Keeping kids happy and busy during school holidays can be challenging for parents. School breaks are also the time when many schools have vacations, so it’s not surprising that school-age children are left with not much to do. Fortunately, some of these school holidays are also peak vacation periods for families with little ones, so you don’t have to feel too bad about keeping them indoors all day long. If you’re raising a Christian child and want to explain Easter and its significance to your little one, here’s how you can do just that:
What Is Easter?
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It’s traditionally celebrated on the Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The Sunday that follows the vernal equinox, also known as the First Sunday of Spring, will be different every year, so when you go to find out when Easter is next year, you’ll have to look for the full moon after the equinox. The word “Easter” comes from the Germanic word “Ostara,” which is thought to be a celebration of spring. In the middle ages, Easter became associated with the idea of Resurrection, and has been celebrated as such ever since.
Why Do We Celebrate Easter?
Easter is celebrated by Christians each year to mark the occasion when Jesus Christ was resurrected after dying on the cross. Jesus was tried and convicted of a false crime, and was executed by the Romans as a criminal. After three days, he rose again. Christians celebrate this by eating Easter eggs and decorated bunnies, and going to church to hear the story told by the priest. The Easter story is about a man called Jesus who lived 2,000 years ago and came to save the world from its sins. He died for us and three days later, he rose from the dead. The story of Easter is an important one, and you should try to tell it to your kids in a way that they will understand.
The Meaning Of Easter Eggs And Bunnies
The Easter egg tradition can be traced back to the 12th century. At that time, people would dye and decorate eggs with bright colours (orange, blue, and purple) to represent spring and new life. The practice of eating Easter eggs spread to other countries and cultures, and the significance of the eggs changed. In some countries, the practice of eating eggs at Easter has nothing to do with spring or Resurrection at all. The tradition of leaving Easter eggs for your kids to find on Easter morning is a way of keeping the excitement of discovering them going. It’s a lovely tradition that can be passed on from one generation to the next, and can be a great way of explaining Easter to kids.
The Story Of Easter Morning
There are lots of different versions of the Easter story, and you can pick the one that best suits your child’s age and attention span. For toddlers, you can start with a picture book that shows the story with beautiful illustrations. In addition to pictures, you can tell your child the story in your own words. You can use words like “Jesus was a good man who loved us very much and wanted us to be happy.” For preschoolers, you can add a few more details to the story. You can tell them that Jesus was very sad because people were very bad, and that he felt very sorry that they were sad. Then you can tell them how Jesus died to save us from being sad and lonely. For older kids, you can tell the story in much greater detail, including details of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. You can also explain that the story of Easter isn’t about bunnies and coloured eggs. It’s about the love that Jesus has for each and every one of us.
The Significance Of Colours At Easter
The colour orange is often associated with Easter and its religious significance, but the reason for this is not clear. It is said that the English adopted the colour orange as a symbol of the Protestant cause during the 1688 Revolution, as it was the colour of the Dutch House of Orange. The colour yellow is often used as a symbol of resurrection, and the fact that eggs are often coloured yellow at Easter has led to this being associated with Easter, but again this has no clear origin. The colour red is often linked with Easter, as it symbolizes the blood spilt by Jesus on the cross. Purple is sometimes associated with Easter, and can be traced back to the story of the Three Magi (or Wise Men) bringing gifts to the baby Jesus. Blue is sometimes used to represent the Virgin Mary, who is often depicted wearing blue.
Conclusion
The story of Easter is an important one, and you should try to tell it to your kids in a way they will understand. The best way to do this is to start with the basics and then add more detail as your child grows older. If you have younger kids, try to explain it in terms of the story of Jesus and his love for us. As your kids get older, you can explain the story in greater detail, including details of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and the significance of the colours associated with Easter.