, but it was just one of those things that simply was. Time went on, and eventually, my curiosity piqued again, so I did a little digging—now that I was a bit older.

As it turns out, I was a little embarrassed to discover that the palms we were given were symbols of many important things. All I had seen in them was a new weapon in the ongoing whacking tournament with my beloved sibling. Palm leaves and palm trees are actually quite significant in both Jewish and Christian traditions. Depending on the denomination, palm leaves can represent good fortune, health, wealth, intelligence, blessings—and in some cases, even symbolize Jesus himself.

In Christianity, Palm Sunday is always held on the Sunday before Easter. The Christian calendar allows Easter Sunday to fall on any date between March 15th and April 18th. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the 2007 date of April 1st, but either way, Palm Sunday lands the week before that. Some denominations hold a feast that day to commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. According to some accounts, the people of Jerusalem welcomed and honored him by laying down clothing, food, and palm leaves at his feet. He was, of course, crucified a week later.

The Deeper Meaning Behind Palm Sunday

The Sunday prior to Easter is officially known as “Passion Sunday,” although most people refer to it as Palm Sunday, as it was referenced by the Roman Catholic Church. Passion Sunday marks the beginning of a very holy week—one that was led by Jesus and culminated in his death and resurrection. His time in Jerusalem was well spent; no matter where he was or what scrutiny he faced, Jesus remained at peace in his heart and was determined to touch the lives of those around him.

We cannot explore the meaning of Palm Sunday without acknowledging its misinterpretations. Palm Sunday is not, historically, the beginning of Christianity. In fact, Christianity didn’t become an actual denomination until several hundred years later. Jesus was, in fact, a Jew, and so were his followers. For centuries after his death, the original “Christians” were a sect within Judaism. Sadly, despite these historical facts, Palm Sunday later became associated with the rise of anti-Semitism. The anti-Semites of both the past and present often fail to acknowledge that it was the Roman authorities—not the Jewish people—who ordered and carried out Jesus’ execution.

Palm Sunday is naturally celebrated differently across denominations, but the basic meaning remains universal. In reverence to Jesus’ teachings and in honor of his incredible life on Earth, we gather with palm fronds, olive branches, fig branches, or whatever fauna is available, and celebrate the life that was lived just before the death.

On behalf of the small children who will receive their token symbols of Jesus’ entry into the Holy City, let this be a gentle reminder: thorough explanations about the meaning of what goes on in church can go a long way in helping a child grow spiritually. It’s easy to assume that they are grasping everything from the service, but often the language used in religious ceremonies is too complex for young minds to follow. So, when little Junior starts whacking someone on the head with his holy symbol, a bit of education will go a lot farther than simply taking it away.

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Exploring the Roots of the Easter Bunny

Easter, like Christmas, is rooted in the Christian faith. For people of the Christian faith— the religion upon which much of Western culture is based, and the faith of millions around the world—traditional holidays like Christmas and Easter hold very special meanings. These holidays celebrate significant events tied to their faith. Christmas, as the name suggests, marks the birth of Jesus Christ and the events surrounding his arrival. Similarly, Easter celebrates the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Christ. This is the central event in Christianity that enables Christians to have faith in Christ as their personal Savior.

However, for many people in today’s society, their association with these holidays might not align with their original religious meanings. When most people think of Christmas, they don’t necessarily think of Christ. Instead, they often think of “Santa Claus,” “presents,” “Christmas trees,” and “candy canes.” While all these elements originated in Christian traditions, there isn’t time to delve into them here. Similarly, when people think about Easter, they don’t always focus on the Christian traditions surrounding the holiday. Instead, they think about the “Easter Bunny,” “Easter eggs,” “Easter egg hunts,” and “chocolate bunnies.”

These associations with the holiday stem from the influence of advertising and commercialization. Companies and advertisers recognized these holidays as times when people would gather and exchange gifts. They focused on these elements, ultimately shifting the public’s perception to view these holidays more as secular, pop-culture events than religious celebrations. To understand how these holidays evolved into what they are today, it’s helpful to explore the symbols most closely associated with them—such as the “Easter Bunny.”

Who is He?

The Easter Bunny has its origins in early pagan traditions—these were secular or worldly beliefs, with no specific connection to one deity, as Christianity does. The modern Easter traditions of the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs have no direct ties to the Christian celebration of Easter. Rather, they are derived from pagan symbols. The timing of the Christian Easter (which commemorates the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) coincides with the vernal equinox, a pagan celebration marking the arrival of spring. This pagan festival symbolized the arrival of light, the renewal of life, and the awakening of nature.

The very name “Easter” is believed to come from pagan traditions as well. It’s derived from the Saxon goddess Eastre (also known as Oestre or Ostara), who was the goddess of dawn and spring. Eastre was also a fertility goddess, bringing an end to winter and lengthening the days with her passion for “new life.” As spring unfolded, the flowering plants and the birth of animals were seen as manifestations of Eastre’s power.

It is from this fertility goddess that the association with rabbits emerged. The rabbit was sacred to Eastre because of its rapid reproduction, symbolizing fertility. Easter eggs and bunnies were featured prominently in the pagan feasts of Ostara, which were held during the festivals of the goddess Ishtar. The egg, an obvious symbol of fertility and new life, was used in these celebrations, and the brightly colored eggs, chicks, and bunnies expressed gratitude for the abundance Eastre had provided.

Now, let’s explore how the character we know as the Easter Bunny came to be. There is an interesting pagan legend associated with the Easter Bunny and the tradition of chocolate eggs. The story tells of how Eastre, feeling guilty for arriving late one spring, decided to save a bird whose wings had frozen in the snow. In some versions of the story, Eastre made the bird her pet (and in some, even her lover). Compassionate for the bird’s inability to fly, Eastre transformed it into a snow hare named Lepus, giving it the ability to run fast to avoid hunters. She also gave it a unique gift: the ability to lay eggs. These eggs were not just any eggs—they were vibrant and came in all the colors of the rainbow. However, Lepus could only lay these colorful eggs on one day each year—the day of Eastre’s festival. From this story, we get the first accounts of the Easter Bunny and the colorful eggs that have come to symbolize the holiday.

Traditions Around the World

In the modern Western tradition, the Easter Bunny is often depicted as a large, friendly, almost lifelike character—similar to Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. This lovable bunny is said to deliver chocolate eggs to children, hiding them in homes or yards for children to find, often providing them with baskets for the hunt. When you read about it, it may sound a little silly, doesn’t it? After all, Santa Claus is based on a human figure. But despite the oddity, the Easter Bunny has become an integral part of Easter traditions. It’s important to note, however, that the customs surrounding this holiday differ around the world.

The first documented mention of the Easter Bunny as a symbol of Easter occurred in late 1500s Germany. The Germans were also the first to create edible Easter Bunnies in the 1800s. The tradition of the Easter Bunny came to America in the 1700s through the Pennsylvania Dutch. Every spring, their children eagerly awaited the arrival of “Oschter Haws” (the Easter Bunny) and the accompanying gifts. This excitement rivaled that of the winter visit of “Sinterklaas” (the name for Saint Nicholas, which eventually morphed into “Santa Claus”).

The rabbit or bunny is revered in many cultures around the world. In many Asian cultures, the rabbit is seen as a sacred messenger to the divine. In Buddhism and ancient Egypt, the rabbit holds special significance. In Western Europe, the rabbit symbolizes fertility and new life. These Eastern and Western beliefs about the rabbit likely spread across cultures as communication between these regions increased.

Over time, these different traditions and legends about rabbits have shaped the Easter Bunny into the symbol we know today—representing a holiday centered on resurrection and renewal. In truth, the message remains largely the same: the rabbit is still symbolic of a season when all things are possible, and life can begin anew.

In North America, the modern Easter Bunny tradition involves children waking up on Easter Sunday to find a basket full of candy or hidden eggs—either decorated or chocolate. This custom is similar in a few other countries. For example, in Austria, the “Easter Bunny” (known as “Osterhase”) hides decorated eggs the night before Easter Sunday for children to find. In New Zealand, stores sell hot cross buns (symbolizing Christ’s cross) and chocolate eggs, which the Easter Bunny hides for children to find on Easter Sunday morning. In nearby Australia, where rabbits are considered pests, there has been an effort to replace the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby, a native marsupial. However, the Easter Bunny remains the more popular symbol.

Not every country celebrates the Easter Bunny, and some countries have their own unique Easter traditions. In Sweden’s western provinces, for example, there are competitions to create the largest bonfire, and fireworks are set off. In Norway, a modern tradition called “Easter-crime” involves airing detective novels and crime stories. However, most countries that celebrate Easter do have some form of “Easter eggs.”

I hope you’ve enjoyed this look into the history and traditions of the Easter Bunny. Perhaps it has sparked your curiosity, or maybe it will inspire you to incorporate some of these traditions into your own life. Who knows? Maybe 200 years from now, someone just like me will be writing about the evolving traditions of the Easter Bunny.

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Easter is a universal holiday with personal meanings for everyone, and the celebrations we partake in complement those meanings in various ways. Whether it’s Easter mass, Easter vacation, or the Easter egg hunt, the holiday is a time for celebration—or, for some, a time to simply survive another family dinner without a major brawl.

Naturally, children dressed in their new Easter attire eagerly anticipate a two-day sugar rush, with the highlight of the holiday being the Easter egg hunt. The Easter Bunny I knew came in the middle of the night, hiding our hand-crafted Easter eggs, bringing candy, and placing it throughout the house. We would also find a couple of gifts left for us. His presence was evident by the neatly wrapped packages waiting for us in my grandmother’s home, which of course, we couldn’t wait to open.

My grandmother had nine grandchildren, and as we ransacked her house in search of goodies and that one special Easter egg we had decorated ourselves, we were blissfully unaware of the deeper significance of the holiday.

The True Meaning Behind Easter Celebrations

From a Christian perspective, Easter is the holiest of holidays, celebrating the resurrection of Christ. For many others, it marks the arrival of spring—a time for new beginnings and fertility. We were joyously celebrating, unaware of the true meaning behind it all.

As with most holidays, Easter comes with both universal and family-specific traditions. Many people blend these two types of traditions to make the holiday special. The Easter egg, a simple and logical symbol of all things new, has been hidden for children for centuries.

The word “Easter” likely originates from the name of a spirit of fertility and rebirth, Eostre, who was either a god or goddess of Pagan origin. People celebrated her every year as winter passed, marking the power of light over darkness. Daylight stretched longer than night, new life began to emerge, and babies were born to replace loved ones lost during the harsh winter. Eostre herself descended into the underworld for three days, with differing theories as to why—some say it was an obligation, others believe she went to ensure no innocents were trapped, and some speculate she was undergoing a rebirth of her own.

A Growing Divide in Easter Celebrations

Today, Christians and others celebrate Easter on the same day, though the meaning behind it varies. Christians and Catholics may tune in to the papal address at the Vatican, while those with Pagan leanings celebrate the arrival of spring. This shared celebration should represent unity among diverse traditions. However, as research and information become more accessible, this unity has often splintered into intolerance rather than a warm embrace.

As historians uncover more about the origins of our beliefs, a growing number of devout Christians are rejecting the cultural and traditional aspects of Easter—such as the Easter egg, the Easter bunny, and other celebrations rooted in Easter’s historical past. Some believe these elements, with Pagan origins, were created by Satan himself.

Easter: A Time for Unity and Joy

Easter has always been—and hopefully will always be—a time of joyful celebration, regardless of how one chooses to observe it. The gleaming smiles on children’s faces, the meals shared with family members we only see on holidays, and the special ambiance that fills the air when the holiday arrives—all contribute to a sense of unity. Whether a family is welcoming the relief of spring or honoring Easter Mass, Easter should be a time of togetherness.

Nearly every country in the world celebrates Easter in their own unique way, with their own traditions. Some of these traditions we share, while others are entirely unique. From egg-cracking games to the customary chocolate bunny, to piñatas filled with firecrackers, Easter brings forth a variety of celebrations, making it one of the largest festivals of the year.

Easter, much like Christmas, has the potential to bring out the best in people. Whether in the spirit of Christ or in celebration of the new light of spring, Easter can touch us all on a deep and spiritual level, offering us a chance to shed our “darkness” and embrace our “light.”

The light of Christ or the light of birth—each individual around the world has the opportunity to share in this rare and unique celebration that unites us all, regardless of our religious beliefs.

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Before there was an Easter, or even Christianity, or even Christ, there was an “Easter egg.” The Passover Seder revolved around a hard boiled egg, which was then saturated in sea water to flavor it with salt as a customary symbol of fertility and servitude to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Some people attribute the Easter traditions we celebrate to Paganism and their rites of passage and rebirth in the spring. Others remark that it was Mary Magdalene who presented the first Easter egg after Christ’s resurrection, painting it red to symbolize the blood of Christ. Either way, the egg represents life, new beginnings, and the ability to break free from a living death to become a spirit of wholeness and honor. The egg itself has always held a place of honor among Jews, and for as much as we take it for granted in our modern everyday lives, it remains a symbol of life. All life starts with an egg.

The Meaning of the Easter Egg for Children

This may all be a little heavy for your three-year-old, who is running around in search of the elusive twelfth egg. But the tradition itself carries meaning for children, often without needing explanation. Children are naturally inclined to make annual announcements, such as, “Next Easter I am going to…” or “By next Christmas…” as methods of estimating time. As one holiday or special event comes to a close, a new one opens up to them. They make these assumptions quickly and conveniently, and often even have the follow-through to remember by the next holiday. This is because holidays and birthdays are natural time markers for children.

Of course, they are uniquely unaware of their wisdom as they run around hunting down the brightly colored eggs they so delicately (or not so delicately) painted with anticipation. They are simply having fun, whether gathering at their own pace at Grandma’s house or participating in a contest. Easter eggs bring children great joy and encourage their imagination.

A creative inventor came up with an Easter egg that emits sounds, allowing visually impaired children around the world to participate in this timeless tradition. In fact, there are Easter egg creations for the visually impaired, the physically disabled, and those with mobility challenges. Some designs are as simple as a Velcro or sticky backing, allowing the Easter bunny to hang the eggs at a higher level.

Easter eggs have naturally developed into more tasty forms, including chocolate, candy-filled plastic versions, and even a deep-fried chocolate variety for those who simply haven’t consumed enough saturated fat at Easter dinner. Easter egg games encourage both tradition and contemporary mediums. Easter baskets, filled to the brim with colorful eggs, tasty sweets, and the occasional stuffed creature, are a universal symbol of childhood Easter Sunday bliss.

So, if you dip a hardboiled egg in vinegar and food coloring in the middle of December, is it still an Easter egg? The representation of life, new beginnings, and rebirth is not confined to any specific day of the year. These emotions, inspirations, and natural occurrences in our daily lives are a gift, regardless of the time of year the calendar dictates. Thus, an Easter egg is an Easter egg all year long. And if you break out the Easter egg coloring kit two weeks before Christmas, you may get a unique opportunity to explain to your children what an Easter egg really means. There will come a day when they are too old to run around the backyard in their special little brand-new Easter outfits, tracking the Easter bunny. But they will never be too old for a new beginning, rebirth, or the affirmation of the glory of life.

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Despite the appearance of randomness when flipping through several years’ worth of calendars, there is a method to the madness that determines Easter’s date. It goes far beyond simply marking it on a calendar at random. Once upon a time, there was significant debate about the timing of the celebration of Easter. The Western church leaders wanted Easter to fall on or near the spring equinox, a time when many Pagan rituals and holidays were observed. On the other hand, the Eastern church leaders, who had Jewish roots, preferred Easter to fall around the time of Passover to maintain some continuity.

This debate took place during an era when communication was remarkably slow, and the great discussion began about where to place the holiest holiday on the calendar. Letters were sent, meetings were held, and opinions were aired, but no reasonable agreement could be reached on when to celebrate Easter.

Yet, there was still a need to find a uniform date to celebrate Easter across the regions. The Council of Nicaea attempted to solve this debate by hosting the Bishops’ council repeatedly, only to encounter the same great debates each time.

The Solution Emerges

In 325 A.D., the Bishops engaged in a great debate, arguing and pleading their cases. Some advocated for a mid-winter celebration, while others wanted it nearly into summer. Eastern European and Western Asian Bishops all agreed that Easter and Passover should share space on the calendar, not just for continuity, but because their best mathematical estimates placed Jesus’ death close to Passover.

The best compromise these Bishops could reach, in conjunction with each other’s requests and demands, was that Easter would be celebrated on a Sunday. However, it would take another two hundred years of debate, discussion, pleas, and arguments before the Dionysius Exiguus method was agreed upon. This method stated that Easter would be scheduled on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.

Under the guidance of Venerable Bede, Easter celebrations finally had a set schedule. However, over the next several years, minor (and not-so-minor) adjustments were required, making it seem to the Bishops that Easter was simply being squeezed into the calendar. They sought advice from the best astronomers, and what initially seemed like an insignificant issue turned out to be distorting the holiday’s placement on the calendar.

The problem? The year was a little too long. It overshot the astronomers’ best calculations by somewhere between eleven and twelve minutes. Who would have thought this would be such a big deal? But it was. Over a 400-year period, those extra minutes added up to just over three days.

As an adult, I wouldn’t mind my years being slowly extended over my lifetime. However, I suppose it’s not fair to inconvenience all of humanity just so I can postpone my thirtieth birthday. To solve this problem, the Julian calendar was adjusted by removing about ten days in October, leaping from the fourth day of the month to the fifteenth in one night.

Pope Gregory XIII approved several referendums and eventually a complete reconstruction of the calendar in order to achieve a more accurate timekeeping standard. The calendar would continue to receive adjustments over time, but eventually, it was agreed that Easter would always fall on a Sunday between March and April, on any one of thirty-five specified days.

However, this year, when the kids start eagerly asking about Easter, and you now have all this knowledge about how the Easter Sunday date came to be, they may also be interested to know that in 2007, Easter fell on April 1st.

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For Catholics, Easter at the Vatican represents the epitome of Catholic leadership, and millions of Catholics worldwide strain to hear every word that comes from the mouth of the Pope. As Pope John Paul II’s health waned, his addresses were considerably shortened. In his final year, he could only muster a hand-waved blessing to his flock, just days before passing away.

A great number of Catholics and Christians firmly believe that Easter is, in fact, the holiest day of the year, commemorating the day Jesus rose to the right hand of God. Despite its dwindling significance in less religious circles, the devout still hold it higher than Christmas or any other day of the year. There was immense grief when Pope John Paul II died so close to this sacred day. Some even reported feeling a sense of abandonment.

The Continuing Tradition of Easter at the Vatican

Regardless, tradition continued with a new Pope, and once again, the state of the world was addressed in massive prayer at the Vatican, following a long Saturday night vigil led by the Pope well past midnight. His voice, once again, united the faith as he addressed political issues of the nation and vehemently argued for peace among men. The mass, which held a live audience of over 100,000 faithful packed into St. Peter’s Square, denounced violence, prayed for peace and resolution, and offered the archdiocese’s condolences for victims of senseless violence.

Naturally, an event like this is bound to draw critics. Some focused on the Mass as the Catholic Church’s podium for social politics. Some believe that the Catholic Mass should focus solely on Catholic issues rather than address the nation as a political power. This feeling is not only held in nations where Catholicism is a large minority but also reaches into the United States and among “Progressive Catholics” who support the separation of church and state. Some feel it is inappropriate for any religious figure to comment on the political state of the world during a holy address.

Regardless of public opinion for or against the Pope’s Easter address, it is a long-held tradition that is unlikely to die in the near future. In fact, it is gaining popularity among Catholics today. With the naming of a new Pope after Pope John Paul II’s passing, many have returned to the Easter service to hear the thoughts of the new Pope and to support him just as they did Pope John Paul II. Some feel that Pope Benedict XVI has big shoes to fill, and concerns have been expressed about his more controversial statements. The traditional papal address, known as the message “to the city and to the world,” is a tradition that has offered people hope, celebration, honor, and grounding since the very first papal address and will likely continue for centuries to come.

Religious tradition, regardless of denomination, is rooted in strong values and ritualized customs. For thousands of years, religious tradition has carried people to new heights of honor or destruction, depending on how leadership chooses to wield the power entrusted to them. Easter at the Vatican is a tradition that creates, for the devout, a miraculous day of celebration and a sense of community under strong leadership.

Throughout some of the most deeply devout traditions held throughout the world, Catholics look to the Vatican to honor their holy work and validate their sacred mission. Papal influence can be felt from the largest, most magnificent churches to the smallest, most humble ones. There is no denying the Pope’s rightful place in the hearts of the Catholic people, and their honor in being one of the hundred thousand to hear his yearly address. Year after year, Easter at the Vatican represents a tradition that the people would truly suffer without.

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Of course, the types of candy available during Easter are glorious. Beautifully pastel-hued eggs, bunnies, chicks, and jelly beans adorn the aisles of supermarkets, waiting to be snatched up and stuffed into a mound of green plastic “grass” nestled within a basket. And the flavors and ingredients are enough to give you a cavity just thinking about them: chocolate, marshmallow, peanut butter, caramel, nougat, licorice, coconut, even fake egg yolk! Delicious! It’s no wonder kids love this holiday.

Fun Easter Activities to Enjoy

Besides the candy, which is admittedly hard to compete with, there are many other fun aspects to Easter that can make it memorable for kids and might even distract them from the sweet stuff for a couple of minutes!

How about a scavenger hunt? Give your kids a test run of the big Easter Day hunt by setting one up in your yard or inside your house if it’s too cold outside. Instead of stuffing the plastic eggs with candy, be a bit more creative and fill them with clues, tiny toys, or notes that can guide the kids to bigger and better things, like an Easter-themed toy or coloring book. Older kids who are over the whole Easter thing can get involved by helping to set this up for their younger siblings.

Commemorate the holiday with the essential picture with the Easter Bunny. You can always find one of these guys at the mall, but sometimes small cities, towns, and even neighborhoods hire someone for the job. Really small children might be terrified of a giant, goofy rabbit, but the sweet-toothed kids who can’t wait for his visit will love sitting on his lap for snapshots.

Obviously, if your kids are having their picture taken with the Bunny, they’ll need Easter clothes. Granted, this doesn’t make Easter more fun for them per se, but parents love to see their children all dressed up like life-sized dolls. Girls are lucky as far as Easter attire goes. Beautiful, fancy dresses that make them look like tiny princesses are traditional, as is the optional matching bonnet to make things extra fancy. Boys, on the other hand, get the short end of the stick with pastel, often plaid, short-sleeved shirts with a sweater vest, and usually khaki pants or, heaven forbid, shorts. Sometimes they’re even forced to wear a bow tie! Now, every mother thinks her son is handsome, but are there no clothing designers out there with a little more imagination who can create something other than the typical Easter “uniform” these lads are forced to wear?

Make sure the kids are NOT wearing their Easter clothes when partaking in one of the best and most traditional Easter activities – dyeing eggs. This malodorous project involves a dozen or two hard-boiled eggs and a lot of messy dye/vinegar solution. These days, you can buy fancy decorating kits at the store, but good old-fashioned food dye can do the trick in a jiffy. A cool effect to show the kids is to color on the egg before dyeing it. Also, stickers, glitter, and anything else one would care to adhere to the egg can make them look like miniature works of art. Just make sure you don’t put anything toxic on the eggs if they’re to be eaten.

While you’re dyeing the eggs, why not sing some Easter songs? You thought holiday songs were just for Christmas, but you’re wrong. Here are some favorites: “Here Comes Peter Cottontail,” “In Your Easter Bonnet,” “Hot Cross Buns,” “Little Bunny Foo Foo,” and many more. It doesn’t have to be a popular Easter song—you can make one up yourself! Give your children the tune to a popular song, like “I’m A Little Teapot,” and have each of them write new Easter-themed lyrics. Later, have the children perform their original tunes for friends and family, and make sure they wear their new Easter outfits for maximum adorability!

Another Easter adaptation of a Christmas tradition is baking Easter cookies just as you would Christmas cookies. Instead of red, green, and gold sprinkles, simply decorate egg-shaped sugar cookies with pastel sprinkles and icing. Get creative and shape the dough into a bunny head, chick, or Easter basket before baking, then decorate accordingly. This project is great in case you were worried that your kids weren’t getting enough sugar from all the candy and needed to supplement their intake with delicious, freshly-baked cookies.

Need more Easter fun? Who can forget that old stand-by: crafts and projects. Kids love doing crafts and projects, especially messy ones, almost as much as they love candy. There are countless crafts and projects you can do around an Easter theme. Some of the more popular ones include construction paper bunny ears for your kids to wear, planting and growing Easter (spring) flowers like hyacinths or tulips, or even herbs, buying a plain basket and having kids decorate it themselves for their Easter basket, and making pom-pom Easter chicks with googly eyes and felt beaks. Most kids are happy if you just give them paper, glue, and glitter, and they can surprise and amaze you with their resourcefulness and creativity.

Easter is a wonderful time of year. The days are getting longer, the snow is finally melting, and the Earth is coming alive again after its long winter slumber. Easter symbolizes rebirth and the beginning of something new. Easter doesn’t have to be just one sugar-filled morning in the spring. Celebrate it with gusto in the weeks leading up to it and show your kids how to get the most out of this glorious holiday!

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A family with young kids has survived the sugar rush, the wall climbing during Easter Mass, and a few outright brawls over some chocolate bunny that wasn’t actually intended to be eaten all at once. And if you’re like most families, everyone tiptoes around that awkward moment that has the potential to blow up into a huge family argument. But since it’s Easter, everyone will wait for three days before someone decides they’re still angry about it.

Rediscovering the Meaning of Easter Dinner

Easter Dinner is another one of those traditions that has lost its meaning for many people. Factor in the Easter Bunny, family members we see only once or twice a year, and a bit of undue stress, and the true essence of Easter Dinner can get lost in the mix.

At its core, Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In some European countries, the daily ringing of church bells stops on Thursday in remembrance of Jesus Christ’s death. The tradition resumes in the early hours of Easter Sunday to commemorate the resurrection.

Devout Christians in America, as well as Christians worldwide, celebrate Easter in a spiritual manner. Non-celebratory Christians and borderline atheists who hold on to the “just in case” belief often view Easter Dinner as just another family gathering. How can people who are marginally religious (religious enough to celebrate the holiday but tend to skip the Mass part) find meaning in their Easter Dinner experience?

From a more practical standpoint, Easter is really about forgiveness, life, and, in a sense, everlasting life. For those who carry on Easter traditions for the family camaraderie and the Easter Bunny for the kids, Easter can still be a time of personal reflection and growth. Just as the Jewish people celebrate a day of forgiveness, Easter represents a time of reflection in a similarly abstract yet practical manner.

There are people in everyone’s life whom we’ve hurt or wronged, whether intentionally or accidentally. As humans, we err. Thus, Easter Dinner can easily become a meal of atonement and forgiveness. This year, perhaps instead of lecturing your little sister (we are grown-ups now, right?) on some basic principle you feel she’s missing in her life, why not offer an apology for the last lecture you dished out and work on accepting her for who she is? As you sit around the Easter Dinner table with the kids happily chatting away at their own little feast, why not shout out to junior that you forgive him for spilling apple juice all over the laptop last week, and encourage him to forgive someone else as well?

Easter does not need to be another empty, meaningless holiday for anyone—regardless of beliefs or level of belief. Easter Dinner traditions can be started at any moment with just a good idea and a bold thought. Easter candy and an Easter egg hunt are great fun for the kids, but what can they take away from dinner this year in terms of growing, loving, and forgiving? What traditions can you pass on to them that will mean something as they grow out of the Easter Bunny phase and stop searching frantically for eggs?

People without strong family ties, or those whose families have broken beyond repair, often don’t know how to re-ignite the Easter Dinner traditions from their own childhood due to the pain of family strife. Starting new Easter Dinner traditions can be quite healing for those who need a bit of holiday cheer. Even seemingly silly traditions can lead to a lifetime of happy memories for you and your family. Invite your kids to make special Easter plates with a plate-making kit or spruce up the house with Easter or spring decorations if they make you more comfortable.

Being alone at Easter can be remarkably difficult. For those who find themselves alone, or for couples and families that want to start a new tradition, adopting a grandparent can bring the spirit of Easter to life. Nursing homes typically have lists of people who rarely or never receive visitors. Making an Easter dinner and brightening the life of an elderly individual completely exemplifies the Easter spirit and can create a remarkably wonderful Easter tradition.

Easter Dinner traditions are as personal or universal as we make them. The more we understand ourselves and our beliefs, the more we understand our holidays and how we celebrate them. Regardless of personal situation, belief system, or family dynamics, a Happy Easter awaits everyone.

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