A family Jerusalem dinner can help center your thoughts on Easter.
The First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has called for its members to emphasize and enhance Easter celebrations. Beyond Easter eggs, bunnies, and baskets, we want to know how families are focusing on the true meaning of the holiday.
Artist Sarah Cook shared her favorite Easter traditions to inspire and uplift families.
Emphasizing Easter Traditions
Sarah is passionate about making Easter as celebrated as Christmas. She explained, “We wouldn’t have Christmas without Easter and vice versa.” By looking to Christmas traditions, we can find ways to make Easter magical.
The Easter Tree
One of Sarah’s favorite traditions is the Easter tree. Instead of a traditional Christmas tree, she uses a faux olive tree, which represents the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane. The tree is decorated with lights and egg ornaments. Sarah’s family uses golden eggs, one for each day of Holy Week, containing ideas, thoughts, or scriptures for daily reflection.
The Jerusalem Dinner
A highlight of Sarah’s Easter traditions is the Jerusalem dinner, held on Holy Thursday. This tradition is similar to a Bethlehem dinner at Christmas. Sarah described, “We wash our kids’ feet one by one, making it a special moment before sitting down to a Mediterranean-style dinner.” This physical representation of the Last Supper helps families connect with the true meaning of Easter.
The Holy Week Flip Book
To simplify celebrating Holy Week, Sarah created a flip book. It consolidates all the activities, scriptures, maps, Hebrew translations, and artwork for each day from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. Sarah advised, “Pick and choose what works best for your family.”
For more resources and printables, follow Sarah on Instagram @olivet.designs and join her email list for free resources.
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