Explaining the Meaning of Easter to Your Kids

Have you talked to your kids about the meaning of Easter? Did you head down the religious route, discussing how Jesus died on the cross and then arose again? Or did you talk about how the Easter bunny delivers Easter eggs because it is a time of new life and celebration?

Okay, if you’re totally confused about what your children need to know about the meaning of Easter, you’re not alone. With the Christian version involving torture, blood and death, it is rather a scary subject to broach with kids. But should you be promoting the idea of a mythical rabbit who gives out chocolate eggs once a year instead? Or should you discuss both? Let’s chat about it …

What Should Kids Know About the Meaning of Easter?

I believe that there is no right or wrong way to explain what Easter is to kids. You can choose the Christian version, the Easter bunny version or what your parents told you. Regardless, they’re going to hear about Easter from someone sooner or later. Whether it’s from a child at kindergarten, a visit to Mainly Music or from seeing chocolate bunnies at the supermarket.  Easter is something society wants us to know about.

You’ll be fielding questions about where the Easter bunny lives, why did they kill Jesus and will our old dog Spot come back to life again too. So to help you out, here are some explanations about the meaning of Easter for you to pick from:

• An Easter egg is a symbol of new life and fertility.
• Easter is the time Christians remember how Jesus died on the cross on Good Friday, then arose from a tomb on Easter Sunday.
• Easter occurs around the same time as the Jewish festival of Passover.
• The date of Easter changes each year as it is based on the first full moon after the March equinox.
• Hot cross buns were an early Easter treat made by European monks and given to the poor.
• Hardboiled eggs were dyed or painted and given to children at Easter, to celebrate the ending of Lent, during which no animal products could be eaten.
• The first Cadbury chocolate Easter eggs were made in 1875.
• In 1682 the first mention of the Easter hare (bunny) appeared in literature and its job was to decide if children had been good enough to receive Easter eggs or not.

Do you remember what your parents told you about the meaning of Easter? We’d love to know what it was and if you’re sharing this with your children. Let us know in the comments below.

By the way, if you’re looking for an Easter themed gift without the chocolate, our Natural Wooden Egg Maracas are perfect or you can CLICK HERE to see our current Easter range!