Easter Sunday with all the spring colors, baskets and egg hunt is a time of excitement, a time of family and the opportunity to share a meal and spend time together. On this page we will provide suggestions for fun activities to do at home as well as facts and information about these holy days.
Easter Crafts
- Paper Lily Craft – these would make wonderful decorations for your Easter table
- He is Risen Tomb Craft – a wonderful teaching piece for young children
- Easter Coloring Pages – a mix of religious and bunny-related. Great for young children when you are attending all those Triduum Masses/services.
- Garden of Grace for Easter – this is a great activity for the whole family; it will look beautiful in your garden!
Easter Dessert & Snack Recipes
Lamb (of God) Cupcakes – recipe here
Marshmallow Lambs – recipe here
Crown of Thorns Snack – recipe here
Resurrection Rolls – recipe here
Facts & Information about Easter Triduum
- Triduum means “three days.” At Easter this refers to the three day period that starts with Holy Thursday and ends on Easter Sunday. Easter Triduum follows the Jewish way of marking time, in which the new day begins in the evening.
- It’s pronounced trih-do-um
- Here is a great video to watch that explains each day of the Triduum in a concise, helpful way: Busted Halo – Holy Week in Two Minutes
- Did you know that Easter lasts 50 DAYS? Most everyone knows that Lent, the period of preparation for Easter, lasts 40 days but most people do not know that Easter begins on Easter Sunday and lasts through until the Feast of Pentecost! Let’s do our best this year to keep the Easter spirit alive in our hearts and in our deeds through the whole Easter Season!
Triduum Activities to do with your family!
Attend Masses/services together throughout the Triduum. You can go here to find out what times these will be taking place at Holy Family.
Holy Thursday – Read the story of the Last Supper. Have a special meal on Holy Thursday that includes bread/wine (or grape juice for the younger children) and share with your children your experience of the Eucharist and what it means to you. Invite your older children to share with your younger children their experience of their 1st Eucharist.
Holy Thursday – Before or after the meal, wash each others feet (all you need is a basin, a towel, and feet!)
Good Friday – many Catholics make a point of turning off all electronics and, in some cases, electricity during the hours of 12noon and 3pm (the hours during which Jesus was being crucified according to Scripture). Make this a night where you turn off your technology and spends time together reflecting on Jesus by sharing stories of his life that are meaningful to you.
Good Friday – If you have religious icons (crosses, saint images, etc) featured prominently in your home consider taking them down and leaving the space empty. This is a powerful reminder for your children that something drastic has happened in the world.
Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil – This is the night when many people who have chosen to become Catholic will receive the sacrament of baptism. If you cannot attend spend time with your family sharing stories of your children’s baptisms.
Service – Easter is a time when we remember how our Lord served and continues to serve us through the blessed Eucharist. Spend some time with your children going through their clothes, toys, etc and invite them to donate to those in need. You could do one item for each day of Triduum. Or simply emphasize to them the importance of service by inviting your children to help prepare the family meal for Easter, spend time with their grandparents, etc.