Holy Week will look different for all of us, but generally, it is a time for additional prayer, reflection, preparation, and fasting. It may include confession and/or stations of the cross. There are so many wonderful teachable moments for our children during Holy Week and Lent. In this article, I will share with you some of our family’s Holy Week and Easter traditions and what helps keep us focused!
My Holy Week Checklist
- Deep cleaning checklist for Monday – Wednesday click HERE for my cleaning checklist
- Confession during Lent complete – my full guide for confession is HERE
- Divine Mercy Novena ready to start on Good Friday Full novena printable HERE
- Paschal Candle ready to assemble we get ours HERE
- Easter “gifts” all ready my ideas HERE
- Ask for Good Friday off of work
- Feet washing materials ready for Thursday
- Meal planning for Story Meal (Thursday)
- Veneration of the Cross (Friday at Church)
- Finalize Easter Meals and Easter Outfits Printable Meal Plan Below
- Have Easter Egg coloring kits ready
- Have story and Resurrection Rolls ready for Easter
- Quiet time on Good Friday and Holy Saturday
The Easter Story Egg
Starting on Palm Sunday after Mass, our family begins The Easter Story Egg by Natalie Ard. It’s a beautiful book that comes with seven stackable Easter eggs. Each day a new egg is uncovered with a sweet story that follows along with it.
Spring Cleaning ~ Holy WEek
I borrowed this idea from Catholic All Year by Kendra Tierney. In her book, she recommends spending Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week deep cleaning the house. Here is my free printable spring cleaning checklist! We started this tradition last year and absolutely love it! We have found it to be a terrific way to prepare for Easter- our kids get involved and it helps everyone remain focused. We also watch the movie Prince of Egypt this week. It’s my family’s favorite—trust me, it is sooo good!
Some other activities I will do at the beginning of Holy week include shop for last minute Easter gifts, grocery shop for the week’s menu, have more intense prayer (maybe adoration, or an extra Rosary), lay out Easter outfits (check out my favorite dresses here & below), and make sure I have dresses, shoes, tights, ties and anything else that might be needed for Easter morning. I like to lay everything out on my bed and make sure every outfit is complete! Another idea is to give all the kids hair cuts this week.
Here is a video of Catholic Gifts for Easter. Also you can get 15% off all your Catholic Easter gifts at The Catholic Company and other Catholic Stores online . They have so many great Catholic gift ideas!
Holy Thursday
On Holy Thursday morning, I will make unleavened bread with Bella (or buy some at the store.) We will set up the table for a special candlelit dinner with candles, bread, and grape juice in the middle of the table. If the children are at good ages, we go to Mass as a family and afterwards, we draw names and wash each other’s feet! This is such a wonderful tradition for our children. They can really envision what it was like for Jesus! It’s an excellent way for our kids to practice loving each other. The kids also get a special serving of grape juice during their dinner on Holy Thursday! In addition, my husband and I spend extra time reflecting on the readings.
Another idea for Holy Thursday:
- Watch the movie Paul, Apostle of Jesus Christ this is an amazing movie that makes me want to be holy!
- Have the kids do a Last Supper play based on the Gospel readings.
Good Friday
*** Remember, Good Friday is a day of fasting.
On Good Friday, we will do our last Stations of the Cross during Lent. My husband and I will also watch The Passion of Christ once the kids go to bed.
Also, the Divine Mercy Novena starts Good Friday! Here is how to pray this novena. You can also get a printable copy here.
Other Good Friday activities:
- Watch Brother Francis: He is Risen. It explains Holy Week very well to kids!
- Have the kids color pictures of Jesus and the passion from Catholic Icing or a full coloring book of the passion.
Holy Saturday
As a family, we try to keep Holy Saturday quiet. We will dye Easter eggs, get the spring decorations out, and maybe take the kids to the park. I also try to get all my food prepped so that I don’t have to do much on Easter. Holy Saturday is a great night to have a bonfire where you can read scriptures and talk about Jesus being the light of the world.
Easter Sunday
Everyone is super excited when they wake up on Easter morning! As soon as the kids are awake, it’s time to search for hidden Easter eggs and baskets! Shortly after, the kids will make resurrection rolls (yummy marshmallow filled crescent rolls that when cooked, the marshmallow disappears!) Then we will have brunch my Eggs Benedict Quiche is super easy and yummy! Also the night before I will make this amazing Blueberry French Toast casserole After breakfast, it’s time for Mass and a family picture. Then, the afternoon and dinner spent with more family!
2 Responses
Great ideas! Thankyou so much.
Love your ministry Heather, has been so helpful for me and our family. God bless you and your family.
Love these ideas, thank you for sharing!