Apr. 4, 2007 - Easter Traditions
Traditions... My parents divorced when I was young, and my mom remarried twice after that, so our family seemed to change quite a bit, which meant there were no lasting traditions. In a way, that has been good for me; I easily adapt to change and I don't long for the way it used to be. However, I LOVE making traditions now for my little family. Who knows how long some of our traditions will last; when the girls will grow out of some of them. But for now it is fun and sweet and our own little year-to-year activities seem to cement great memories for our family.
I know there are strong feelings about including "worldly" activities on our holy holiday. We add in a couple "normal" Easter things but constantly concentrate on the REAL reason for Easter. This was a conscious decision on my husband's part. He feels strongly that we run the risk of alienating non-believers, is very cautious about appearing judgemental, and of course feels that there is freedom in Christ. Freedom that allows for silly stuff like eggs. Some people think we're heathens for having eggs at Easter, and then, to some people, I am the world's most crazy conservative freak because we don't do Santa or the Easter bunny or let the kids watch PG movies! Here are some of the things we do.
Tradition 1: Dress the girls and take pictures in their coordinating clothes on the night before Easter because Daddy would leave for church so early on Easter Sunday while they were still in bed that he'd never get to see them while they still looked clean and put together. Terrible tradition which is finally changing because we now have an "Easter Fam Jam" on Saturday night that my husband helps pull off. It is full of energy and excitement. Because the church is usually packed, attending on Saturday night allows space on Sunday morning for visitors.
Tradition 2: Sometime Sunday evening, I realize that we never colored eggs and that I'll be wanting egg salad sandwiches, so at the last possible minute, we boil and color eggs.
Tradition 3: Read lots and lots of Easter books. A couple of our favorites are The Easter Story, and The Parable of the Lily.
Tradition 4: Make "He Is Not Here Treats"... Dip a marshmallow (represents Jesus's body) in butter (represents oil) and cinnamon sugar (spices from the women). Roll up in crescent rolls (linen cloths) and bake in oven (tomb) at 350 for 10 minutes. I thought I was doing a fabulous job one year of explaining the symbolism. Expecting my girls to burst into harmony on "Up from the Grave He Arose" when they bit into them, instead my youngest said, "Hey! Jesus melted!" 
Tradition 5: Resurrection Eggs... If you've never seen these, you should check them out! We've made our own, too. If you'd like the list and coordinating scriptures, I can pass them on. The girls love to open them and retell the events leading up to the resurrection.
Tradition 6: Egg Hunt... Our church started having an outreach egghunt with candy and prizes for the community, which then leads into the FamJam.
Tradition 7: Tomb Donut Breakfast... Cut a cake donut in half, set on its edges. Place a donut hole in front as the stone that was rolled away. Somehow my kids get the least healthiest breakfast on the most important day of our faith. 
How about you? Meaningful traditions? Recipes that you use every year? Great ideas for me to steal?
Comments
Apr. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by nsremom
Your family has zillions of traditions! Alas, that's where we differ. I tend to go the ,"Why do we do this?" route and end up doing nothing.
Although we did buy resurrection eggs this year and I have bought devotionals or mini-reader bibles for all the kids. I decided to not go the candy route this year, as I'm on a healthy eating kick. NOT that I'm opposed to candy. I love candy. (candy is my friend)
My friend Gayle did a passover celebration this week and she encouraged me that there was indeed an EGG involved in the passover tradition that she read about. (the whole egg thing bothered me for years.)
I like that your church has an outreach easter egg hunt. I like it because many people view Christians as freaks who don't do anything normal. As long as you incorporate Jesus (which you do) in your outreach to the unsaved, you're allowing them to take a step closer to our faith.
We didn't do a Christmas tree for years, as it was a conviction of my husband. I simply didn't care one way or the other. I had a huge nativity that we set up. But the last couple years we thought that maybe we were keeping a wedge between us and his unsaved family. They might feel as though we're looking down on them, and/or they might feel like we're freaks.
Well, we are Jesus Freaks, to which I have no qualms, but it's a definate gray area many of these holiday things, ya know? It's personal! (I think that's why you don't have any comments yet.....it's a big deal on these blogs around holidays)
So, my long comment was just to say, Cute pictures. Cute family. Sounds like you're a fun mom.
Apr. 5, 2007 - I'm all about tradition!
Posted by EEEEMommy
We incorporate celebrating Passover into our traditions. We usually eat Lamb instead of Ham (unless we go to someone else's house, in which case we'll have the Seder dinner on another night, we've done it all different ways). I'm like you with not taking time to dye the eggs until the last minute. I have struggled with the Babylonian origins and the pagan associations, but I NEED the hard-boiled eggs for Creamed Eggs on Matzos (one of my favorite meals of the entire year!), and if you're going to make all those eggs, why not enjoy an art project as well, huh?!? I could seriously do without it, but the kids enjoy it so much, and there is freedom in Christ. We don't do the Easter Bunny or baskets, but we have had egg hunts with my in-laws, and I refuse to make a big stink about it. And we eat plenty of Marshmallow Peeps, Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs, and Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Eggs! And if Jesus came to my house, I'd definately share! :)
The one resource you didn't mention that I love is Passion Hymns for a Kid's Heart by Joni Eareckson Tada and Bobbie Wolgemuth. Excellent!
Apr. 5, 2007 - Cute girls!
Posted by pottershand
Your girls are precious. Yes, Junior Bible Quiz has quotations too. I know what you mean about them being sponges. They learn the Word so quickly and the recall is what is so amazing. Sometimes they say the scripture so fast I cannot keep up...
Apr. 5, 2007 - Oh boy!
Posted by SmallWorld
You just reminded me of the same thing I forget every single year--decorating Easter eggs. No one has remembered it yet, but no doubt my daugher will say any minute, "We forgot to decorate Easter eggs!" We did do an awesome Passover Seder at our church last Sunday p.m. Our Performing Arts team did Hebrew dancing and helped in the reading of the Seder. It was awesome.
Apr. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by chickadee
thank you for your comment with your friend's thoughts on my post. that was so sweet and i'm glad i could share something that makes other mothers feel good about what they do.
i love all the pictures of your girls. if i had 4 girls i would have to dress them alike too. (i only have 2 and love to dress them alike) it is adorable! they are so cute.
Apr. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by grace4gayle
I love your traditions and your girlies are adorable. Oh to have a little more "girlie" in my house! (sigh) We tried celebrating passover this year and aside from it being the L-O-N-G-E-S-T meal ever, it was very meaningful.
We do the whole egg hunt, ham dinner, stuff with all the grandma's so I get to skip out on all THAT WORK!
It's so hard to find ways to make meaning out of the worlds ideas of holidays. It gets kind of sickening how commercial and UN-meaningful it all kids. Yada Yada Yada! I'm sure you've heard it a million times.
So all that to say your traditions look full of meaning and a whole lot of fun!!!
Apr. 5, 2007 - Hi Cindy!
Posted by Kimmie
I love the pictures of your beauties! And I love your traditions- we too have released Santa and the Easter Bunny, focusing on Jesus instead. 'Some' don't get it, they feel we are overly zealous (to which I say, Hurray..they must be talking about our love for Jesus!) Honestly, my kids haven't missed out -we have found plenty of things which have filled in for Santa, Halloween and the Easter Bunny...centering around our faith and love of God. We still know how to have fun-and are always surprised when the Holy Spirit blesses us with some fun new way in which to celebrate these days, vs. the worlds traditional ways. Yeah God!
I love the idea of the donut and donut hole...think we will try that too!
It is so fun getting to know your family-God is so full of surprises! Have a wonderful celebration my friend!
hugs;
Kimmie
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/growingalongtogether
Apr. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by mycrazylife
Hey Cindy!
What beautiful girls you have! Personally I try not to worry about what others think and I would never dream of judging someone else for their convictions, regardless of what they are. Our relationships with God are personal and that is the way it should stay. We actually colored eggs a week ago, (because it's fun) I just choose not to do it on Easter. And I was probably one of the few at my church that felt that way, but I never let that deter me. I'm a non conformist ;) Anyway, my daughter and I got a big giggle out of the #4 tradition story! What a hoot! We are going to try those! I hope you and your beautiful family have a blessed Easter!
Blessings,
Hallie
Apr. 5, 2007 - Hello - its my 1st stop here.
Posted by homeschoolhighlites
Looks like 4 little darlings there! I have 4 as well, 1 girl and 3 boys (I luv these boys but I want some more girlies!) It sounds like you take the same approach to Easter celebrating as we do. We have never done the "tomb donut" though - that's cute, maybe we can start this year since Dunkin Donuts just opened up around the corner. LOL
Amy
Apr. 6, 2007 - Easter
Posted by weesma
We made the "He is not here treats" (we know them as Resurrection Rolls) today. The 4 year old we babysit bit into hers, found it empty, and said, "Hey?!? I put a marshmallow in there!"
Our Easter traditions are only 4 years old. Before that we attended a Church of Christ where celebrating Easter is considered without Biblical authority. Now we attend Maundy Thursday service and Sunrise service (6:00 AM!) and find it very meaningful to us. When the table was shrouded last night and we walked out in silence, it brought home to me the impending death of Christ. The hours before His crucifixion have always reminded me of childbirth. There was (is) no way out except through the pain, even though He knew (and we know) the end would be triumph and joy. And then on Easter morning, I like the feeling of being "one of the women at the tomb". There was a Joanna there, the wife of Chuza. She is mentioned in Luke's account.
Have a blessed Easter!
Joanna
Apr. 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by debbiecorley
Hi friend! I love the doughnut tomb idea...I'm stealin' it! We do many of the other things you've mentioned. Hey check out my blog to find the link to the sand artist's website. It is so neat!
Happy Easter weekend! HE IS RISEN!!
Apr. 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by PumpkinsMomma
Your easter traditions and pictures are cool !
I've had tehnical difficulties with some of my comments posting today, so I'm trying to rush through them before i have problems again. Sorry for the typos!
marie
