Most parents want to ensure that their children understand the Christian significance of Easter and observe the day by taking their children to church or Sunday school. At the same time, most parents want the holiday to be a fun and colorful celebration for their children, and they frequently seek fresh and creative ideas to accomplish a memorable and kid-friendly Easter observance.
About Easter
Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Easter also marks the end of Lent, a season of fasting, penance, and prayer. The Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts have become part of the modern holiday celebration, and that aspect of the Easter observance is often celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike.
Origin of the Easter Bunny
Though the Easter Bunny is a common symbol of modern Easter celebrations, the concept is not a new one. The symbolic Easter Bunny originated with the pagan festival of Eastre who was a goddess worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons through her earthly symbol, the rabbit. The Germans brought the symbol of the Easter Bunny to America. The symbol of the Easter bunny was generally ignored by other Christians until after the Civil War.
Origin of the Easter Egg and Easter Baskets
The symbol of the Easter egg also predates the Christian celebration of Easter. The exchange of eggs in the springtime was a custom that had been around for centuries before Easter was first celebrated by Christians. The egg has historically been a symbol of rebirth in most cultures. Eggs were often wrapped in gold leaf or, more economically, colored brightly by boiling them with petals of flowers.
Legend maintains that it was the custom to fill baskets for early seedling and give them to the fertility goddess to ensure a good harvest. The goddess would carry a basket of eggs to signify new life.
Easter baskets for children were a custom started many years ago in Europe, and they were introduced to the America in the early 18th century by German settlers.
Easter Baskets for Kids
In the early years of Easter celebration, not only would children find candy and eggs in their Easter baskets, but also an Easter bonnet. Easter baskets that appeal to today’s children require advance planning and creativity.
Parents can purchase colorful ready-made baskets to fill or make their own baskets for filling. The more craft oriented parent might want to make a more personalized Easter basket by buying an unfinished basket with a handle and spray paint it in their children’s favorite pastel color. Using cut-out Easter themed die-cut images, spring or Easter themed stickers, or even personal photos of their children, parents can decorate the painted basket with the images.
Parents should fill the baskets with their children’s favorite candy, even if it’s not typical Easter candy. Many children would prefer candy bars, such as peanut butter cups or Hershey bars, to jelly beans and marshmallow chicks, even though they don’t look as festive.
Parents can add plush toys or small toys tailored to their child’s personality and interests. Both young children and older children would enjoy finding in their baskets fun, novelty tee shirts, DVD’s of favorite movies, as well as books by their favorite authors. A new Bible in the Easter basket would be a gift befitting the Christian holiday, as well.
Fun Easter Egg Hunts
Parents can add a twist to the traditional Easter egg hunt by creating a scavenger hunt. One type of scavenger hunt is the plastic egg hunt with clues inside. Parents should fill plastic Easter eggs with candy and clues and then hide the eggs. As each egg is found, it will give a clue to the next egg, ultimately leading to a special Easter basket or another grand prize.
Another type of scavenger hunt is the Easter photo scavenger hunt. Parents should divide the participants into teams, and each team should fit into one car. It’s necessary to have at least one adult per team to drive and supervise the children. Each team should be given a digital camera, an Easter egg, and a list of Easter themed items for which they must search.
Ideas could include tasks similar to the following: "Find a church message board listing Easter Sunday service times, a golden egg, a blue bunny, a basket or bowl of Easter eggs, children hunting eggs in their yard, girls or women wearing Easter hats." The teams must take pictures of all the items on their list before returning. Each picture should include the item on the list with the Easter egg you gave them next to the item. The first team to return with photos of all the items on the list wins the Easter Photo scavenger hunt.
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