What Are YOUR Easter Traditions?

If you think about Christian holidays, probably you first think about Christmas, but next you likely think of Easter!

Christmas is a great holiday, but Easter celebrates the most important part of Christianity, which is the actual gospel message, the “good news” of how Jesus has saved us!

So what do you do to celebrate Easter each year? Let us know by tapping Open Mic!

Today, let’s look at some Fast Facts about a couple of Easter traditions:

Fasting and Lent

During Lent, many Christians fast, or go without regular meals. Sometimes they give up certain foods, like meat or even sugar. Other people give up things that are fun and slightly addicting like fast food or screen time. This looks different for different people. 

Lent lasts for forty days up until Easter to remember Jesus Christ, who fasted for forty days in the desert. It is a time in which Christians are supposed to be quiet and thoughtful, preparing themselves for Easter.

Fasting chooses to cut out habits that may control us so that we can learn to focus on the Giver and not just on the gifts.   

Egg and Bunnies

Did you ever wonder where the Easter Bunny came from? And why he leaves eggs? After all, bunnies don’t lay eggs, chickens do! It’s confusing, isn’t it?

The Easter Bunny is not in the Bible but it does point to the new life we celebrate at Easter time.  Germans were the first to recognize the Easter Bunny as a symbol of new life in the spring. Bunnies have a lot of babies and so new life is easy to see by watching them.

Easter eggs represent Jesus’ resurrection and His coming out of the tomb. The two ideas were mashed together and we get the modern day Easter Bunny giving out eggs. But let’s call them “resurrection eggs” so we don’t forget the real reason that we celebrate Easter is the new life we find only through Jesus!  

Flowers

One Easter tradition you may not know exists is displaying flowers! In the spring the flowers are all coming alive again. Sound familiar?

When it gets cold outside flowers die back but they are still alive deep in the ground. When the weather warms up they start to grow again and soon will be blooming everywhere. 

The Easter Lily got its name from just such a pattern.  It takes 3 years in the ground before the Easter Lily will start to produce flowers.  Again, sound familiar?

The Bible says that Jesus began life as a human, who, after he died on the cross, spent three days in the tomb before coming to life again.  Much like the Easter Lily!  What a great name for a beautiful flower.

Candy

Everyone likes Easter Candy! It seems that there is a flavor and kind for everyone’s taste, especially chocolate! But how did this all start? Why do we have so much candy at Easter?

Much like the Easter bunny, the Germans first made edible Easter eggs in the mid 1800s. They were more of a pastry but quickly developed into all kinds of tasty treats. Jelly Beans are also a sweet versions of eggs and were developed from the original Turkish Delight. You might have heard about Turkish Delight from The Chronicles of Narnia books.

Really, Easter candy is more about the bright spring colors and the egg shape than their flavor. Yum! 

Going to Church

Many people have the tradition of going to church on Easter. No one has to go to church on Easter or any other day for that matter, and just going to church does not make you a Christian.

But Easter is a particularly special day for those who believe in Jesus. It’s the day we celebrate Christ’s victory over the grave and there is no better place to be than in church. Going to church reminds us of Easter’s meaning, gives us hope, helps us say thank you to Jesus and grow closer to God.

Hopefully you go to church more than just on Easter. Our churches are not perfect but they do encourage us to be more like Jesus, who gave up His life for us!

Are you ready for more? Keep an eye on the What’s Up blog all through Easter and keep listening to Keys for Kids Radio to find more Fast Facts about Easter!