30 Easter Traditions to Make Your Sunday Celebration Egg-stra Special
Celebrate the holiday with Easter crafts, egg hunts, and family fun.
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Easter Sunday is all about celebrating, but how you do it can look a little different from family to family. The Drummonds, for example, go all out with their Easter activities! Every year they open fun Easter baskets, have a huge egg hunt with all the kids, and attend a musical church service. Other families might skip the egg hunt in favor of planting a jelly bean garden or swap brunch plans for a big Easter dinner. No matter what your favorite Easter traditions are, it's never too late to mix things up and add something new to your Easter itinerary. Who knows, you might just find a new family favorite!
Have you ever flown a kite on Good Friday? In Bermuda, it's a yearly tradition! Or maybe you'd like to bring a little friendly competition to the holiday with some Easter games like an egg tapping contest or an Easter egg roll. There are so many fun ideas to make the day feel extra special, from decorating an Easter tree to baking homemade hot cross buns. (That's one of Ree's favorite traditions!) Maybe this is the year you switch up your Easter menu and indulge in extra appetizers in a pot-luck style celebration instead of the usual spread. You could also keep things classic and bake a ham or an Easter casserole. Or go ahead and do it all—it is a day to celebrate, after all. Finally, each of these fun traditions are totally kid-friendly, in case you're looking for something to keep the little ones occupied come Sunday morning.
Get ready for Easter Sunday:
Plant an Easter Garden
Since the kids will already be running around outside for the big egg hunt, why not take advantage of their energy (and dirty clothes) and plant an Easter garden together? Celebrate the season by planting flowers that will bloom into a beautiful bouquet in just a few weeks.
Eat Peeps
Bunnies are usually off-limits on Easter—except for Peeps! These marshmallow treats are a holiday staple, so stock up on different colors and flavors. You can even grab some fun Peeps-inspired products like plush toys or slippers for an extra festive addition to the day.
Go Out for Easter Dinner
Skip the stress of cooking and enjoy a family dinner out this Easter! Plenty of restaurants are open on Easter Sunday, so you can focus on spending time with loved ones instead of prepping and cleaning up.
Host an Easter Egg Roll
The White House Easter Egg Roll has been a tradition since 1878, and it's just as fun to recreate at home. All you need are some long-handled spoon and a few eggs. Whether you play indoors or out in the yard, everyone is sure to have a blast.
Plant a Jelly Bean Garden
Make Easter morning extra magical for the little ones by planting a "magic" jelly bean garden the night before. Simply bury jelly beans in the yard and swap them out for lollipops while the kids are asleep. When they wake up, they'll be amazed at the sweet surprise!
Track the Easter Bunny
Santa's not the only one you can track! Kids can follow the Easter Bunny's journey online as he hops from house to house, delivering baskets of goodies. It's the most fun way to build excitement for Easter morning!
Give Back to the Community
Easter is a great time to spread kindness and help those in need. Volunteer at a local food pantry, plant flowers in a community space, or organize a park cleanup with family and friends. Even small acts of kindness can make a big impact!
Head to a Farm
After church, swap your Sunday best for something comfy and head to a nearby farm. You can pick up fresh eggs for your Easter recipes, visit baby animals, and enjoy the fresh spring air.
Bake an Easter Cake
No holiday is complete without a festive dessert—and for Easter, carrot cake is the obvious choice. Whether you go for a layered version like Ree's or opt for a simple sheet cake, it's the perfect sweet treat for your holiday spread.
Get Ree's Carrot Cake recipe.
Create an Easter Craft or Decoration
Get creative with a fun Easter craft, like turning mandarin oranges into adorable little "Easter bunnies." This project doubles as a healthy snack for when the holiday is over!
Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess.
Eat a Giant Omelet
Every year on Easter Monday in Haux, France, the whole town gathers to eat a giant omelet made from 15,000 eggs! Yours doesn't have to be that big, but you can still get in on the fun by making a family-sized omelet for everyone to enjoy.
Get Dressed in Your Sunday Best
Dressing up on Easter is a longstanding tradition—and you probably have the adorable family photos to prove it! When you post your pics this year, be sure to include a cute Easter Instagram caption, too.
Decorate Your Garden
Easter is the perfect time to give your garden or yard a little makeover. After you sow the first seeds of spring, place bunnies, eggs, and baskets around your yard for a cute, festive look that you can maintain all season long. A fairy garden is also an adorable idea to implement at this time.
Huddle Around a Bonfire
Did you know? In northeastern Europe, people light huge bonfires on Easter Sunday called "Easter fires" to chase away winter and welcome spring. If you can't start a big fire outside, a fireplace inside will do just fine!
Host an Egg Spoon Race
Of all the Easter games, egg spoon races might just take the cake. They teach kids about patience (the fastest runner doesn't always finish first, you know!). And only a few materials are required to get you up and racing. Easy peasy!
Get Into Costume
It's time to pull on your bunny ears! Plenty of people dress up as the mythological Easter Bunny in the U.S., but did you know Swedish citizens dress up as Easter witches? You learn something every day.
Watch a Classic Easter Movie
Not sure where to begin? We've got plenty of fabulous Easter movies to choose from, including 1948's Easter Parade. Judy Garland and Fred Astaire for the win!
Host an Easter Egg Hunt
In addition to eating colorful eggs, you can also hide a bunch of colorful (plastic!) eggs around your backyard. The best part about an egg hunt is that you can have one indoors or outdoors, depending on the weather.
Make Hot Cross Buns
Here's a delicious tradition to try! Make your own hot cross buns this year, decorated with a glazed cross on top.
Get the Hot Cross Buns recipe.
Dye Easter Eggs
Turning a batch or two of hard boiled eggs into pastel beauties is probably the most popular Easter pastime. If you want to switch things up, start by trying these Easter egg decorating ideas!
Erin Cavoto is the Editorial Assistant at ThePioneerWoman.com, covering food, holidays, home decor, and more.
Nitya Rao is the editorial assistant at The Pioneer Woman, covering stories ranging from food, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, news, and more.
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