Celebrating Easter 2025: Traditions, Meaning & Modern Joys
Celebrating Easter 2025:
Traditions, Meaning & Modern Joys
Easter is that holiday that many people use to mark the beginning of Spring, despite what date it actually falls on each year. It just tends to signify the passing of Winter and the entrance of Spring. There's a sense of joy, happiness, and light-heartedness in the air.
This year, in 2025, Easter falls on Sunday, April 20th, as does the publishing of this blog post. I suppose, if I had thought about it differently, I would have published this blog post a few weeks ago and provided some ideas on food, decor, etc. But since I didn't, I will spend a little time talking about the meaning of Easter. But I will share some traditions, activities, and ideas to make the day special.
The Meaning Behind Easter
At its heart, Easter is the most significant celebration in the Christian faith, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose from the grave three days later on what is now celebrated as Easter Sunday. This miraculous event is seen as the cornerstone of Christianity, symbolizing victory over sin and death and the fulfillment of God’s promise of eternal life. It is a reminder that Jesus will return one day to take those who believe, back to heaven with Him, for eternity.
As a Christian, each year, I spend some time thinking about these things. On Good Friday, with a somber spirit, I consider how God sent His only Son to die for the sins of man, to offer redemption and mercy. I think about how difficult that must have been. I too, have sons, and to think of purposely sending either of them to die such a brutal death (crucifixion) to pay the price for the sins of everyone else, is hard, as a mother, to swallow.
But as I ponder Christ's sacrifice of His life for ours, I am deeply humbled and incredibly grateful. And on Good Friday, I spend time in prayer of gratitude that I am able to have eternal life because of Jesus' sacrifice.
And on Easter Sunday, it is a day of rejoicing! This is the day that signifies the rising of Jesus from the grave, just as was promised and prophesied many years before. I spend time in praise and worship of Jesus Christ and in deep gratitude that He gave His life, so that I might live. And so that anyone who believes in Him, will have eternal life. I mean, isn't that amazing?
For Christians, Easter is more than just a holiday—it is a profound reminder of God’s love, grace, and the hope of redemption. It is a time to reflect on the sacrifice Jesus made and to celebrate the new life and spiritual freedom His resurrection offers to believers. Many churches hold special services, including sunrise worship, baptisms, and passion plays, helping congregations engage deeply with the story of the cross and the empty tomb.
Beyond Religious Roots
But even beyond its religious roots, Easter carries general themes of hope, renewal, and new beginnings. Just as nature begins to bloom in the spring, Easter is a symbolic invitation to leave behind what’s dead or dormant in our lives and step into something new—new habits, new goals, new grace. It's like New Year or Spring Cleaning, for our lives.
Around the world, Easter is celebrated in both sacred and secular ways.
In places like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, it’s common to see children participating in Easter egg hunts, receiving candy-filled and gift filled baskets, and posing with the Easter Bunny. It's a time of fun and food.
Meanwhile, countries like Spain and the Philippines hold more solemn processions and reenactments of the Passion of Christ. They take the time to honor and celebrate the original meaning of Easter. The sorrow of Christ's death on the cross, the mourning of His friends and family, and then the rejoicing of His resurrection.
In Orthodox Christian countries like Greece and Russia, Easter (often celebrated later due to the Julian calendar) is a deeply spiritual event, culminating in candlelit midnight services and the greeting: “Christ is risen!” followed by the response, “He is risen indeed!” I think it's important to honor Easter in whatever way is most comfortable for you. But for me, HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
Whether observed in a church pew, a family dining room, or a sunlit garden, Easter continues to be a day that stirs the soul—offering hope in darkness, life in place of loss, and the promise that new beginnings are always possible.
Easter Traditions Around the World
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Egg painting and Easter egg hunts 🥚
- For as long as I can remember, children, parents, and grandchildren have been dying Easter Eggs and having Easter Egg hunts on Easter. Although I'm not even sure where that tradition came from. (Maybe I'll look into that, for next year's Easter blog)
- In more recent years, families have begun to find more natural, sustainable ways to color Easter Eggs, such as using the natural coloring from various foods, such as beets, blueberries, etc.
- And of course, there are always some who use plastic eggs, just in case some eggs are never "found". These eggs usually contain candy or money. And they can be re-used for a number of years.
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Church services and processions ⛪
- Some churches have special sunrise services where honor is paid to the risen Christ, noting that it was sunrise when Mary & Martha went to visit Jesus' tomb and found that the large, heavy stone had been rolled away and the body was no longer there, but the burial wrappings were.
- And some churches have larger processionals during their church service, to honor the resurrection of Jesus. Or they have the children or choir deliver and Easter performance, sharing the Easter story.
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Foods associated with Easter 🍫
- And in the United States, there are foods that are traditionally served for Easter, such as ham or lamb, green beans, hot cross buns, etc. I remember my grandma making Lemon Meringue Pie and Carrot Cake.
- Some people celebrate Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Breads, choosing to honor the holiday similarly to how it would have been celebrated during the time of Jesus.
- Unique customs (e.g., Sweden’s "Easter witches", Italy’s "Scoppio del Carro")
- Take a moment to share with us, the unique customs your family or culture celebrates, by sharing in the comments or sending me an email.
Ideas for Celebrating Easter (Any Year!)
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For Families with Kids: DIY egg dyeing, Easter crafts, scavenger hunts
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Faith-Focused Observance: Sunrise service, reflection, scripture reading and discussion of Passover
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Food & Feasting: Brunch ideas, traditional meals, baking with spring flavors
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Community Fun: Local events, parades, egg roll competitions
5. Easter Decor & Vibes
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Color palette trends
- We often see or think of pastels, florals, or natural touches, but you can always mix it up and go with more vibrant colors, or neutral colors and textures
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Simple table setups or centerpiece ideas
- Tulips or Lilles are frequently used and/or seen at Easter Time, and can be used to draw together other aspects of your decor
- But be careful with lilies, they are very poisonous to many pets, such as cats.
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Sustainable Easter
- eco-friendly basket fillers, upcycled décor
- using items such as burlap, dried grass, twine, or other such eco-friendly, yet tasteful decor
Reflecting on Renewal and Fresh Starts
No matter how you choose to celebrate Easter, it's a great time of year for reflection and renewal, as the earth is naturally doing so, itself.
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