This year I would like to start a new Christ-centered tradition for Easter. We really really enjoyed the 25 Days of Christ that we did for Christmas, so I compiled a bunch of ideas I found online to follow a similar format. Day 1: Triumphal Entry (Sunday) Song: Easter Hosanna Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 Video: The Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem Activity: Make a Hosanna Palm – write ways you will welcome Jesus into your life on your palm leaf Day 2: Cleansing of the Temple (Monday) Song: I Love to See the Temple Scripture: Matthew 21:12-22 Video: Jesus Cleanses the Temple Activity: Clean a part of the house together as a family Day 3: Teaching the People (Tuesday) Song: When He Comes Again Scripture: Matthew 25:1-13 (Ten Virgins) Video: The Ten Virgins Activity: Oil in My Lamp Relay, Living Scriptures Animated Video, or Make Clay Lamps Day 4: Unknown (Focus on additional teachings of Christ) (Wednesday) Song: Love One Another Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46 (Sheep and Goats) Video: Ye Have Done it Unto Me Activity: Have every family member draw a picture of a sheep and cut it out/color it. Write down each family member’s name on a piece of paper and exchange names. Have each family member do secret acts of service for the family member’s name they drew and leave their paper sheep as a clue. Day 5: Passover/Last Supper/Gethsemane (Thursday) Song: While of These Emblems We Partake Scripture: Luke 22:11-20 Video: The Last Supper, The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane Activity: Make something to help family members remember the Savior during the sacrament at church. One example: SACRAMENT bookmark where children think of a word that reminds them of something Jesus has done for them for each letter. Day 6: Trial/Crucifixion/Burial (Friday) Song: Behold the Great Redeemer Die Scripture: Luke 22:63-23:56 Video: Jesus is Scourged and Crucified Activity: Easter Cream Puffs Easter Cream Puffs 1⁄4 tsp. vinegar 1⁄4 tsp. salt 1 cup flour 1 cup water 1⁄2 cup margarine 4 eggs any flavor filling Let children smell vinegar. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, he was given vinegar to drink. (John 19:28-30) Add 1⁄4 teaspoon vinegar to a 2-quart sauce- pan. Mix together 1 cup water and 1⁄4 tea- spoon salt. This represents the salty tears shed by Jesus’ followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Add to saucepan. Add 1 cube margarine and heat mixture until it boils. Remove from heat. Add 1 cup our all at once and stir vigorously. The color white represents the purity of those whose sins have been cleansed through the atonement of Christ. (Isaiah 1:18) Preheat oven to 375°. Add 4 eggs to our mixture one at a time, beating well after each addition, until smooth. The eggs represent life. Jesus gave his life so that we might live. (John 10:10-11) Drop the dough by heaping tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets, about 2” apart. Bake until light golden brown and firm, 25 to 35 minutes. Cool thoroughly. Cut the puffs in half horizontally and fill the bottoms with about 1 tablespoon vanilla custard, whipped cream or chocolate, vanilla, or lemon pudding each. Replace the tops. Day 7: Night of Darkness (Saturday) Song: He Died! The Great Redeemer Died Scripture: 3 Nephi 8:20-23, 3 Nephi 9:12-18 Video: Jesus is Laid in a Tomb Activity: Overturn furniture, make things messy and turn the lights off to symbolize the destruction and darkness that took place after the Savior was crucified. Have family members come in and try to navigate in the darkness (crawling is probably safest) and try to find the highest place (the temple) to sit to read scriptures. OR Have a candlelight dinner and read the account while eating. Day 8: Easter Sunday Song: I Know That My Redeemer Lives, He Is Risen, Did Jesus Really Live Again?, I Believe in Christ, My Redeemer Lives, He Sent His Son Scripture: John 20 or Matt. 28 Video: Jesus is Resurrected, He Lives Activity: Sunrise Devotional/Breakfast, Easter Egg Lesson at dinner, Testimony Meeting Definitely need to show this new video too: Easter-themed FHEs: Real Easter Bunnies That Our Sins Might Be Washed Away I am excited to make Easter less about the Easter Bunny and more about Christ and His Resurrection. If any of you have any other ideas, please share!