Easter Sunday – Disaster Almost Strikes But Instead A Cherished Keepsake Is Found

On Easter morning I have my hands full trying to get my husband and children ready to go to church. It is a challenge to make sure the boys don’t end up with some kind stain on their Easter clothes before we leave. My husband, like many men, has the inability to find anything on his own so I have to direct him around all morning. My two teenage daughters must be checked over to be sure they aren’t wearing anything too wild for Easter Sunday. My youngest daughter Sally still needs me to fix her hair.

Everything was running pretty smoothly last Easter Sunday until Sally ran to me with her dress shoes in hand. It seems that since Christmas she had out grown her shoes. I told her not to worry that we would find a pair of shoes for her to wear. I told her to sit and read the letter sent by The Easter Bunny while I tried to find a pair of shoes for her to wear. My older daughters checked their closet but unfortunately they didn’t come up with anything suitable.

I called my mom and asked her to check and see if she might have an old pair of my older daughter’s dress shoes. She said she would look around and call me back if she found a pair. Sally and I tried a pair of my shoes but her foot was just too small. Then my mom called back and said she had found an old pair of my Easter shoes in the back of her closet.

I told my mom that Sally and I would be right over. I rushed her into the car and told her to fasten up her seat belt. On the way to mom’s Sally read me her letter from The Easter Bunny. We looked out the car window at all the beautiful spring flowers popping up everywhere. Sally pointed out the trees that were starting to get their new spring leaves. Sally told me that she wanted to us to grow daffodils in our yard next year.

When we walked in the door of mom’s house she handed Sally an old black shoe box. Sally took out the shoes and tried them on her feet. I couldn’t believe it but they were a perfect fit. Sally pulled an envelope out the box she found under the shoes. Inside was a letter sent by The Easter Bunny to me when I was a little girl.

At home we finished getting ready to go to church. I spied Sally slip both of our Easter Bunny letters into her new purse. I thought it was funny that she thought having my old letter from The Easter Bunny was special. And I was grateful that my mom had hung on to the shoes and the Easter letter for so many years.

Does The Easter Bunny Have Favorites And Special Friends

My daughter Sally loves to write letters to The Easter Bunny. She is always the one who volunteers to go shopping with me for the letter supplies. She takes her time when she picks out the stickers we buy. She always tries to pick out stuff she thinks that The Easter Bunny will like. I used to use plain white envelopes but she insists on using pastel colored ones. She says that The Easter Bunny likes those pretty shades of pinks, blues, yellows, greens and lavenders. According to Sally, The Easter Bunny pays more attention to the letters and envelopes that are written on his favorite colors of paper.

When it is time to sit down and write the Easter Bunny letters she lays everything out neatly. All the glitter and paint is organized by color. There isn’t a craft supply we might need Sally hasn’t thought of. She likes to write her letter where she can look up and see the flowering Japanese cherry tree in bloom in the garden.

She likes to help me make the snack we are going eat while we are writing our letters. Without fail she wants warm chocolate chip cookies with tall glasses of cold milk. She counts the plates and fills the glasses with milk. None of her brothers or sisters argues with her choice in snacks. Sally really likes to bake and cook with me. I’m glad I have her to pass my love of cooking on to.

She takes longer that any of my other kids on her letters to The Easter Bunny. Her letters turn out very pretty thanks to her attention to detail. She likes to use glitter and shiny foil stickers. One year she made pretty tissue paper flowers that she glued in the corners. It was tricky to get that letter to stay sealed inside its envelope.

In Sally‘s letters to The Easter Bunny she doesn’t ask for a lot of things. Her letters are more of a run down of the past year. She loves to write to The Easter Bunny. She has been known to tattle tell about her brothers and sisters in her letters. They get so mad when she does that.

This year she has a new set of Easter stencils she is anxious to use. She plans on decorating the back of her envelope with them. She showed me the stencil of an Easter basket and told me it was her favorite one.

Once her letter has been mailed she goes crazy waiting to receive a letter from The Easter Bunny. She checks the mailbox everyday when she gets in from school. When it does arrive she reads it probably a hundred times. She makes sure that everyone in the family sees her letter. She calls her grandparents and brags to them about the year’s letter from The Easter Bunny. Sally believes that her letter is of course, more special than anyone else’s – she thinks that she has a special bond with The Easter Bunny that other kids just don’t have. I think it’s funny to listen to her brothers get upset about this – because they too believe that The Easter Bunny and Sally are special friends!

Little Girls And A Love For Bubbles

My daughter Sally loves to blow bubbles. As soon as it starts to warm up outside she is ready to sit on the front porch and blow bubbles. Her best friend Mandy who loves down the road also loves bubbles. They have every imaginable shape of bubble blowing stick. Both of them wear necklaces with little bottles of bubbles.

Sally and Mandy told me that this year they plan to mail a letter to The Easter Bunny. They told me very seriously that they just knew The Easter Bunny would bring them bubbles in their baskets if they asked.

They looked through all their coloring books. Any pictures they found with bubbles they pulled out and colored. There were pictures of fish bubbles, soap bubbles and of course the kind you blow. They wanted to add the pictures they colored in their Easter letters to The Easter Bunny. I showed them there wasn’t room in the envelopes for all the pictures they colored. I let them each pick two pictures to send.

They were disappointed about the pictures they colored until I told them that they could leave the pictures in their Easter baskets for The Easter Bunny to take with him when he comes.

The letters the girls wrote were long. They included every reason they loved bubbles. They sat at the kitchen table talking to each other while they were writing letters to The Easter Bunny. I baked them bunny shaped sugar cookies to snack on while they worked. I had never seen those two girls sit still for so long.

Finally they announced they had finished their letters and were ready to mail them off. I gave them each a stamp. They very carefully placed the stamp on the corner of the envelopes. I walked with them to the end of the driveway to put the letters in the mailbox.
They lifted the red flag and doubled checked that the door was closed real well.

For the next week we had to check the mail everyday. I was so happy when Sally pulled two pastel purple envelopes out of the mailbox. They opened the letters from The Easter Bunny. Inside the special letters The Easter Bunny told them he was real impressed by the way they blew bubbles. The girls bragged to their other friends about the things The Easter Bunny said, including that they took excellent care of toys.

Sure enough the girls were right. The Easter Bunny left bubbles in both their Easter baskets. They skipped off to the front porch to blow bubbles. Through the open window I could hear them planning the next year’s letters.

An Easter Bunny Letter Writing Party – Why Not!

Every year we have a ‘write to The Easter Bunny’ party. It is one of my favorite things we do for Easter. I take all the kids shopping with me so that they can help pick out the supplies for our party. We have such a good time picking out the decorations and writing supplies. We always find little surprises while we are shopping that will make our party a little more special.

I let the kids make home made invitations to send out to everyone. They really feel grown up filling out the address and putting the stamps on the envelopes. Sally makes sure that each envelope has an Easter sticker on the seal. At the post office they drop each invitation one by one into the big mailbox.

The day before the big party the kids and I bake lots and lots of sugar cookies. The girls love to spread the pastel colored icing and sugar crystals on the tops of the cookies. I make two trays of deviled eggs I have to keep those hidden from my husband Drew. My daughter Melanie helps me make the cheesecakes.

Outside we tape the brightly colored table clothes to the picnic tables. We double check that we will have everything we will need for our Easter Bunny letters. The kids always get so excited waiting for the party. They cut tulips and daffodils to put all around the house as decorations. I have to admit, I think the house looks wonderful with the beautiful flowers and pastel Easter decorations spread about.

On the morning of the big party I put out the streamers and balloons. I go through the house and make sure the house is ready for visitors. On the tables outside we set out the supplies we have collected. We always ensure that we have plenty of markers, crayons, stickers, glue, and glitter. Those are some of the basics needed for properly decorating an important Easter letter. Plus, some of the kids like to create imaginative Easter crafts while they are into the concept of writing and creating. I always make sure that we have plenty of tables set up so no one will be crowded while they are busy designing and writing letters to The Easter Bunny.

We are all so happy when people begin to show up. It is always nice when we get a chance to have a day to spend with so many of our friends and family. The kids run through the yard glad to be out in the warm sun after being stuck inside all winter.

All the kids work very hard on their letters. The older kids help the younger ones to decorate the letters with glue and glitter. The kids are always excited about getting a letter from The Easter Bunny. We have a special satin bag we put all of the letters in when they are finished.

The party is something we look forward to every year. I hope to hold one each year, even when the kids are grown. Hopefully then I will have some grandkids that will be running and playing and we can teach them how to write letters to The Easter Bunny. It is always nice to be surrounded by the ones you love. I am glad that we get this opportunity to connect with out friends and family.

Family Traditions That Bond – So Simple But So Important

I was so pleased when I looked out the window that Easter morning. A bright blue sky like a Robin’s egg hung over head. The path down to the creek shined, lit up by the cheerful daffodils that swayed in the breeze. The branches of the trees were brushed with the bright green of new leaves promising the return of warmer weather. I couldn’t help but think of the Easter’s when I was a little girl.

About a week before Easter my brothers and I would decorate our Easter baskets and write our Easter Bunny letters. We started out with a plain wicker basket. My mom would bring out all the things she had gathered for us to decorate our baskets. I loved running the bright satin ribbons through my hands. We were allowed to decorate our baskets however we wanted. I always used lots of glitter on my baskets. My brothers liked to glue small chicks and bunnies on theirs. One year my Mom helped them to make cowboys and Indians baskets.

While we worked on our baskets my mom would bake us a carrot cake. We would all talk about what we were going to write in our letters. My youngest brother was always so excited about getting a letter from The Easter Bunny. It always amazed me how my mom always had the best ideas. She knew which colors would blend nicely together and how much glue it took to make paper butterflies stay in place. As the room filled with the sweet scent of the carrot cake we would be finishing up our baskets.

My mom would place all the finished baskets on a shelf in her laundry room to dry. She would then bring out the paper for our letters. When my brothers were real small I would help them write their letters. We spent a lot of time on our letters. Along the sides of the paper we would draw colorful Easter eggs or put stickers with bunnies and eggs. We wanted to make personalized Easter Bunny Letters. My mom was the best - she had Easter envelopes and she even found Easter stamps for us to use on the letters.

Now that I am a mother I try to build special memories like my mother did when I was young. Every year when my children sit down to write letters to the Easter Bunny I am so grateful my mom started these holiday traditions. I hope that when my children grow up they carry them on with their families. It is funny how something as simple as writing a letter can bring a family closer together.

Does The Easter Bunny Write Letter On Orange Paper?

Each on Easter we have a huge Easter egg hunt when we get home from church. A lot of kids show up to join in the fun. My kids help me to dye all of the eggs we hide out in the yard. We have fun trying to make all the eggs unique. It gives us a chance to spend the day with many of our friends and family that we don’t get to see on a regular basis.

We decorate the eggs in several different decorations. Each one of my children has their favorite way to do their eggs. My son Trenton likes to glue bits of tissue paper on his eggs. Jackie takes her times and draws spring pictures on the eggs with a crayon before she dips them into the dye. Sally likes to make her eggs sparkle by rolling them in glitter while they are still damp from the dye.

The kids take turns telling each other what their letters from The Easter Bunny had said. Trenton was reading his letter and while he was talking he was moving, making a gesture with his hands and knocked over a cup of orange dye. The orange water quickly spread across his Easter bunny letter. I quickly picked up the letter and shook off as much water as I could. We laid the letter out in the sun to dry.

Trenton was upset about the letter. He oldest sister Melanie told him that she thought it was cool because now his letter was orange instead of white. Being the oldest all my other kids think that Melanie is the authority on what is cool and what is okay. Since the ‘authority’ liked the orange paper Trenton liked it and her approval made him feel better. I was glad because that was something that could have ruined his day. And let’s face it, it’s upsetting to us moms when our kids are upset.

As a tradition, when we finished all of the eggs we left them out on the table to dry. Later in the night my husband Drew and I would go out and hide them all in the yard. It took us a long time to hide all of the eggs because we actually colored five dozen.

The next day the Easter egg hunt was a big success. We were lucky to have warm breezes and bright blue skies. The kids found all the eggs that were in the backyard. Trenton showed all of the kids that he had a colored letter sent by The Easter Bunny.

After the kids found the eggs they started a game of hide and seek while the adults enjoyed some great food, drinks and conversation. Trenton brought me his special orange Easter letter from The Easter Bunny to keep safe. It turned out to be a wonderful Easter. Everyone had a great time that day. I hope we have as much fun next year. And by the way, my kids have asked about using food coloring to color paper to write their letter to The Easter Bunny. Isn’t it funny how something wrong can turn into something so right?

Girl Days Are Good Days – Even If They Do Include The Easter Bunny

At Easter all the females, old and young in my family love making what we call “sherbet carnations”. We like to fill up vases with these flowers for Easter Sunday. They give our homes a warm and cheery feel. All you need to do this Easter craft is white carnations and food coloring. It is a simple way to add a little splash of color for spring.

First we gather up all the vases and glass bottles we will be placing the flowers in. The younger girls are given clear plastic cups to use just to be safe. We all sit around and talk while we fill the vases up with water. My mother always asks the younger girls what they are going to write in their Easter Bunny letters. They all flock to her side to tell her what their letters are going to say. She has always been a magnet to children.

My mom and my Aunts tell the girls what their moms had written in their letters to the Easter Bunny. My cousin Ruth always wrote funny letters to The Easter Bunny. Her mom told us about the time she asked The Easter Bunny to take her new baby brother back to wherever babies came from. We all got a good laugh out of that. I love when we get to relive happy old memories. It is so good when all of us girls get a chance to get together without any guys around.

After we get all of the vases filled with water we start to cut the flowers. You have to hold the flowers up to the vases to determine how much needs to be cut. Only the adults cut the stems. While we are cutting the flowers my mom shows the girls a letter to The Easter Bunny I wrote when I was little girl.

The next part is the girls’ favorite part of the day. They get to put the food coloring in the vases. The colored water in the vases seems to dance in the bright spring sun light. The girls make sure the water is turns bright vibrant color. After the water in the vases is colored the girls put the flowers into the water. Over a few days the flowers will absorb the dye in the water and become a pretty pastel color.

After our girl day of crafting sherbet carnations and girl talk my daughter was enthused about some of the things she had heard related to the olden days and letters to The Easter Bunny. My daughter called her grandma to tell her how much fun she had and that she loved her. She also told her all about what she was going to write in her letter to The Easter Bunny. My mom told her she was sure she would get a letter back from The Easter Bunny. My daughter went to bed that night so excited to mail off her letter. Not only that, but she was also looking forward to more ‘girl days’ and craft projects. It was another sign that my daughter was growing up.

Making Special Springtime Memories In The Park

Around Easter I always take my kids to the park to the feed the ducks. At the park near our house there are beautiful spring gardens. We pack up a lunch and of course plenty of bread to feed to the ducks. It is usually an all day event so we all have to pitch in. We also use this time write our letters to The Easter Bunny.

It still takes my breath away when the gardens first come into view. Along the road through the park are scattered bunches of cheery yellow daffodils. A cluster of lilac bushes perfume the air with their heavenly scent. I park our car under the canopy of a silvery birch tree spotted with lime green spring leaves.

After being coped up in the house all winter we are all anxious to get out and be in the fresh spring air. While the kids are running around the playground I spread out a blanket for us all to sit on. Sally carries the bag with all the supplies for our letters to The Easter Bunny. Last year was just like any other year. The boys put together the kites they had brought with them. In no time they had those kites dancing high up in the air.

The older girls took Sally with them to walk around the pond. They wanted to gather a couple of braches from the lilac bushes to take back home. The boys were tossing bits of bread in the pond for ducks. It brought me joy to watch my kids all playing and getting along so well.

After awhile they ended up back at the blanket ready to eat. While we ate our lunch we talked about sending letters to The Easter Bunny. The sun filtered down through branches of trees and waxy white lily of the valley nodded their pearly heads around the trunks. Even my older kids were excited. We finished our meal and worked together to clean up the mess.

Next we got out our papers and pastel pens. Slowly their chatter ended while they worked on their letters. You could tell by the looks on their faces they were really concentrating on what they were writing. One by one they finished and neatly sealed the letters in pale colored envelopes. On the front in their best handwriting they wrote The Easter Bunny’s address.

Each year as my children get older the more special our spring trip to the park becomes. I will always have the memories from the days when going to the park to write letters to The Easter Bunny filled them with so much joy. I hope the memories we make at the park are carried in their hearts for the rest of their lives.

New Puppy Equals New Family Member!

A friend of mine had to move and had no idea what she was going to do with the Border Collie puppy she had got a few months before. She told me if I would to take the puppy she would give me everything I would need for him. I talked to my husband Drew about bringing the puppy home to live with us. Drew said he didn’t care as long as the dog was house broken.

I told my friend Betty that we could take the puppy. I wanted to surprise the kids with the puppy. They were going to be so happy. I had Drew stay with the kids while I went to pick up the puppy. I left out all the stuff so that the kids could work on their Easter Bunny letters.

Betty told me she had named the puppy Comet because of how fast he could run. He was a beautiful puppy. His coat was shiny and soft. I knew that the kids were going to be so surprised when I brought the puppy in.

I called Drew and told him I was on my way back home. He told me things were fine at home. The kids were still writing their letters to The Easter Bunny. He told them that I had to go to the grocery store so they didn’t get curious about my where abouts.

I pulled up to the house and got Comet out of the car. He looked excited as if he had on a big smile and was wagging his tail like crazy. I led him into the house and called for the kids. They came running in and immediately went to the puppy. I told them that his name was Comet and that he was going to live with us.

The kids played with the puppy who I must say fit right in with our family. I think Comet was glad to have the kids playing with him after he had been living with Betty who is a single lady. After a while Comet laid down to take a nap. I think all of the excitement wore him out.

While Comet slept the kids went back to their Easter letters. My daughter Jackie started a new letter so she could tell The Easter Bunny about Comet. While they worked on the letters they talked about all the things they wanted to do with Comet. Comet was going to be a very busy little puppy.

The kids finished their Easter letters to The Easter Bunny. Right about that time Comet was awake from his nap. I let the kids take the puppy outside in the backyard to play. I think Comet is going to fit in our family perfectly because he loves running and playing with the kids as much as they like running and playing with him. And a big relief for me was that Comet was already housebroken and had all his puppy shots when I brought him home.

Easy Easter Decorating Ideas For Indoors And Out

Easter is around the corner and you are worried about the decorations this year as you want your decorations to be memorable as always. Easter means fun and enjoyment with the Easter eggs, Easter baskets with the Letters from the Easter Bunny in them and also the spring season. You should therefore be certain about some ideas for decorating your home for Easter so that your guests will definitely praise the decor and also just give a seasonal look to your house especially for the holidays.

It is commonly experienced by people that decorating the immediate area of your house can be quite a lot of fun as can be the indoor decorations. There are a number of ways in which you can decorate the outdoors beautifully for Easter. Some of the commercial products like the blow up Easter eggs or bunnies can be very useful in the outdoor decorations party you can also use your own creativity for creating an outdoor scene. You can also hand eggs from the lower branches of the tree or you can also place a huge bunny on the lawn. You can also go for the religious theme which manifests your belief in this festival. However, make it a point to be careful of any product which can be damaged by the weather like the wind, possible rain or even morning dew. Also, think twice if you are using real eggs outside as it is quite possible that the animus might be attracted to the same. Follow all the safety precautions when using the electric decorations or lights.

Decorating indoors can be quite enjoyable and you can manifest your aesthetic side with the same. This is the perfect time to use the wall hangings, curling ribbon, pastel streamers, door banners along with other decorations based on the Easter theme. You can also get more imaginative and try using Easter decorative candles and also make an Easter tree for your family. Also, the paper mache eggs which are decorated in the Easter style can suit any room as a decor item. Another idea is to create letters to the Easter Bunny and use them in your decorations – or even pull out the Easter Bunny Letters from years past and display them. You can also place the decorative Easter baskets throughout your house on different tables. You can also use the spring flowers to brighten up in your house.

The Easter dinner is quite a big deal in a number of families. It is actually the integral part of this festival and therefore you should decorate the dinner table for making a lasting impression. The centerpiece for the dinner table can be considered among the important parts of the holiday décor in your house. There are a number of commercial centerpieces available in the market which you can definitely purchase or you can also put your creativity to work and make your own piece. A great idea is of a basket which is full of Easter eggs decorated by you and your family members. You can also put a Letter from the Easter Bunny himself in the basket so that it looked more attractive and festive. You can research about this topic on the internet for more tips which you will definitely benefit from.

Easter Traditions New and Old

There are millions of people in this world who celebrate Easter every year. This is actually one of the major Christian festivals in this world which is enthusiastically celebrated everywhere. The Easter celebrations include the Easter egg, the Easter basket, Personalized letter from the Easter Bunny and the Easter games. The basic idea of the Easter festival is to have fun with your loved ones and welcome the spring season after the cold winter. However, have you ever wondered why these traditions associated with the Easter are and exactly is the connection of eggs, Bunny and the basket with Jesus? Also, have you ever wondered why exactly the date of this festival tends to vary widely? Well, for finding answers to these questions please do keep reading.

Before 325 A.D, people celebrated Easter on different days in a year. However, Emperor Constantine put forth different Christian issues in front of Council of Nicaea and one of those issues was to fix a date for the Easter celebrations. Therefore, it was decided that Easter should be celebrated on the first Sunday after first full moon which falls after spring equinox. This is the reason why Easter falls in between March 22 and the April 25. Easter was first known as Eastre which was basically celebrated by Germans. It was celebrated for the goddess of springtime and fertility known as Oestre or Eostre. Among many Christian denominations like Catholics, Easter is considered as the last day of the festival of Lent. Christians are supposed to fast and make other kind of sacrifices during the 46 days of Lent. The day before the fasting period is called as Mardi gras and also as fat Tuesday.

The Easter Bunny is one of the oldest traditions of Easter which was followed since the ancient pagan religions. Easter is the time when winter comes to an end and the spring season begins. Therefore, it is a time when new plants grow from the mother earth and therefore symbolizes fresh and new life. Therefore, this day was an occasion to pay tribute to the fertility goddesses and that the rabbit or hare is thought as the manifestation of fertility. The tradition of the Easter Bunny was brought by the Germans to America but it was not incorporated in the Easter traditions until the Civil War. Nowadays most people put the chocolate bunny into the Easter baskets along with the Letters from the Easter Bunny himself - especially for children. The reality is that the Easter Bunny has become almost as popular as Santa Claus – thus, letters from the Easter Bunny are treasured keepsakes for kids.

The Easter egg symbolizes rebirth all through the history of mankind and also in the mythological traditions. Even in the ancient cultures people exchanged colored eggs a long time before this practice was employed in the modern celebrations of this festival. In the olden times and nests were used instead of Easter baskets and the Dutch children especially for this tradition of filling the bonnets and caps with grass and placing them out overnight. If the offerings were good enough, brightly colored eggs were left in the nest by the fertility goddess. This tradition was adopted and changed into the Easter basket filled with the fake grass later on. I hope you have understood the Easter traditions old and new and their origins.

Tips and Ideas for Easter Basket Goodies

Easter is one of the most enthusiastically celebrated festivals across the world. The celebrations include Easter eggs, Easter baskets along with Letters to the Easter Bunny. Most of us especially children are pretty excited about the Easter basket goodies and the dainty things in them. However, parents are most of the time faced with a difficult job of filling their Easter baskets with goodies. The reason for this is that you are supposed to do this basket with sweet stuff like chocolate, candy and even the traditional chocolate Easter bunny. However, there are some non-sugary alternatives available soon at you don't have to worry about the health of your children.

Consider the Easter basket as a kind of Easter stocking just like the Christmas stocking. Toys are one of the safest bets when it comes to gifting children. From slinkies and yo-yo’s to popular toys like the power rangers and Barbie dolls can make the Easter basket a delight to your child. You can also choose the toys such as fuzzy Easter chicks or the cuddly and soft Easter bunnies. You can also include the Letters from the Easter Bunny in the Easter basket goodies which will be a special treat for your child.

Of course some parents prefer to have their kids receive personalized letters from the Easter Bunny the moment they are delivered. Either way, it’s a delight to watch the expressions on kids’ faces when they see a real letter from The Easter Bunny. You should come to keep your child's gender and age in mind when you are choosing toys for him or her. Another amazing idea is including a storybook with Easter theme. It is not only enjoyable for your child but also they enhance his reading skills and knowledge. You may also get to spend some time with your kid as you sit down and read a story.

CDs and DVDs are also one of the best gifts you can include in the Easter basket goodies. Imagine your kid’s excitement when they will find the DVD of the popular cartoon character in the Easter basket. CD is also a good option as they can enjoy their favorite songs while enjoying Easter celebrations. Another timeless but popular choice for a gift is a new crayon box along with a new Easter coloring book. You can never go wrong on this one and any and every child will like it. The sweet snacks are an integral part of the Easter basket treats. You can include in the basket of fruit roll ups which are much healthier if also decent brand candy. Raisins are also a good choice especially better than candy which is sugar loaded. You can even make the Easter cookies at home and they are always the best as they are devoid of the dyes and preservatives which the store cookies are full off.

It should be noted that the children just love opening the Easter baskets and are excited about anything that they find them. Therefore, it is your job to provide them with proper gifts and not overdo the same and buy any useless thing for them. So, now you understood how you will surprise you children by providing them with beneficial gifts in the Easter basket goodies.

Treating Your Pet like a Child during Easter Safely – How to Create an Easter Basket Fit for the Family Dog

So, Easter is fast approaching and you are eagerly anticipating it as it is one of the most important festivals -- and people celebrate it for different reasons and in different ways. However, I believe the most important thing you should never forget to indulge in getting Easter is have fun and enjoy yourself. This is actually the most holidays in during the summer season. Easter is about a number of things like the Easter eggs, Easter baskets and Easter packages from the Easter Bunny along with the Easter baskets. However, you can always try some unique ideas for celebrations which can make your Easter even more memorable.

So, this year you can consider gifting your pet and Easter basket. Now, you must be wondering if I have lost it. Well, let me explain that pets are a member of our family. We take care of them and treat them as our children. Therefore, it is but natural that we should include them in our celebrations in the best possible manner and therefore your pet is entitled an Easter basket for himself. By doing this, you will ensure that your pets are not left out of all the festivities. After all, it is a common practice to purchase Christmas presents for pets, so why not for Easter. So, I hope you must have realized that it is important to gift your pet an Easter basket. So, you should start with choosing not Easter basket itself. However, you should steer clear of the traditional because baskets and keep it simpler. You should always be the size of your pet dog into consideration then you are choosing the basket.

You can pack dog food in the Easter basket and you should ensure that your dog does not get to the basket and choke. You should also make it a point to not pack chocolate in the Easter basket as it is a fact that animals are not supposed to eat the same. However, there are treats which are especially made for dogs in the market and you can selectively include them in the Easter basket. However, before you include any sweet treats for your dog make sure that you check the authenticity of the company and brand. You can also include the some toys for your dog in the basket and I am sure that your dog will just love it. You can buy any kind of toys which squeak and you can play chase with for your dog. You can also buy any chew toys for your dog which it will definitely love. Grooming items for pets are also one of the things that you can include it in the basket. You should however avoid the perfume sprays and bug sprays, if you want your pet to like his basket.

Now, have you understood what you can include in the Easter basket of your furry friend? And just for the fun of it you could write a letter to the Easter Bunny from your dog and then include the Letters from the Easter Bunny in the basket.

Preparing a Glorious Easter Dinner for a Large Group

So, Easter is around the corner and you are busy with the preparations of the same. You have planned the decorations and other entertainment for the occasion after giving it a proper thought. You also made arrangements for everything right from the Easter eggs, Easter baskets and also the Letters from the Easter Bunny himself for adding to the fun. And of course, you have checked the craft box to insure that you have everything needed on hand to create wonderfully decorated letters to The Easter Bunny. However, the most daunting task for you is to prepare a glorious Easter dinner for a large group of guests you will be having. This is a very intimidating task as preparing a number of dishes which is liked by everyone is not an easy chore. Also, you have to get everything ready in time and in such cases emergencies are bound to happen like losing any important ingredient in the recipe. However, you just need to calm down and if you follow some tips you will be able to prepare a lavish dinner for your guests without much hassle.

Having your family over especially for the Easter dinner regardless of the number of guests is definitely stressful. You have to not only prepare the dinner well in time but also be a gracious hostess for your guests. You should keep certain things at hand and pre-plan everything so that you are not pleased with any unpleasant surprises. You should first make a list of the guests you will be having so that you get the idea of the number of people you are supposed to cook for. You should then choose one meat dish for the main course and 2 to 3 side dishes. You should also make it a point to keep one to two desserts. You can also include soup, salad or pasta course.

It is always better to have the exact number of guests with you, at least a couple of weeks before the occasion. Then, you can decide on the dishes which you want to serve and the quantity which you're going to prepare. You will therefore get the idea of the time required to prepare the dish. You should then shop for the various ingredients which you will need for the recipes of those dishes so that you do not have to run to the market at the 11th hour. You can also decide on the quantity of the ingredients which you are going to purchase after keeping the exact number of people in mind. However, you should always purchase extra ingredients, in case any emergency arises.

Also, while actually preparing the meal, you should make it a point to prepare extra so you are not faced with the embarrassing situation of any dish getting finished before your guests are satisfied. This is especially true for the main course and also the desert cakes and pies. You can research on the Internet for getting more tips on preparing a proper meal for Easter.

If you will therefore enjoy your Easter complete with Easter eggs and personalized Letters from The Easter Bunny and of course your tasty dinner.

Fun and Creative Easter Crafts

Easter is a popular Christian festival of Resurrection of Christ. It is celebrated since the ancient times on the Sunday which follows the very first full moon that occurs after the March equinox. It is also celebrated to welcome the spring after a cold winter. It is therefore considered as a spring holiday and the bouquets of flowers, Easter baskets which are filled with jelly beans and chocolate eggs and embellished Easter eggs along with the Easter package from Easter Bunny are some of the essential parts of the fun. Writing letters to The Easter Bunny is a household tradition for many families and the personalized Letters from The Easter Bunny add a magical touch to the holiday. The number of Easter crafts, are also source of added enjoyment to the festival. You will find a number of websites and books which offer different ideas about the Easter crafts.

The Easter egg can be considered as one of the greatest examples of the tradition which began thousands of years ago. The egg was a symbol of a novel life for the ancient community. A fresh life comes into this world when the shell of the egg is broken. There are some myths which state that the world actually originated in the form of a huge egg. The upper half of the same turned into heaven, while the lower half into earth. For centuries together, the tradition of gifting eggs on the location of spring festival has been followed. Nowadays, people have fun decorating the eggs with colors and embellishing the same with simple patterns.

There are a number of craft ideas available for Easter. The Easter eggs, Easter decorations, Easter activities and Easter baskets and Letters to the Easter Bunny are among the popular fun and creative crafts for Easter. The paper baskets are one of the simplest things to make for kids and fill up with pretty things. These paper baskets are actually suitable for any occasion throughout the year. You can just change the shape of the basket according to the occasion. You can also decorate your basket and going to the people which best suits the idea of the baskets.

Making some unique Easter baskets for Easter and it ensures that your children will definitely cherish this memory forever. Another advantage of this same is that you can decompose the baskets very easily after the festival. The patterns in which you can make those baskets are plenty like a colored Easter basket, a plastic basket but even a wickerwork basket. You can therefore choose any pattern, as any pattern will work and do not fret if your basket is not absolutely water tight as a liner can always be put by you in the basket. Children can also enjoy making colorful Easter eggs with no warranty and confusion. However, this activity can be quite messy as different water colors and paints are going to be used for converting the eggs. Thus, the children will completely love to color their own eggs on Easter. Apart from this you can also make the Easter Bunny, paper butterflies and flowers for Easter. These are some of the fun and creative Easter craft ideas you can employ to have fun with your children.

The Real Story and History of the Easter Bunny

Some consider Easter as a religious holiday and for some it is a celebration on the occasion of end of winter as it symbolizes fresh beginnings. To most people, especially children, it is about the colored eggs, chocolate Easter bunny and other kind of sweet surprises. The colored eggs and Letters from the Easter Bunny himself are the highlights of Easter. However, have you ever wondered what the history and real story of Easter Bunny who is the favorite of everyone is?

Most of us do not question the history of the Easter Bunny as it is a tradition which is followed from the ancient times in almost all cultures. The Easter Bunny is a very prominent icon of this festival and has quite interesting origins. The rabbits and hares and eggs are considered as fertility symbols since ancient times. It is not a wonder that these animals have become symbols of rebirth and fertility associated with earth especially after a long winter as they are prolific breeders. Since number of centuries, parents have been entertaining the children with stories of the Easter hare which visits will be children under Easter night and leaves Easter gifts for them which includes the colored eggs and personalized Letters from the Easter Bunny. Even now, some children tend to leave carrots for the Easter hare it just like the cookies and milk are left for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve.

The Easter Bunny has caused a considerable amount of controversy across the world since centuries. Some non-Christian people have renamed the Easter Bunny as the Spring Bunny for maintaining the wall of separation between secular life and religion. Also, some of the Christian people actually disavow Easter for recognizing the pagan roots. In Australia, a rabbit is a non-native species and when they bred in a plague it actually resulted in an ecological disaster. Therefore, the Australians have actually been trying to remove the Easter Bunny and replace it with a marsupial called as the Bilby and therefore you will find a chocolate Bilby in the children's Easter baskets instead of a chocolate bunny.

There is another theory which states that the goddess Eostre found an injured bird in a snowy forest in winter which she transformed into a rabbit so that it was able to survive the cold. However, the transformation was not complete as the rabbit still laid eggs. In gratitude to the goddess the rabbit decorated the eggs and presented the same to the goddess every spring. But, it should be noted that there are no references about this story predating 1990 and therefore it is questionable that this story constitutes any kind of ancient tradition.

However, people have continued to include the Easter Bunny in the Easter celebrations in a major manner and Easter eggs and letters to the Easter Bunny continued to form a major part of the Easter tradition.

How to Stress Less during Easter?

So it is again that time of the year which your children are eagerly anticipating and you are secretly dreading. It is the holiday or the festival season, in which family get-togethers, lunches, celebration and enjoyment are common. However, when other family members and loved ones are enjoying, you are on your toes arranging everything and making everyone comfortable. You need to arrange everything from the Easter baskets, decoration, food and also the Easter package from the Easter Bunny. You need to plan everything in advance and supervise the same during the occasion and clear up after the celebration. This will easily tire anyone and stress levels are bound to increase. However, there are ways in which you can reduce your stress levels during Easter.

One of the main factors which increase the stress levels is not the problems or events which cause the stress, but it is our reaction to these stimuli. It is a fact that two people react differently to similar situation and therefore, it is possible to have different types of reactions to a situation. One of the most common problem with the holidays and festivals is that anyone and everyone is expected to be happy and if this does not happen, people or you yourself tend to believe that something is seriously wrong. You just cannot force others or yourself to have a good time.

You should also not compare or compete with anyone in having a better Easter celebration as the important thing is that you and your family enjoy and cherish the time spent together. Negative comparisons are a strict no-no and remember that the love and health of your friends and family is priceless. Also, do not take the complete responsibility of the Easter celebration on yourself and distribute responsibilities among your family members. You can share the major responsibilities with your spouse and the responsibilities such as egg decoration and writing letters to and ordering letters from the Easter Bunny to the older sibling among your children. Of course, if you keep a well stocked craft box year round, preparing for holiday fun and décor becomes easier.

Your craft box will be used in countless craft projects, including writing imaginative letters to The Easter Bunny. And those letters can be used as part of the holiday décor. It’s also a great idea to use letters from The Easter Bunny from previous Easters to decorate your home. You can also give some basic responsibilities to your small kids when you are busy with other decoration jobs. This will give you a lot of relief and you will also enjoy the whole process.

Also, do not spend the whole day in the celebrations and keep sometime for yourself doing what you like or just relaxing without even thinking about the celebrations.

You should also see to it that you eat well during this time so that you have the energy levels required and are able to manage all of the tasks efficiently. You can just research on the Internet for the different ways in which you can reduce the stress during Easter and manage a successful celebration of the same. I am sure you will find more than enough information on this topic as it is a common problem which most people tend to suffer from. By doing this, you will be able to enjoy Easter along with your family members and cherish those memories for a lifetime.

The History of Decorating and Using Eggs during Easter Time

Personalized letters from the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs are omnipresent during the time of the Easter festival naturally, which ranges from chocolate delicacies to the hard-boiled eggs which are colored. But, have you wondered what exactly the history of the Easter eggs is and why exactly do people decorate and use them during the Easter holiday. Well, it is believed that all life originates from the egg. Many cultures follow the conviction that life actually starts as an egg. Thus, eggs basically symbolize the spring and new life which emerges after a cold, long winter.

During the Passover, an egg which is hard-boiled is dipped in the salt water which symbolizes new life along with the Passover sacrifice which was made in the Jerusalem temple. In olden times, it was the Persians who began coloring eggs for the New Year celebration that happened at spring equinox. Also, in medieval Europe the eggs were actually forbidden during the 40 days of privation of Lent. When Easter came eggs were finally permitted and therefore they became symbols of celebrations and new life. Also it is believed that the eggs which are laid on the Good Friday should be voided and to do so up until Keystone as they protect against sudden deaths and increased the tree and crop fertility.

Clearly, there are religious beginnings as well as others that relate to the significance of eggs and why they are decorated during Easter? There are a number of ways in which you can decorate the Easter eggs. This is a very popular tradition practiced across the world. This is actually a family activity in which everybody takes part and has plenty of fun while doing it, especially the kids. You can use any bird egg for decorating the Easter eggs; however, the large eggs which have strong shells are just perfect for it. Most people prefer doing this activity at home, but you can also buy the decorated eggs from stores. These stores tend to have a wide collection of the Easter eggs with different prints, and designs and patterns. If you are short of time and don't want to leave out the eggs in the simulations, this is the perfect option for you.

You can apply a number of techniques while decorating your Easter egg and the simplest way to do this is dipping the respective eggs in a colored dye. This technique is especially useful if you do not have time for decorating the egg. Ensure that you purchase some artificial eggs as decorating the real eggs can be challenging and messy – but it is a lot of fun, especially with kids. Keep whatever material you need for decoration handy as it can be that the inconvenient for you to be running around the house once you start with the egg coloring. If you want to give your get a dazzling look should use plenty of rhinestones and sequins. Also, ensure that your kids carry out the decoration work under adult supervision – this can help prevent some of the mess and in some cases the kids may need and want your help.

The truth is that decorated Easter eggs and Letters to the Easter Bunny can add a lot of fun to the holiday. And if you really want to make the holiday memorable for everyone, then order personalized letters from The Easter Bunny. Your kids will cherish them forever!

Children and Chocolate Candy Make Easter Fun

The Easter Bunny is so busy because he has to hop across the world toting the Easter eggs and baskets that it is no wonder that the little girls and boys do not always get Letters from The Easter Bunny. Fortunately, you can give the rabbit a hand in writing the letters so that your kids are not disappointed. After all, aside from the religious beginnings, children, candy, and other goodies and treats are the integral aspects of Easter.

You can certainly gift the Easter baskets to children filled with dainty things. Grandparents, parents, uncles and aunts, friends and loved ones can easily write or order Letters from The Easter Bunny. Either choice is quite simple, however, when you choose to order professionally created letters from The Easter Bunny you are more likely to present your child with a letter that is believable. The letters will be printed on paper that is unique from something you could purchase at your local department store. And the fact that it is delivered via the postal service adds to the authenticity – it is much more convincing that way.

But you can always select any sample letter on the Internet and customize it as there are a number of websites who offer guidelines on writing the Letters from the Easter Bunny himself. You do not need any professional writing skills for writing the Letters from the Easter Bunny himself and you can come up with a decent letter just by following some basic tips and make Easter very special for your child.
The first thing you should decide is how and when it should be delivered. If you want it sent by mail or you have to take care that it is written, printed, formatted and sent off in time. If you are interested in presenting that letter on the Easter morning, you can also send that letter with a plate of carrots or place it in the Easter basket with the Easter candies which the children will just love. This technique has a lot more flexibility as you can easily download and print the preformatted letters from the Internet.

Most of the people have a fun-loving and jovial Easter Bunny in their mind. This is the reason why you can safely refer to the ideas like chomping on carrots and hopping around. You can also have the bunny give some friendly advice like being patient with siblings especially during the egg hunt and getting to bed early on the Saturday night or even waiting after dinner for enjoying a chocolate rabbit along with the candy. There is a wide variety of candy available in the market and some candies do not have excess sugar so they do not harm your child’s health excessively.

You can research about the different brands of candies available in the market and choose which you find to be more beneficial to your health. You can personalize the letter by adding some personal details about your kid’s family and even praise the child for any recent achievement in academics or sports and give it with the candy. You can also mention any encounter with the family pet.

Remember, you do have choices available to you when it comes to these all important letters. You can select to order a personalized letter from The Easter Bunny, or you can choose a printable letter from The Easter Bunny, or you can simply write your own letter. The point is, children not only hope for a letter from the rabbit, they feel extremely special when they receive it. But if they later find the same paper and marker used to write the letter they could be disappointed. That’s one of the many reasons that ordering your letter is a wise choice.

The Different Flavors of Easter Chocolates from The Easter Bunny

Easter goodies are often made of different chocolate flavors and each is really delicious in its own form. What really makes the flavors of chocolate different is totally dependent on the content of the Cocoa it has. It is the content of cocoa in the Easter chocolate eggs and candies that determine how intense or sweet the chocolate will be. Because of individual preferences, the chocolates are made with different cocoa content as some like sweet chocolate while others prefer a little bitter flavor.

There are lots of different flavors of Easter chocolates delicacies available throughout the Easter season. Chocolates that have 100 % cocoa content are actually unsweetened chocolate while the Milk chocolates are made of sweetened chocolate that only has 10% cocoa content. So actually in making the different flavors of chocolate varying amounts of cocoa and cocoa butter are added.

Unsweetened Chocolate:
This form of chocolate is most commonly used in making brownies and cakes and this is available in bar form as this melts easily.

Bitter Sweet Chocolate:
The Bitter sweet chocolate is much darker than the other chocolate flavors and is also more pronounced and semi sweet plus it contains high content of cocoa. The Bitter sweet chocolates are made by adding sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla plus Lecithin is added which is an emulsifier that helps to hold the cocoa and cocoa butter together in candy bars.

Semi Sweet Chocolate:
People use semi sweet chocolate for baking and snacking only and this semi sweet dark chocolate also has very low sugar content. The best thing about the semi sweet chocolate is that it combines well with flavors and easily melts away. You can find semi sweet chocolates in the form of chocolate chips and chunks.

Dark Chocolate:
This type of chocolate is plain chocolate without any milk and so this is actually a pure form of chocolate that contains no sugar. Dark chocolate is considered to be a very healthy choice for your overall health.

White Chocolates:
People often make Easter Bunnies and cakes with white chocolate. It contains sugar, cocoa powder, dry milk and added flavors like vanilla.

Whichever chocolate flavor you use depends on your particular preferences, but Easter just wouldn’t be the same without some type of chocolate! It makes excellent delicacies for your Easter festival. The kids just love to eat chocolate in any form and especially on Easter Sunday they like to participate in the Easter egg hunt and love to hunt and eat the eggs that The Easter Bunny has hidden for them.

You can also add additives like mint, coffee, orange or any other flavor you prefer. These are added in very small pieces or in the form of creamy liquid. You can also add little pieces of peanuts and other nuts in your Easter chocolates.
The Easter Basket is another treat that the children wait for as it is filled with candies and chocolates. You can easily load your child’s Easter basket with all the assortment of candies that are especially made for the Easter holiday – along with a special letter from The Easter Bunny. Then you and the kids can enjoy a wonderful chocolate treat as you read the letter and compare it to what the children said in their letter to The Easter Bunny. Sometimes it’s the little things that make holidays special!

Special Touches That Make Easter Special

Most Christians consider the Easter egg more than a celebration of the ending of the fasting as they believe that it is a declaration of the resurrection Of Jesus Christ. In some churches, on Easter day each household brings an Easter basket to the church and at the end of the services the Easter eggs are blessed by the priest. After being blessed by the priest the eggs are distributed among the children.

Easter eggs are given as traditional gifts during the season. Although there is a modern trend toward using plastic and candy eggs, in years past eggs were always hand-decorated. Many families still continue this tradition and there are several different methods that can be used. Whether you choose to use store bought egg coloring kits, create your own with food coloring, or use tissue paper or another creative method, the truth is that decorating Easter eggs is a lot of fun.

Easter egg hunts are always a fun game to play on Easter. Sometimes the game is that the eggs are ‘hidden by The Easter Bunny’ and other times the kids take turns hiding them for each other. Either way, children seem to love this game.

In checking some of the Easter traditions of other places and how they use eggs during Easter, I found some interesting information and I thought I would share it here with you. Here goes:

There are different decorating techniques that people of different traditions use to decorate them. In Romania the eggs are decorated using the Batik technique which is actually a wax resistance process and the eggs are dyed using this technique.

While in Ukraine exquisite Easter Jeweled eggs were created for the Russian Imperial court. And most of the Easter eggs contain surprises like miniature ships and clockwork birds. Easter eggs are given as a token of love and good wishes.

In most places around the world, some of the most elaborate boxed chocolates are given as Easter gifts to loved ones the number one gift during the Easter festival is the Easter basket that is full of Easter chocolate eggs that children and adults all love to eat. The children also get excited when they receive a letter from The Easter Bunny and this is the reason that many parents write a letter for their children from The Easter Bunny. It seems to to add a fairy tale touch to the holiday festival. Just a side note here, now days, we can purchase letters from The Easter Bunny that are much more authentic than the ones we write for our kids.
Games seem to be included as a part of the Easter celebration in many parts of the world. And most places do at least some type of decorating for the holiday. Not surprisingly, people everywhere are looking for ways to cut costs so making decorations at home is a popular way to spend family time during Easter as well as during Christmas. Cost effective activities such as writing letters to The Easter Bunny are appreciated by parents and loved by children. Kids look forward to chocolate treats and other goodies. Easter is celebrated all over the world at nearly the same time but different cultures have different traditions to follow. However, Easter is an occasion that is celebrated with joy and people of all ages participate in the fun. Easter is much like Christmas, it is a holiday that has a feeling all its own and that Easter feeling is in the air for quite a period of time.

By decorating our homes with colored eggs, flowers and other Easter related adornments we can add to that Easter feeling. It can be almost intoxicating, making our holiday even more meaningful and memorable.

The Flavor and Aroma of the Easter Season

Easter is celebrated on the day in which, according to the Christian belief, Jesus Christ was resurrected he gave his life to die for the sins of his people. Although Easter is a religious holiday, it is also a joyous one. Like Christmas, this holiday often brings families together and provides time for bonding. It is a time when friends and family share at least a few special moments together. For that reason alone it is a time to celebrate. And throughout the years we have learned that decorating adds to the festive flavor of a special event or holiday, Easter is no exception.

People often decorate their homes with Easter adornments. Lights are sometimes placed in doorways so that Easter décor becomes visible even from a distance. You can choose colorful lights to add elegance to the Easter decorations. Celebrate the coming of Easter by welcoming The Easter Bunny in your home with lots of Easter decorations. You can start to trim your house inside out with Easter lilies and banners. These colorful faith inspiring ornaments really add the flavor of the festive season. Since Easter season is associated with the principle of renewal and rebirth decorating in your garden will complement the holiday atmosphere.

Outdoor Easter Decorations:
Easter Yard Signs:
You can put up the Easter yard signs in your lawn so that passer bys can easily join in the spirit of the festive occasion.

Mini Easter Eggs:
You can decorate your bushes by hanging mini eggs and making them add color to your outdoor décor. You can even place the Easter eggs and a big Easter bunny at different spots in your garden. Lighted Easter eggs will increase the festive atmosphere at night and you can also place these lighted eggs on the mantelpiece or on your window sill.

Emblem Flag:
You could also place an emblem flag in your front yard to mark the holiday occasion. This can either acknowledge the religious significance of the occasion or it can be a signal to The Easter Bunny, so he can find your house.

Indoor Easter Decorations:

You can decorate your home interior with Easter furnishings that are include Easter eggs, candy dishes, candles, small Easter Bunnies as table decorations, banners and different ornaments. These are Easter furnishings that truly capture the spirit of the Easter festival and are actually based on the traditional symbols of fertility and new life – The Easter Bunnies actually represent rebirth in this holiday spirit.

There are also different types of inflatable Easter decorations that can be used again and again. You can usually buy them from a nearby department store or from online stores. Actually, online shopping is a cost effective way to get your Easter decorations and you will find a larger selection online than you will at your local department store. I highly recommend Internet shopping.

You can add the Easter trimming by putting up a green Rabbit garden edging. It creates a colorful festive look and it can be reused over the years. The colorful and lively Easter decorations will brighten your home each year and add a magic touch to the traditional Easter festival memories that are treasured.

You can order Easter eggs, baskets and various types of ornaments from online stores. In fact, you’ll find everything you need to make your holiday wonderful, from Easter lights to letters from The Easter Bunny, and even delicious hams and other food items for that delectable Easter Sunday Dinner.

The Easter Trimmings That Make it More Memorable

A traditional flower choice for Easter is of course Easter Lilies. Whether you grow these beautiful flowers in your garden or bring them indoors, they have sweet fragrance that is more wonderful than an expensive perfume. Decorating your home with Easter Lilies not only looks great, it smells marvelous!

Of course, some people cannot be around fresh flowers because of allergies and other ailments. In that case there are very realistic silk flowers that can be used in place of the real ones. Other options include skipping the flowers all together and simply decorating with banners and other adornments. The nice thing about using this type of decorating style is that the kids can usually get involved.

The Easter season and the games can complement Easter traditions, establishing strong family connections so that Easter becomes an undeniably wonderful holiday. Most people associate Easter with Easter eggs and hot cross buns, and of course,
The Easter Bunny

Easter festival:
Many people are not sure of the origin and real meaning of the Easter tradition and some celebrate it as a religious holiday while others celebrate it as the start of the spring season. The icon symbol of Easter is that of The Easter Bunny. And whenever we see The Easter Bunny we immediately think about Easter eggs and children. They just seem to go together and these are the things that signify the arrival of the Easter and the beginning of spring.

Easter Bunny:
Rabbits and hares have always been a symbol of fertility and so they have become associated with the onset of the spring season and the renewing of life after a long winter. The custom of Easter eggs originated from Germany, where the kids were told tales of The Easter Bunny who laid eggs for the kids and the Germans brought this tradition to America. This started off the tradition in the US of baking Easter cakes in the shape of bunnies and also the Easter chocolate eggs.

Over the years The Easter Bunny’s popularity has grown and now his reputation is much like that of Santa’s. Indulging parents and other loving adults often present kids with wonderful gifts and goodies during this holiday. That’s one of the reasons that kids look forward to it. However, kids are told that the gifts are from The Easter Bunny. But many children have been told that The Easter Bunny only visits good little boys and girls. That has resulted in kids everywhere writing letters to The Easter Bunny. Then they wait and hope to find a letter from The Easter Bunny that will reassure the children that he will be coming to their house on Easter.

Easter Eggs:
It has been seen that many different cultures use eggs during Easter festivities because it symbolizes the new life and fertility. The eggs were forbidden during the lent period which is the period of fasting according to religious tradition. During this holiday people play many games that use eggs. This includes egg rolls and Easter egg hunts. There are even some especially designed Beeping Easter eggs that are made for visually impaired children. This allows them to participate in the egg hunt. These eggs either make a single high pitched sound or play a melody.

Easter Cards:
Easter cards were first drawn in Victorian England and from then on the tradition of sending Easter cards to loved ones started. And accordingly Easter is considered as the fourth most popular festival in which people send cards to their loved ones.

Easter Candies:
Candy gifts are the ideal gift for Easter. Indeed, this is the traditional Easter gift.

Easter Parades:
Little kids sometimes love to dress up as The Easter Bunny or even an Easter egg and march in the Easter parade – you know; the one in your backyard! This can create a lively and colorful atmosphere that is full of fun for all. The kids simply love to dance to the melodious tunes that are played and enjoy eating their delicious treats.

The Easter Celebrations around the Globe

It is quite interesting to see that Easter is celebrated with different traditions across the Globe. In New Zealand people celebrate Easter by attending the early morning church services. This marks the end of the season of lent. And on Easter morning all the stores and confectioneries start to sell Easter baskets filled with chocolate Easter eggs and Hot cross buns.

In France, Easter celebrations start off by giving away Easter eggs. This is because eggs are related to the renewal of nature during the spring and it also relates to the period of fasting in which eggs are forbidden. France has a tradition of hidden surprises in the Chocolate Easter eggs. It’s no surprise that kids love the chocolate Easter eggs and that emotion is enhanced by the element of surprise.

In Italy family members exchange Easter eggs as a token of the love and respect that they have for each other. The Italians start off Easter Sunday with a traditional breakfast of salami, eggs, cheese cake and a traditional sweet cake called Colmba which contains almonds and candies. And on Easter Monday most families go out on picnics and eat lamb and broad beans.

In Czech Republic, Easter is not celebrated as a religious festival but it is considered a way to welcome the spring season, where the family unites and enjoys a hearty dinner together. The people of this place usually decorate the Easter eggs with a technique called Kraslice in which the egg yolk and white are removed and the egg shell is decorated in different colors.

Easter in Australia is a religious tradition where the hot cross buns are made and relate with the cross of Jesus and the buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday.

In the US we have combined religion and fun. On Easter Sunday kids wake up to find their Easter basket filled with goodies and perhaps a letter from The Easter Bunny. Church service is a part of the day for most families and so is a delicious Easter Sunday Dinner. The children enjoy having an Easter egg hunt and playing other games while eating the treats left by The Easter Bunny.

In Ireland the tradition of celebrating Easter festival is quite traditional to the Christian world. The people of Ireland start off with the dawn dance, the herring funeral and also the cake dance to mark the Easter festival.

In Poland the tables are covered with Easter delicacies that include colored eggs, cold meat, coils of sausages and a lamb made of sugar. In this part of the world they follow strict traditions and smoke is permitted during the Easter day - this is the reason that no warm meals are served. Sharing a hardboiled egg with your relatives is also a part of the religious tradition of Poland.

The Brazilians hide the Easter eggs in the house a day before Easter and the children search for the eggs the next morning.

The English celebrate Easter in a traditional way by eating hot cross buns (which symbolize the cross) and chocolate Easter eggs (which are truly the symbol of a new life).

People in all parts of the world celebrate the Easter festival with a lot of zest and excitement and the kids simply enjoy all the fun and frolic that goes on in during the celebrations.

How The Easter Bunny Fits In

Religious holidays are unique in many ways. As we celebrate them we want to enjoy the fun things associated with the season but we don’t want to forget how our religion comes into play. This sometimes poses a dilemma for parents and confusion for children.

As parents we want to do whatever we can to insure that our children have fun. We want them to have great childhood memories that are treasured. But at the same time, we don’t want them to feel like they are missing out on fun things in life that other children enjoy. For some parents, The Easter Bunny is a somewhat questionable character. Much like Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny is said to be a commercialized aspect of a religious holiday.

Earlier posts have discussed the history of Easter and the early beginnings that included the pagan ‘Eastre’ springtime celebration. The rabbit was used in this celebration as a symbol of fertility and new beginnings. As the pagan festivals were converted to Christian holidays Eastre became Easter, and the rabbit was brought along with the celebrations. However, the symbolism is said to have changed from that of fertility to the symbolism of innocence, and a vulnerable creature that can be sacrificed, much like the lamb. For Christians, these symbols are tokens of Christ and the sacrifice he made.

With that in mind, parents can explain to children why it is a rabbit that delivers the Easter goodies. But in many cases, at least until the kids are a little older, they will only care that The Easter Bunny is coming to their house and that he is going to bring the treats they especially want. The tradition of writing letters to The Easter Bunny can help parents iron out this dilemma when working to make the religious connection between The Easter Bunny and the holiday.

The point is that The Easter Bunny letters are generally written as a family activity. There’s no better time to have a discussion about how The Easter Bunny came into the picture than that time. This is a great opportunity to talk about the things you feel are important about the holiday.

Your children will learn from you as they have fun writing the letters and carrying out other fun activities. The religious connection will be made while the kids enjoy the traditional Easter Bunny treats. It really is possible to enjoy a religious Easter that includes The Easter Bunny.

Easter Traditions

Easter is one of those special holidays that we look forward to. In fact, it is not only a Christian holiday, but it is one that is fun for non-religious individuals. Kids of course, focus on The Easter Bunny and the goodies he will bring. But where did our Easter symbols, icons and traditions come from?

The truth is that although many simply say commercialization has resulted in the way we celebrate, there are other bases for the things that have become associated with Easter. According to research conducted online, the holiday was originally a pagan festival. Easter or ‘Eastre’ was a celebration of the return of spring. In those early times Christian missionaries worked to convert the individuals that celebrated the spring. In order to spread Christianity in a way that was better received the holy days were designed to coincide with existing celebrations. This resulted in a continuance of the pagan feasts, but they were celebrated in a Christian manner.

Conveniently enough the spring celebration happened near the same time that Christians celebrated the Resurrection of Christ. It was a simple step to move from one celebration to the other and to change the celebration from “Eastre” to Easter.
This is also where the roots of our modern day Easter Bunny began. The pagan festival paid tribute to the goddess ‘Eastre’ who was symbolized by the rabbit.
The egg is not a new concept either. From ancient times eggs have symbolized rebirth. And decorating and exchanging eggs was a sign of hope and friendship.
As generations have come and gone, we have built on these early traditions and thus, we have embellished some elements and let some lose their importance. The religious among will always see Easter as a Christian holiday. But just like Christmas, Easter is celebrated by almost everyone.

The Easter eggs are an important component of decorating an Easter Basket, but they are mostly just enjoyed for their beauty and the fun of the egg coloring. Plus, kids everywhere use the beautiful eggs as objects to hide in order to play games on Easter.

The Easter Bunny is becoming almost as popular as Santa Claus. Because he brings candy and other treasures to children on Easter most kids want to insure that he knows what they want. This has resulted in a tradition of writing letters to The Easter Bunny. The letters are designed to inform the Bunny of special treats the child would like to receive and even to let him know how good they have been. Kids hope to receive a personalized letter from The Easter Bunny in return. And many do.
Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving, most families have their own particular holiday traditions. This may focus on gifts and decorating, but an important element of each of these holidays is food. Easter Dinner is usually a festive occasion – a time when family gathers to eat a scrumptious meal together.

Whatever you do on Easter and other holidays, I suggest that you begin some traditions of your own. Either follow some that are commonly practiced or create something new. When my children were young we made a tradition of visiting the zoo on Easter. Of course, as the kids grew up they found other things to do on the holiday, but now that tradition is again practiced with my grandkids.

Create some fond memories and some traditions that will be special and unique to your family. Make the most of the time you have with your loved ones!

The No Mess Easter Evening Event

My grandchildren will be coloring eggs and decorating their Easter baskets at my house next year. And while I plan to make an evening around the fun I am also dreading the mess. Believe me, I want the kids to have a great time but I anticipate egg color being spilled and splattered and Easter grass being spread throughout my home. Well, let me back up – I was anticipating those unpleasant outcomes. But here are my solutions to avoiding the mess and to insuring that the kids will remember the time as a fun and creative experience.

Of course this will involve my craft box. I will be needing craft tissue paper in various colors. I will also want to use green ‘stuff’ from my box. If I have any pieces of green wrapping paper from another holiday or event, that will be perfect.
Okay, my plan is that on the evening the kids come over for this Easter Event I have already boiled the Easter Eggs. I generally provide 6 per child. The eggs will be cooling and ready for color. Now I know people’s idea of the perfect grandmother is one that does a lot of cooking and baking – but that really doesn’t describe me. Don’t get me wrong – I love to cook, I just hate the mess!

Anyway, I have decided that we will have a quick and easy meal of tacos. The kids always like to help me gather the ingredients and then make their own tacos their way. We simply place the shredded lettuce, cheese, salsa, taco sauce, refried beans, beef and chicken in their own bowls and everyone digs in. I will also cook some rice and purchase a large bag of tortilla chips.

After we eat that meal I will get out the craft box and the real fun begins. To start, the kids will all write a letter to The Easter Bunny. This is one tradition that I really enjoy. It’s mess free and lots of fun for everyone. As the kids are entertained with their letter writing activity I will throw some brownies in the oven.

Next we will color the eggs with a no mess method. Here’s how: The kids will shred the beautifully colored tissue paper – we’ll keep the colors separated in bowls. Next we will use wet washcloths to get the eggs wet enough so that the tissue paper will stick to them. As the paper is applied the eggs will begin to take on that Easterly appearance. And some magic begins to happen. The color from the paper transfers to the eggs. When the paper is dry the kids can remove it to reveal the pastel colors. The entire process is quick and easy, and there’s no mess.

Of course the kids want a beautiful basket to place their eggs in so we will use ribbon, lace, miniature flowers and other odds and ends to decorate those. But no Easter basket is complete without some grass, right? The good news is there are creative alternatives that can be used instead of that messy plastic grass that seems to find its way all over the house.

Here are some ideas that I have found. First, if you have any gift wrap that has a lot of green in it, use it. Just crinkle the paper and place in the bottom of the basket. Then cut small pieces of green ribbon and cut up any green bows you have. This can be added on top of the green paper to give a ‘grass like’ look. This is the method I will be using, but I found a few others that also sound fun.

You could use green licorice (apple flavor is usually green) for grass. Or you could use green fabric. One option here is to purchase green bandanas or even green socks that can be used for something else after the holiday.

You can also purchase various types of green candy to use in place of grass. Or you could use long strands of green beads.

I read a couple of suggestions about using green marbles or spray painting small pebbles green for this purpose. My only problem with this is that some smaller children may put those items in their mouth.

Okay, there you go – a fun filled evening with your kids or grandkids that is virtually mess free. You will build memories for everyone involved. Give it a try!