The above photo shows the tomb of Jesus with a bed and the stone that rolls away, a lovely homemade Easter decoration by Katrina Hilton. I’m showing it as a screenshot from the video below, with fun ideas for a Christ-centered Easter from Katrina’s parents. With Easter a week away, it’s time for last minute prep for our Holy Week celebration that starts tomorrow with Palm Sunday. I love the ideas that my children’s second cousin, John Hilton III, and his wife Lani Hilton, share in the video below. In the video, John shares that Lani has also compiled the ideas on her website here. I love that Lani emphasizes you don’t have to spend money; you can make or find things around your home. They also make clay lamps and light them oil to celebrate Parable Wednesday. They got that idea from the book that John’s aunt and uncle wrote, A Christ-centered Easter.

In the video, Lani talks about her “Good Friday” bag. She has collected some items she keeps in a bag to pull out so her family can talk about the people involved with Good Friday, like a sword and the crown of thorns, shown below. The sword goes with the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross and said, “Surely this was the Son of God.” I just love the way she explained it, how she has told her children that the centurion saw the signs of Jesus that caused him to recognize that Jesus is the Son of God. He then testified of Jesus as the son of God. Then she has asked them what signs they have seen that shows them that Jesus is the Son of God. This then opens up the space for a mini-family testimony meeting.

I agree with the quote that the Hiltons share from Elder Gary E. Stevenson, who quotes N.T. Wright:

“We should be taking steps to celebrate Easter in creative new ways: in art, literature, children’s games, poetry, music, dance, festivals, bells, special concerts. … This is our greatest festival. Take Christmas away, and in biblical terms you lose two chapters at the front of Matthew and Luke, nothing else. Take Easter away, and you don’t have a New Testament; you don’t have a Christianity.”  Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Liahona, May 2023

Yes!!! I love it!! So if you want more…here you go:

Go here to learn about a book on activities, including games and crafts, for the Holy Week.

Go here for a free beautiful banner/coloring pages that shows the Holy Week timeline.

Go here for Easter-themed picture books.

Go here to my family read-alouds and traditions site for spring, and scroll down under “April” to see even more picture books and family traditions for Easter.

Go here for my list of poetry, songs, and stories for your Family Devotionals to use this spring, even after Easter!