Celebrating Easter Like You're In The Holy Land
With Easter Sunday fast approaching, Christians around the world are looking forward to the end of Lent and the beginning of Easter Weekend. Celebrating Easter is about so much more than baskets and Easter egg hunts–it's a time to celebrate new life in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Palm Sunday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Vigil are all part of the Easter holiday's many traditions. But what if you want to do more than church service and Easter brunch?
One idea is to celebrate Easter a little bit differently is to create new family Easter traditions. And why not start with how the holiday is celebrated in The Holy Land? After all, many of the traditions for Easter Weekend in the Holy Land stem from the earliest Christian communities.
If you're not sure where to look, don't worry, we have you covered.
5 creative ways to celebrate Easter
While Christians celebrate Easter worldwide through mass and Easter Vigils, every place has its own specific traditions. The Holy Land is no different. Here are our top 5 ways you can rejoice in the Resurrection:
1. Bake some butter cookies
One of the most popular traditions in The Holy Land during the Easter Season is baking butter cookies. Maamoul is a popular cookie made during Easter and are a great way to end your Lenten fast. The recipe is fairly simple and it's a fun activity for children to prepare for the Easter Holiday. The outside of the cookie is made from sweet, buttery dough, and the inside contains date paste, walnuts, or pistachios. It is said that the round dough used in making the Maamoul represents the vinegar-dipped sponge offered to Jesus when he asked for water during the crucifixion.
2. Funeral of Christ
On Good Friday, it's common to see Christians walking to the church together for the church service, carrying large crosses and olive branches. While this is often difficult to coordinate in the United States, you could consider decorating your house with crosses and olive branches and having a small prayer circle with the family. You may decide to pray the rosary or have a quiet time to commemorate Jesus' death.
3. Holy Fire and the Light of Christ
Every Holy Saturday, Orthodox Christians partake in the miracle and Easter tradition of the "Holy Fire". It is said that during this time every year, blue light emits from a marble slab in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been buried. Clergy and pilgrims describe this light as a Holy Fire and say that it lights candles in the church. Through the use of candles, this fire is transported to Orthodox churches around the world. Even outside of the Orthodox Faith, candles are often used by Catholics, Lutherans, and other traditions during the Easter Vigil. Keeping a light burning on Holy Saturday to Easter day is a great reminder of the resurrection and the light of Jesus Christ.
4. Colored Eggs
Coloring boiled eggs are a worldwide and much-loved Easter tradition. But they aren't just a way to have a great time with the family. Sometimes called resurrection eggs, the symbolism behind the Easter Egg highlights how Jesus emerged from the tomb after his death. Easter eggs represent new life in Christ and the glory of the Resurrection.
5. Sprucing up your Easter basket
As one of the most important days of the Christian year, Easter is a wonderful time to show your loved ones how much you care. Whether that's through Easter cards, easter candy, or other common Easter gifts, presents are a common way to celebrate Easter. Faith-based jewelry, such as a rosary, a cross necklace, or other similar presents is a great way to give a long-lasting gift while keeping the reason for the season in mind.
Rejoice with Gloria Jewels
At Gloria Jewels, we're thrilled to be celebrating Easter with our worldwide community in the coming weeks. And if you're looking to spruce up your Easter basket or want to gift your loved ones with something they'll remember, check out our collection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and rosaries–all perfect faith-based gifts for the Easter season.
