Easter marks the unofficial beginning of spring, but for Christians worldwide, it’s one of the most important holidays in the calendar. It’s the celebration of the triumph of life over death. Messiah rises from the dead and gives eternal life in heaven to those who believe him. We can see countless symbols of new life at Easter, especially eggs, flowers, and rabbits. Egg hunts, decorating, and candy consumption are part of the modern Easter holiday, which have little to do with the Christian celebration but derive from folk culture. For many people, the holiday involves getting together with family and friends; the strong bonds make life seem more optimistic and beautiful.
Easter is just around the corner, so maybe you’re trying to figure out what your plans should look like. If you’re not eager to join public events or large crowds, there are still fun ways to celebrate Easter. Bake, decorate, get together, and eat huge amounts of chocolate. Here are some tips on how to celebrate the spirit of Easter from home.
Spring Clean and Declutter Your Home
Be prepared ahead of time to make the big day stress-free. By spring cleaning and decluttering your home, you can create a fresh start and make room for new opportunities. Cleaning and sweeping (and decorating) the entire house in preparation for the feast help you connect with your heritage and honour the history of the holiday. If you space your tasks over a couple of weeks, it won’t seem so overwhelming. Anything you want to donate should go into boxes; if they don’t fit into a box, keep a list of them. While you’re cleaning and decluttering, you’ll come across things that need to be mended or repaired.
Trap more dirt by using two mats – one outside and one inside. Hose them off when necessary. Don’t clean the windows on a sunny day because the heat will cause the water and cleaning solution to evaporate quickly, so the windows are more prone to streaks. Raise the blinds and shades and dust them with a duster. Speaking of which, getting rid of dust is essential for your well-being, so dust the undersides of every chair and table, then vacuum and mop the floors. If you notice unsightly stains on your carpet, it’s time for a deeper clean. To spruce up your stainless-steel appliances, combine one teaspoon of dish detergent and one-quarter of hot tap water.
Ask Your Kids to Prepare Something to Share with The Family
A little preparation can go a long way in helping parents feel less overwhelmed or anxious about Easter. Tempting as it may be to have your kids involved in a million activities, pay attention to what they value and where their interests are. Ask your children to give their time, too, to help make the holiday more enjoyable. Your loved ones can make the most of a rainy morning or afternoon by making Easter cards, which make for a sweet and personal touch. Crafts can be lots of fun, not to mention they’re really great for child development. The Easter cards can be used as replacement tags for gift cards. Add a ribbon, string or twine, and you’re good to go.
Plan The Best-Ever Holiday Meal
Easter is that time of the year that’s deeply intertwined with food traditions. Many customs, such as dying eggs in red to symbolise the blood of Christ shed at his crucifixion, have been an essential part of Christianity for centuries. Others, such as eating lamb, can be traced back to Jewish Passover traditions or pagan rituals. Irrespective of whether you’re having the entire family over or plan to keep things small, there are plenty of recipes to choose from. Here are a few examples:
- Hasselback potatoes – You’ll need thin slices, so cut down far enough so they fan out as they bake. Using same-sized potatoes will help them cook evenly. Put them in a baking tray and drip salty oil or fat between the slices. Toss in garlic and rosemary, and season well.
- Easy roast leg of lamb – It can be served with your favourite spring vegetables (lettuce, asparagus, spinach, spring cabbage). Whether boneless or bone-in, the leg of lamb should be roasted until it turns pink on the inside or roasted long and slow for a few hours until the meat is tender and falls apart.
- Easter egg cheesecake – If you have some leftover eggs, why don’t you make a cheesecake? The recipe isn’t meant to be spectacular – it’s a simple biscuit base, vanilla cheesecake filling. Use fresh, soft unripened cheese; otherwise, the cheesecake won’t set properly and become a mess.
Add An Extra Touch with Easy, Homespun Decorations
To get everyone in the holiday spirit, incorporate classic themes into your home décor. For example, you can decorate with an Easter wreath made of pliable branches and adorned with foliage, spring blooms, and pastel-coloured eggs. If you want to play around with Easter eggs, use ribbon because it’s bolder and more noticeable. Cut a piece of ribbon, lay it across an empty carton, and glue it at the halfway point. Place the egg with the pointy end facing downwards, pull up the sides of the ribbon, and tie a knot. Dab some glue on the knot and remove the excess.
Equally, you can make blooming baskets brimming with spring bulbs. You can build one in an hour once you’ve got all the supplies you need. You can use ivy, daffodils, and fern for the basket; the flowers can be found in your garden or at the nearest store. For this Easter decorating idea, you can use a vintage basket of any shape or size. When designing a blooming basket, use the thriller, spiller, and filler method of planting. Hanging the baskets will add an entirely new dimension to your home décor. Make a fabulous display by your front door.
Conclusion
It’s not too early to start preparing for Easter, so you should better get going. It can feel like a burden when you think of everything that needs to get done, but you can alleviate stress by deciding what tasks to do first.
