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.
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.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
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letter from The Easter Bunny,
letters to The Easter Bunny
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.
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.
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 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!
Saturday, April 17, 2010
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letters to The Easter Bunny,
personalized letter from the easter bunny
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!
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!
Easter Basket Alternatives
Most of us have found that saving things from one holiday to another is not always practical. I am referring to things like those treasured Easter Baskets. While some people have ample storage space and are not concerned with a place to keep the baskets from one year to another, others among us struggle with finding a spot to put them. The solution is simple, instead of using a traditional Easter basket, why not use another item that can serve as a basket temporarily and then be used for a practical purpose?
I have searched the Internet and found some creative ideas. Some are more suitable for smaller kids, but others are perfect for teens and even adults. Keep reading, you’re sure to see an idea or two that will work for you and your loved ones.
A ball cap can be perfect for the boy or man in your life. Just fill the cap in the same way you would an Easter basket. Add a little special touch of a wonderful treat and a letter from The Easter Bunny that mentions something about the love of the sport or whatever the cap represents. This idea also works for little boys that are into other things that can represented by a hat or cap. You can find fire fighter hats, Army helmets, construction hard hats, cowboy hats, or whatever. Another idea for a little boy is using a large toy dump truck to hold those Easter goodies.
You can use almost any theme you want. If there is a fisherman in your life (regardless of his age) you can use a tackle box. After all, Easter comes at a time of year when many of us are thinking about all the outdoor activities that we enjoy – why not get a jump on some of the things you will need to buy?
With that thought in mind you might consider such things as a backpack, a small duffle bag, a golf bag, or even a little wagon. The big guy in your life might love the idea of a tool box or even a wheel barrel. Imagine the fun you could have filling these larger containers!
The females in your world also want to have fun and get a little something extra at Easter. Many of the makeup bags are perfect for this purpose. Little girls will appreciate a stroller or a play shopping cart filled with Easter treats. Purses also work well for this.
Sand pails, flower pots and jewelry boxes are other ideas that will work well for this. Even bike helmets or a decorative dish can be used. In one article I found the suggestion of using an emptied paint cans. What I like about this ideas is the fact that its recycling something that is usually thrown out and the cans can be painted and decorated in lots of cute ways. In fact, you happen to be preparing a ‘basket’ for a painter this is an adorable idea. You could add a new paintbrush as a special Easter treat.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination. Find something that will serve a dual purpose. Then when the container is empty of Easter candy and treats it can be used for even more fun. And the best part is you are giving the recipient a great gift that was unexpected.
I have searched the Internet and found some creative ideas. Some are more suitable for smaller kids, but others are perfect for teens and even adults. Keep reading, you’re sure to see an idea or two that will work for you and your loved ones.
A ball cap can be perfect for the boy or man in your life. Just fill the cap in the same way you would an Easter basket. Add a little special touch of a wonderful treat and a letter from The Easter Bunny that mentions something about the love of the sport or whatever the cap represents. This idea also works for little boys that are into other things that can represented by a hat or cap. You can find fire fighter hats, Army helmets, construction hard hats, cowboy hats, or whatever. Another idea for a little boy is using a large toy dump truck to hold those Easter goodies.
You can use almost any theme you want. If there is a fisherman in your life (regardless of his age) you can use a tackle box. After all, Easter comes at a time of year when many of us are thinking about all the outdoor activities that we enjoy – why not get a jump on some of the things you will need to buy?
With that thought in mind you might consider such things as a backpack, a small duffle bag, a golf bag, or even a little wagon. The big guy in your life might love the idea of a tool box or even a wheel barrel. Imagine the fun you could have filling these larger containers!
The females in your world also want to have fun and get a little something extra at Easter. Many of the makeup bags are perfect for this purpose. Little girls will appreciate a stroller or a play shopping cart filled with Easter treats. Purses also work well for this.
Sand pails, flower pots and jewelry boxes are other ideas that will work well for this. Even bike helmets or a decorative dish can be used. In one article I found the suggestion of using an emptied paint cans. What I like about this ideas is the fact that its recycling something that is usually thrown out and the cans can be painted and decorated in lots of cute ways. In fact, you happen to be preparing a ‘basket’ for a painter this is an adorable idea. You could add a new paintbrush as a special Easter treat.
As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Just use your imagination. Find something that will serve a dual purpose. Then when the container is empty of Easter candy and treats it can be used for even more fun. And the best part is you are giving the recipient a great gift that was unexpected.
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