Easter is quickly approaching, and with it comes many traditions. Many families enjoy the same traditions year after year. While this can be nice and comforting, it is not always exciting to do the same things every year. Sometimes we need a change and this can happen when we start incorporating new traditions into our Easter celebration. Unique Easter traditions will give you the opportunity to try something completely different.
If you are itching to try something new this year for Easter, you have come to the right place. It is good to have a few new ideas to carry along with you, so you don’t get tired or worn out from the same events. It could be that by trying a new Easter tradition, this will open you and your family up to trying new traditions for other holidays. While there might be some people who want to do the same traditions every year, there is nothing wrong with trying something new.
Maybe you have a few ideas you already want to try this Easter. If that is the case, go ahead and start writing them down. It is easy to forget these ideas, therefore, make sure you record them somewhere that is easily accessible. If your family tends to be picky about traditions, you could introduce these ideas slowly or you could even ask if they would like to add any ideas to the list.
By getting everyone involved, it will also help them feel heard. It could be that your other family members might have some ideas, even the ones that are firm on doing the same things every year. As you can see, there are many ways to come up with new traditions for the holidays that won't cause anyone to become upset. If you need some ideas for unique Easter traditions this year, here are five.
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1. Take a Mini-Vacation
One unique Easter tradition to try this year is to take a mini-vacation. This can be in the form of a day trip or somewhere further. Not many of us travel during Easter, but it is something that could be beneficial to our overall well-being. If your job gives you off from Good Friday to Easter Monday, then it is a perfect time for a quick getaway. Rather than having to use paid time off, you can use the days that are already given to you to go on a mini-vacation.
You could go to a nearby town, explore the area, and eat at a unique local restaurant. Or you could go a few states over and spend some time soaking in the culture. Be creative in what place you come up with and the activities that you will do. If you have children, you can leave the trip as a surprise and only tell them when you are about to get ready to go. Kids love adventures, especially unexpected ones.
Leave room for some creativity as well. It could be that once you get to your destination, you will see more fun activities to do with your family. While this might be a different idea for Easter, it is still something that is worth considering. If you haven't been able to go on a trip in awhile, this could be the perfect opportunity to see a new area as well spend quality time with your family. An important part of Easter is spending it with the ones you love.
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2. Pick Up Dinner Instead of Cooking
A second unique Easter tradition to try this year is to pick up dinner instead of cooking. Most of us cook our Easter dinner and it can be incredibly taxing for some. My grandma used to hate cooking. Therefore, she would go out to eat with my grandpa and mom for all holidays – including Easter. Cooking stressed my grandma out, and maybe you've found it does the same for you. But before deciding on a spot, make sure that restaurant is still open on Easter Sunday.
My grandma knew Easter was supposed to be a day to celebrate the resurrected Lord, but she did not find it very enjoyable if she had to cook a meal and clean up afterwards. As I've gotten older, my grandma’s mentality makes perfect sense to me. She was a homemaker and already had to cook, clean, and take care of the house everyday. Easter is a holiday that she wanted to truly celebrate and take time to relax.
If you can relate to my grandma too, maybe taking a day off from Easter cooking could be a good thing. You could pick up dinner or you could go out; whichever feels more relaxing to you is a great choice. Even if you might still want Easter-themed foods, there are many restaurants that will be serving Easter-themed dishes. Talk it over with your family and see what they think. Chances are that they will be up for anything that will make the entire family happy.
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3. Have a Pet Easter Egg Hunt
A third unique Easter tradition to try this year is to have a pet Easter egg hunt. Most of us are familiar with a normal Easter egg hunt, but how many of us have hosted an Easter egg hunt for our pets? While this might sound a bit strange at first, it can be fun for everyone involved.
One year growing up, instead of doing an Easter egg hunt, my mom had us do an Easter egg hunt for our pet dog. Our dog was about five years old at the time, and she thought it was so much fun. We placed dog treats in plastic Easter eggs and then we hid them in the yard. Our dog then had to sniff out the eggs, find them, and we would open them so she could eat the treats. It was very cute, and it made us happy that our dog was having such a a fun time. Our dog passed away many years ago, but this memory still brings me much joy.
Maybe this year you could try this tradition with your pet and keep the memories forever. If your dog is prone to eating anything, it might be a good idea to not include the plastic egg part. Ultimately, you know your dog best and you can tweak the game in order to keep your dog safe, well, and happy.
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4. Read the Easter Story from the Bible
A fourth unique Easter tradition you could try this year is to read the Easter story from the Bible. The Easter story includes how Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was resurrected. One account of the Easter story can be found in Matthew 27-28. Through both of these chapters, Matthew details Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Reading these chapters will remind you what Easter is all about.
Sadly, due to the commercialism in America, we often get sidetracked when Easter comes around. Instead of being focused on Jesus, we are focused on the Easter Bunny. This is a dangerous game because Easter is not about a made up bunny that delivers presents. Rather, it is about the great sacrifice of Jesus and how He conquered the grave. By placing our faith in Him, we too can now conquer death. These are the things that we need to be celebrating on Easter and giving God all the praise.
This Easter tradition should be something that is common in Christian homes, but not many people actually read out of the Bible on this day of the year. This is because they are too busy with other things, such as meal preparations, hosting family get-togethers, and filling eggs with candies. Take some time this year to remember what Easter is all about – Jesus. Instead of getting caught up with the traditions of the world, turn to focus on Jesus. By remembering Jesus in your celebration, you will be sure to have a wonderful Easter with your loved ones.
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5. Go on an Easter Walk
A fifth unique Easter tradition to try this year is to go on an Easter walk. This is a great, relaxing way to help you connect with your loved ones. During Easter, many of our family members come to visit us or we go to visit them. Often, distance means many of us don't get to see our families often. This is why taking a walk with your loved ones on Easter is a needed tradition because it will give you time to just talk with them.
Many of us treat Easter like another stressful holiday, but it doesn't have to be. It can be a fun holiday in celebration of our Lord if we try. While we cannot change a difficult family member, we can do things ourselves to help the situation. For example, if the difficult family member doesn't want to come on the Easter walk, then that is their decision. Take the people who want to take a walk with you and get some fresh air.
For many holidays and events, there are holiday fun runs and turkey trots, but for Easter, there is normally not anything special. This can change if you want it to. Instead of having to wake up early to go for a run, go on an afternoon Easter walk or an evening Easter walk. Picking an easier time of day will help other people be more prone to come with you, especially if it is a nice spring day. Give it a chance this year and see what you think. It might become a favorite Easter tradition for you and your family.
Unique Easter traditions are fun to try. If you need some ideas this year, you could try to go on a mini-vacation, pick up dinner rather than cooking, have a pet Easter egg hunt, read the Easter story from the Bible, or go for an Easter walk.
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Originally published Tuesday, 12 March 2024.
