My Very Favorite Easter Tradition

What traditions help your family celebrate Easter?  

I have seen so many fabulous (read intimidating) ideas.  And I've been tempted to try and do them all, but instead we're keeping it simple and doing what we always do - Resurrection Rolls, an Easter Dinner, and Resurrection Cake.

Throughout Lent, we've been reading Amon's Adventure, a fabulous book by Arnold Ytreeide that follows the journey of a boy who lives in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection.  Ytreeide is an amazing storyteller.  We always read one of his Advent stories in preparation for Christmas.  So, on Sunday afternoon, between Easter Dinner and Resurrection Cake, we'll finish up our reading of Amon's Adventure.

But, we do have one tradition that is my very favorite.  This tradition almost brought Sara Maria home from college.  And Grace, who is in Peru on a mission trip, asked me to please delay this tradition until she returns home.   What is this tradition?  A Simple Christian Passover Celebration.  

What is a Christian Passover?
Remember when God rescued the Hebrews from Egypt?  On the very last night of their bondage in Egypt, God instructed them to kill a lamb and paint their doorframe with the lamb's blood.  They were to roast and eat the lamb as well as bread without yeast.  Since they would have to be ready to leave in a hurry, they wouldn't be able to wait for the bread to rise.

Jesus, on the night before his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane celebrated the Passover with his disciples.  Often Christians refer to this as the "Last Supper."

Why do we celebrate it?
This Passover Meal is dripping with symbolism.  Jesus is our Passover Lamb.  Because of his blood, we are truly "passed over." Every component of the Passover Meal has meaning for the Christian.  Just as the Jews were instructed to celebrate the Passover to remember God's rescue of his people from bondage in Egypt, we choose to celebrate a Christian Passover to remember Jesus as our Passover Lamb.

When do we celebrate it?
Ideally we do it on the Thursday night before Easter.  But, if our calendar won't allow it, we just pick another night prior to Easter Sunday.  This year we will celebrate the Passover on Saturday evening.

Where do we celebrate it?
We clear off our big square coffee table, surround it with cushions, and sit on the floor.  The kids love it.  Some years the kids have dressed up like Israelites.  :)  But, you could do it at your table.  It really is up to you.

How do we celebrate it?

Years ago I found a script for the Passover meal and have adapted it to fit our needs.  We always celebrate with our family, but have often invited friends to join us.  In my Simple Christian Passover Celebration guide, I've really kept it as simple as possible.  You need to do a little bit of prep, which is detailed in the guide, and then you need to plan for about 45 minutes to actually have your Seder.  Do be aware that this will not be your evening meal, so plan your dinner accordingly.  

Some years we have used all kosher foods for our meal, but other years we've just ordered pizza.  My  Simple Christian Passover Celebration will not at all be a kosher Jewish Passover.  The purpose is not to have a Jewish Passover, but to simply see the beauty of Jesus, our Passover Lamb. 

What traditions help your family celebrate Easter? I'd love to hear about them!  And, I'd love to hear from you if you decide to celebrate a Simple Christian Passover Celebration.