Easter Memories Graphic with two toddlers with Easter baskets

© Laura Hedgecock 1995

My Easter memories probably differ from yours—unless you are my sister. That’s because our memories reflect the time and places we grew up in, our family and religious traditions, and a slew of other factors.

Sharing our childhood memories is a great way to help loved ones understand us and our circumstances better.

In her great article, Creating Easter Memories – Ideas and Tips, Ngaire Stirling talks about making Easter Memories meaningful for kids. Although Stirling hails from Brisbane, Australia and is a good bit younger than me, many of the items on her list felt familiar. Her post took a universal experience and gave her readers a taste of her own life.

She also points out that there are secular ways to celebrate a religious holiday when you’re not part of that faith tradition. Which makes sense. I have several Jewish friends who associate Christmas days with movies and Chinese food.

Sharing Easter memories is sharing family traditions that can be passed on.

Rather than an outdoor Easter egg hunt, my husband’s mom used to hide Easter candy throughout the house. Just the other week, she was laughing about how many weeks past Easter the kids were still finding candy. That’s something I would love to see happen for future generations.

Although it wasn’t a yearly tradition, twice my husband and I celebrated Easter with our kids in a national park. Our pastor lent us a book of worship with recommended Easter readings.

Reading those passages with our kids on the south rim of the Grand Canyon shortly after sunrise was truly a holy experience. Years later, we repeated it at Zion National Park.

However, transporting chocolates in April in the rental car’s trunk was a fail!

Reflecting on your Easter memories helps you tell larger family stories.

My sister and I weren’t the only little girls in our area that got a new dress, shoes, and sometimes a hat for Easter. However, knowing the poverty that our mother came out of, we’re well aware of how sweet that tradition was for our mom.

Our dresses weren’t ostentatious, but for mom they were a luxury and a point of pride.

My mom, my sister and I on a long ago Easter Sunday

What we don’t have amongst our memories are stories of a large family gathered around the table on Easter Sunday. Our parents raised us away from family. For us, that was normal. However, now I wonder how my parents felt about it.

Your Easter Memories can encourage loved ones to share their own stories.

Memories beget memories.

As you share—whether in person or in writing—your Easter memories, invite others to relate theirs. Even sibling stories can vary. For instance, one child may remember feeling doubtful about the Easter bunny, while another might have been all in.

Easter Memories of boys on Easter Photo of me on crutches with my boys

One Easter I was on crutches and on of the boys had a black eye. Did you have any calamitous Easters?

Similarly, faith traditions among Christians differ, as does the extent to which Easter was a religious celebration. Some of us may remember Easter vigils, focusing on the Passion of Christ. For others, Easter might have been more about family.

Easter memories make a great gateway to other stories of Spring, new beginnings, and family celebrations.

Our stories don’t occur in a vacuum. Just writing this post, I realized I spent many Easters traveling—Barcelona with my mom, Portugal with my husband, visiting my sister in South Carolina, and National Parks with my kids.

I’m sure you have similar connections.

Stories of egg dying could morph into family crafting. Easter Sunday memories could be a story of a developing faith.

Related post: 45 Spring Story Prompts

Share your photos as you share your Easter memories.

In many families, Easter was a day to get out the camera. As you look back at your photos, reminisce and tell stories.

Easter Memories a goofy picture of my family in front of a flower cross.

Related Post: Photo Reminiscence Therapy Leads to Family Stories and Better Health

Your Turn:

I would love to hear some of your Easter memories! Please add them to the comments below. If you’ve written about them, include a link.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This