While many people recognize Easter Sunday, April 8, as a celebration of faith and commemoration of the resurrection of Christ, there are underlying themes that make Easter memorable for everyone that go beyond coloring and hiding Easter eggs. This year could be an opportunity to start a new tradition — one that carries forward the holiday’s theme of love, reconciliation, and gratefulness.
Even among other cultures, celebrations around Easter and Passover (which celebrates Moses leading the Israelites to freedom) are often considered ideal times for new beginnings. This could be an opportune time to reach out to your extended families and set the tone for a new beginning to bring everyone closer together.
• Serve Together. Some families establish traditions that help people who are less fortunate. Easter can be an excellent opportunity to renew that commitment by volunteering to help at a food pantry or soup kitchen, make an annual donation, or even host a small event that helps raise awareness.
• Send A Note. With what seems like the ever-quickening pace of life, it’s easy to forget how important people can be our lives. Easter is an excellent time to send a card or plan a small gathering to recognize the family members in your life who have made a difference. It doesn’t have to be an Easter card. The point is simply to thank them.
• Rebuild Bridges. One of the central themes to many Easter celebrations is to consider the power of forgiveness. If your family has any tension with a relative, Easter is one of the best times to take the first step to rebuild that relationship. Call them up and let them know you were thinking of them and would like to forge a new beginning.
• Reflect On Family. Any time people have an opportunity to get together with family is an ideal time to share old stories or new discoveries about family research. In fact, some recent studies we’ve conducted reveal that most family members do research from time to time, but do not always share their findings with other members of the family. Maybe this year, you can.
Whether your family celebrates Easter, Passover or another holiday, almost all of these special days and times represent opportunities to reach out to our family and remind ourselves why family ties can be so important — even if it is merely as a means to better understand where we come from. If not for ourselves, then certainly for our future generations.
Happy Easter from everyone at Celebrating Legacy. Please be safe and stay connected.
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