This week the blog circle is sharing their Easter traditions. This Easter actually marked a milestone for our family- it was our first major holiday without any family. We’ve celebrated birthdays and anniversaries on the road, but we’ve always been able to be home (or visiting family) during the ‘big’ holidays. It was a bittersweet celebration. We missed our family of course, but the opportunity to just be- in the day, with each other, in reflection on the sacrifice- it was overwhelmingly peaceful. No rushing from celebration to celebration, juggling nap times and sugar highs. It was simple and purposeful, and one I hope we’ll remember for a long time.
Being away allowed me to really reflect on our traditions and how/ why I’ve allowed them to develop. In years past our Easter to-do list was heavily influenced by what those around us were doing. Cousins are going to this egg hunt? Count us in! Friends are attending the Easter Bunny breakfast? Sign me up! Add in some obligatory egg dying and crafts and my plate was full during this season. There is nothing wrong with any of those activities, and we will participate in them again if we find ourselves at home next Easter, because spending time with our family is also an important part of any holiday. But with a break from all the pre-scheduled activities I was able to give some thought to being more purposeful about our holiday rituals. And that’s how I stumbled upon the Rich and Rooted Passover from Jennifer Naraki. I only found it in time to incorporate the ideas from Good Friday through Easter, but that just gave me a taste of the richness and meaning that it could lend for the whole Lenten season. I can’t wait to dig in deeper next year!
As for our own traditions there are a few simple ones that will follow us no matter where we spend our Easter.
Dying eggs. Who can forgo this classic? We like the extra challenge of making our own dyes. This year the list included coffee, turmeric, red cabbage, grass, paprika, and carrots. I forgot to throw in some vinegar so our results weren’t very bright, but we still had fun.
Resurrection rolls. I started incorporating this tradition a few years ago and it’s one of our favorites! Take a crescent dough (I used sourdough, of course. You can find the recipe here. I make a double batch and then save the rest in the fridge for Easter dinner), roll it out and cut into triangles as if making crescent rolls. Then take a marshmallow (Jesus’ body) dip in butter (oils) and cinnamon sugar (spices). Then wrap the marshmallow in a dough triangle (cloth for Jesus’ body). Bake as recipe directs (the oven represents the tomb) and if you’re lucky the marshmallows have melted away and the kids can discover that Jesus’ body has gone! I like to do this side by side with a reading of the Easter story straight from scripture. Simple. Easy. Meaningful.
Easter baskets. Another classic we just can’t pass up. We do not make any mention of the Easter Bunny etc. They are just fun gifts from mom and dad! This year I did my best to make their baskets as zero-waste as possible.
Baskets are thrifted and reused every year. Personalized liners are made from scraps of fabric I had lying around. This year their baskets were stuffed with a wooden play set from the incomparable Petrichor Mercantile . Her works are breathtaking, truly. You must check her out! She is also amazing to work with. Everything was perfectly tailored to each child, and she even worked with me to make special sizes to fit our tiny table. I can’t wait for an excuse to buy from her again.
They also received some play silks that we plan to rainbow dye this week, a paper mache egg I snagged from my mom’s craft closet, and I always include an empty plastic egg to represent the emtpy tomb.
No candy in their baskets this year. I did make some chocolate chip cookie dough eggs for everyone to share (wrapped in beeswax cloth). They were SO good. I may have ate most of them. You can find the cookie dough recipe here. I didn’t leave myself enough time to make almond flour, so I subbed for oat. Still a winner! Princess did note that she “hopes they have lots of candy in their baskets next year. From the store.”
Our day wouldn’t have been complete without an Easter egg hunt. A tradition I fondly remember participating in with my cousins. This year the eggs (also reused every year) were stuffed with quarters and parts of a peg doll garden set. They also hunted for some of the hollow eggs we dyed which they traded for the larger parts of the set.
From the Blue World to yours, we hope you had a blessed Easter this year!
Don’t forget to continue around the circle by clicking below to to read about Krista Lii’s adorable Easter project.
The Inspired by Simplicity blog circle is a community of like-minded bloggers who are passionate about living a more simple life. My fellow Inspired by Simplicity bloggers are creative, kind, and relatable. By following the circle, you’ll enjoy a variety of experiences, opinions, and ideas. Your next stop in the circle is a visit to Krista Lii. Enjoy your journey around the Inspired by Simplicity blog circle, and check back next week for our next topic.