Holy Week and Easter Traditions
Holy Week and Easter Traditions
Easter is the high point of the Church calendar—a joyful celebration of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is the moment our entire liturgical year builds toward, a time of renewal, hope, and deep gratitude. But before we arrive at Easter Sunday, we enter into Holy Week, a sacred journey where we walk in the footsteps of Jesus through His final days on earth.
For our family, Holy Week is not just something on the calendar—it is something we try to bring to life for our children, in simple but meaningful ways. Each year looks a little different depending on the ages and stages of our kids, but we try to find a blend between attending special events at church and bringing meaningful traditions to life at home. With 6 kids ranging from 4 months old to 14, we’ve spent the last 14 years with some form of baby or toddler in the mix. For us this means we’ve tried to create some meaningful traditions that help us enter into the worship and sacred space of holy week at home, so that our little people can still participate and hit a reasonable bedtime!
Holy Week kicks off with Palm Sunday, and we love to celebrate with Palm Branches at mass on Palm Sunday morning - very often formed into crosses. (And yes, some years we’ve had to prevent sword fights in the pews with the palm branches too - never a dull moment with children!) Then the Triduum begins on Maundy Thursday evening, and lasts through Easter Sunday. These three days are filled with moments to walk alongside Jesus on his path to the cross. Of course with children, we want to help them understand the sober occasion of Christ’s crucifixion and death. But children are also naturally joyful and energetic little people - praise God! So we also have lots of fun throughout these three days, and my children have come to LOVE this time of the Triduum.
On Maundy Thursday, we gather for a special meal inspired by the Passover. It’s a time to slow down, share food intentionally, and remember the Last Supper. Maundy comes from the Latin word for commandment, and references the Upper Room Discourse in the Gospel of John, chapter 13 where Jesus commands his disciples to love one another and washes their feet. It also references the Last Supper in Luke 22:19, where Jesus institutes Holy Communion. Our family participates in our own little Passover meal on Maundy Thursday, which includes a reading of John 13, some variation of a Mediterranean inspired food spread, grape juice for the kids in fancy glasses, and usually red wine for the adults. We've also started making a Rice Crispy Lamb as the paschal lamb image for our meal - or sometimes we make two when several kids want to help! And then, one of the most meaningful traditions we practice is washing each other’s feet. It may feel a little awkward at first, but we started when the kids were all young and it opens the door to conversations about humility, service, and love. It’s a tangible way to imitate Christ’s example.
Good Friday is a day we approach with quiet reverence. In the morning, we bake hot cross buns, filling the house with comforting smells while reminding ourselves of the meaning behind the cross marked on each one. From 12 to 3 p.m., we keep the house dark and quiet, honoring the hours Jesus hung on the cross. The kids love to run around the house to close all the shades, turn off lights, and light a few candles. We also cover any crosses in our house with a cloth covering. This pause in our busy lives creates space for reflection and prayer. We avoid using any screens during these hours, and encourage the children to pray, read, color, draw, or do any other quiet activity. (Is it always quiet and reflective for three hours - no! Definitely not. Perfection is not the point.) If we can, we attend a Stations of the Cross service at a local church, walking through the story of Christ’s suffering in a deeply visual and prayerful way.
Holy Saturday feels different—it’s quieter, but filled with anticipation. This is our day to prepare. We clean the house, organize our space, and begin prepping food for the next day’s celebration. There’s a sense that something joyful is coming. The kids especially love dying Easter eggs, turning a simple egg into a colorful expression of new life.
And then, Easter Sunday arrives—full of light, joy, and celebration. We attend Mass as a family, rejoicing in the resurrection of our risen Lord. From Easter Sunday onward, the mood shifts from solemn to festive. We hide Easter baskets for the kids to find, filling the house with laughter and excitement. Often, we host a brunch and invite family or friends to join us, complete with an egg hunt that brings lots of laughter and sweet delight.
These traditions aren’t about perfection—they’re about presence and creating space for our children’s minds and hearts to take in the beautiful and hope-filled story of Easter. They help us slow down, reflect, and enter more deeply into the mystery of our faith. By walking through Holy Week intentionally, Easter becomes more than just a single day—it becomes a true celebration of hope, renewal, and the love that changed everything.
Of course, every family has different rhythms and traditions and ways to grow in their faith. I hope some of these ideas can inspire your family if you are looking for ways to enter more fully into Holy Week. And I would love to know what traditions your family has for Holy Week and celebrating Easter?
*I want to note that many of these traditions developed over several years - we didn’t jump into them all at once. We received so many ideas from families around us for how to bring Holy Week to life for our family, and I also benefited from many ideas Kendra Tierny outlines in her book, The Catholic All Year Compendium: Liturgical Living for Real LIfe.