This blog was originally published in February 2018, and updated in 2020.
If we celebrated Easter the same way we celebrate Christmas, the inundation of all things Spring would be well underway.
Store shelves would be lined with bunnies, eggs, and yes, even crosses (akin to the nativity of Christmas). Pastel shades would be coloring our lives. A faction of the population would be itching to start playing their treasured Easter carols. Travel plans and treasured family gatherings would be arranged. Special calendars would be brought out to count down the days leading up to the jubilant celebration of our Savior's triumphant resurrection.
But for all the pomp that this occasion deserves in our hearts and homes, many of us give it little forethought, at least compared to many other holidays (namely Christmas).
Now, certainly, it may be argued that Scripture doesn't necessarily prescribe an annual Easter celebration, at least not in the vein of the ancient Jewish festivals. However, the same can be said for Christmas. And yes, secular traditions have almost overwhelmingly infiltrated the way we celebrate Easter. Last I checked, bunnies and chicks and eggs aren't part of the crucifixion and resurrection history. But again, the same can most certainly be said about Christmas, with its purveying of elaborate gift giving, cartoonish traditions, and sometimes downright debauchery.
All that aside, the death and resurrection of Christ is the centerpiece of our lives as His disciples and God's adopted sons and daughters. After all, 1 Corinthians 15:14-17 is very clear that "if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." (v. 17)
It can be noted, the fact that most of us celebrate our Sabbath and corporate worship gatherings on Sunday stems from the concept of honoring the resurrection day, not just once a year, but with each passing week. Communion, too - however often your church body observes it - is a way to remember and receive Christ's sacrifice and victory.
But, look, if we're going to make such a big to-do about Christmas, it would behoove us to give the same honor to Easter. At Christmas, many of us observe the traditions of Advent to prepare our hearts to aptly celebrate Christ's coming. This season offers the tradition of Lent, a time of prayer and fasting to prepare for observing Christ's death and resurrection. If you'd like to know more about Lent - it's history and purpose - check out last year's blog by our Dean of Students Graham Dennis on the matter.
We asked our families to fill us in on the ways that they honor Lent. so that we can share it with the rest of you to help you prepare your own hearts and homes for the joyous occasion of Easter this year.
1) Ash Wednesday & Lenten Services
Even if your family isn't Catholic, that doesn't preclude you from partaking in Ash Wednesday services, which are held by many Protestant churches as well. Ash Wednesday traditionally marks the beginning of the Lenten season, where people are called to remember and repent of their sins as they receive ashes in the sign of a cross on their foreheads with the reminder to either "Repent and believe in the Gospel" or to "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Throughout biblical history, the act of adorning oneself with ashes denoted sorrow, especially for one's wrongdoings.
This year, the day falls on Valentine's Day. This is more fitting than it may seem at first glance. After all, one way to truly grasp the depth of God's love for us is to understand the depravity from which he saved us. The sorrow expressed on Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent simply makes the resurrection celebration all the sweeter. This year, consider taking your family to a local Ash Wednesday service to begin that process of introspective repentance and outward declaration of belief.
It doesn't have to end with Ash Wednesday, either. Many churches have weeknight Lenten services throughout the whole season. If your church body doesn't do this, consider joining with friends or finding one near your home who does and attend with your family.
2) Menu Adjustments
Most people associate Lent with a time to give up sweets (or, for Catholics, meat on Fridays), but there are many ways your family can fast from food this season. Remember, the idea of a 40-day fast originated with noteworthy biblical examples - namely Moses and Jesus - who went for this extended period without food or drink. Fasting provides us an opportunity to deny our flesh in order to be more attuned to the spirit. With each hunger pang or chocolate craving, we can turn our focus to prayer and meditation on the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made, deserting his heavenly throne to take on our frail human body, suffer an atrocious death, and take our sins upon himself.
Some families give up desserts and sweets, either for the entire Lenten season, or just for holy week. Others allow each member of the family to choose one food item to give up for the season. Still others fast completely for one day a week through Lent (though this may be difficult for families with growing children). The Fischer family often eats soup during this season. Remember that Sundays are not part of the 40-day Lenten fast. Being a day of resurrection celebration, you may (and should) feast with your family on Sundays!
The point of fasting during Lent (or really, any time) is to intentionally choose to go without this particular desire of the flesh (a need of the flesh, even), in order to awaken our senses to a greater desire and need to be satisfied in our Savior.
3) Intentional Fasting
There are things other than idols that your family can fast from. Perhaps each family member can choose something that they deem as a distraction to better serving one another and the Lord - an "idol," perhaps - and give that item of activity up for the season. Suggestions can include television, social media, or video games, Or, perhaps you want to fast from a negative habit - such as complaining or raising your voice,
One key with this type of fast is to be sure to replace the negative with something positive. Just as Jesus illustrated in a parable in Matthew 12:43-45, when you clean something evil out of your life, if you don't fill that space with the Lord, it leaves the door wide open for the enemy to march back in. Use the time you would have spent on the activities from which you're fasting by journaling, reading the Word or a book that builds your faith, take a walk with your family and pray for one another...be creative!
4) Devotions & Activities
If you don't already do regular family devotions, this is a prime opportunity to make it happen. There are many Easter and Lenten focused family-friendly devotionals that you can do to engage, teach, and encourage your children.
Resurrection Eggs
Many of our Veritas families enjoy doing Resurrection Eggs in the time leading up to Easter. For those who aren't familiar with this concept, it consists of a dozen Easter eggs, each containing a different symbol of the Easter story, with corresponding readings and scripture.
Passover
On Good Friday, consider celebrating Passover with your family and friends. You can find guides online like this one to help you prepare an authentic and meaningful Seder meal that honors Passover in the Jewish tradition. Taking part in this as a family gives a glimpse not only into Jewish tradition and what the Israelites went through, but it also mirrors Christ's sacrifice in a much more memorable and immersive way.
Tenebrae Service
Another Good Friday tradition that some Veritas families treasure is a Tenebrae (Latin for "shadows) service that coincides with the 14 stations of the cross. Anna Martin told us "we light 14 candles on the coffee table in a dark room and read the scriptures leading up to the death of Jesus. As each one is read, we blow a candle out. In the end, the room is dark, my husband prays and we walk the children quietly up to bed." For more information check out our blog post from last year about Veritas families' favorite Easter traditions.
5. Decorate For Easter
