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
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! Also for younger kids this Brother Fancis ‘He Is Risen’ Movie is AMAZING for kids to understand Holy Week in a way they can understand it. This is very well done even my older kids like watching it! Please let me know if your family watch any movies for Holy Week!
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 (free guide below), have more intense prayer (maybe adoration, confession, daily mass 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.
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.
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.
We will also make these adorable Easter Candles from this Kit! The kids love this activity and it kids there minds focused on what is about to happen, such a great family activity for Holy Saturday!
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!
There are so many wonderful teachable moments for our children during Holy week and Lent. Thank you for letting me share some of our family traditions with you! What are some of your family traditions during this special week?
Have a blessed Holy Week and Happy Easter!
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!