Teach Kids the History of Easter

Easter is one of the most significant dates on the Christian calendar, honoring the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. Okay, one sentence in and we’re already looking at two very challenging concepts (resurrection and crucifixion) for young children. So, how can we explain the history of Easter to kids? 

How much of Jesus’ story, especially his suffering, is best to share with kids is a big question that many parents and teachers struggle with. Especially since his sufferings have shaped our society and two of our biggest holidays in the USA are in the name of Jesus’ life. While it’s true that the topics of resurrection and crucifixion can be extremely traumatic for kids as young as three or four years old, they also open a lot of new questions. On the other hand, not talking about it or giving extremely vague answers might frustrate kids. Asking others or looking for answers for themselves is just as problematic. 

Considering these challenges, we decided to write a brief guide about the history of Easter in a way that’s appropriate for all kids. If you were wondering how to explain the meaning of Easter to your child or students, keep reading to find out. 

What Is Easter?

To kids, Easter is just that exciting time of the year when they can color eggs, play with them later, be a bunny mascot, and eat plenty of chocolate. And, while they’re really young, that’s more than enough, but as they grow old, they’ll start wondering about the meaning behind our actions. Questions like “But, what is Easter?” “Why do we celebrate Easter?” and “Why do we color eggs on Easter?” should be expected.

Here’s how to answer the questions about the history of Easter while avoiding the details that might be too traumatic for kids. 

Easter is considered one of, if not the most important date in Christianity, and it celebrates one very important event from the past. A long, long time ago, when Jesus was walking the Earth, he was believed to be sent from God to teach the people how to follow God, as well as to help the poor and heal the sick. People loved him and followed his advice and ways of life, which angered the authorities who arrested him and turned him over to the Roman government. They didn’t agree with his way of thinking and wanted to punish him, especially because they saw how many people listened to him. 

Unfortunately, people back then didn’t have the laws we have today to protect him (this is a great way to give reassurance that something like that can’t happen today), so the Roman government gave the order to kill Jesus. They also did that in front of everyone because they wanted to scare people and send the message loud and clear that those who follow his teachings can end up in the same way. 

But, a miracle happened! On the third day after they killed him, people saw him coming alive again, just in a different form. He was brought back by God to live forever. This gave people hope that God is so mighty and forgiving that he can protect them from the Roman government and everyone else who comes to hurt them. People became braver and they continued to follow Jesus’ teachings to this very day. They also began to celebrate the event when God brought Jesus back to life as a defining moment in Christianity. Those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus will live forever with him in heaven. 

Learn more about Easter and share some interesting fun facts with kids with our Easter Facts & Worksheet bundle.

Easter in the Past

While the history of Easter is inevitably tied to Jesus, over time other motives and spring festivals merged with the existing religious traditions surrounding Jesus’ resurrection, shaping the holiday as we know and celebrate it today. 

The Feast Before Easter

A good example is a Jewish holiday called Passover (also called Pesach) that is tied to the Last Supper. The Last Supper was the final meal that Jesus shared with his apostles before he was killed. On the other hand, the Passover is a seven-day feast accompanied by special prayer rituals and abstention from work. Some historians view the Last Supper as a Passover feast. 

In addition, the period prior to easter also has a special meaning in western Christianity. This is a period of fasting and penitence known as Lent. It lasts 40 days prior to Easter and ends with Palm Sunday that marks the beginning of the Holy Week that, in turn, ends with Easter. 

As you can see, there are many similarities shared between the Jewish traditions and the western Chistianity traditions in this aspect. But, Easter today is more than that. 

Easter Eggs

The hallmark of Easter, decorating eggs, can actually be traced back to non-religious traditions – according to some even pagan traditions. It is said that eggs represented fertility and birth long before the rise of Christianity, but the act of painting them became a symbolic gesture of Jesus’ re-birth, based on those beliefs. As time passed by, new traditions emerged, such as the famous White House Easter Egg Roll that first began in 1878.

Easter Bunny

Another symbol we need to look at when discussing the history of Easter is the Easter Bunny who delivers decorated eggs to well-behaving kids. However, there’s no religious connotation associated with this tradition. And, historians agree that the origins are murky, but it’s known that ancient civilizations also associated rabbits with fertility and new life. So, some ancient beliefs might have merged with Easter traditions a long time ago, just like Easter eggs.

How Did Easter Get Its Name?

We’ve been talking a lot about Easter traditions, but some kids may want to know, why do we call it Easter and not something else? This is a great question and the answer is really interesting. 

It seems like the history of Easter’s name predates the holiday. It has a lot to do with the period when it’s observed like many other holidays and its significance. Easter falls in close proximity to the vernal equinox (around March 20th), the beginning of spring. And, if we look at spring, we’ll see plants coming back to life, new flowers emerging from the ground, and so on. The symbolism between Jesus’ resurrection and the changes brought about by spring is really obvious, so it would’ve been easy for people to make associations, which they did. 

Before Christianity, the English goddess of spring, Eostre, was celebrated in this period of the year. So, even though later in time Christians began celebrating Jesus’ resurrection instead of the English goddess of spring, they kept the name, because, as we explained, the symbolism fitted perfectly. 

What Is the Meaning of Easter?

Finally, let’s talk about the underlying message and the importance of Easter that most of us want to share with kids. At the end of the day, the historical details of the story about Jesus are not as important as its significance that keeps on. 

According to the Bible, Jesus’ death was a sacrifice for the sins of others and his rebirth signifies renewed faith, hope, and salvation. For this reason, it also makes perfect sense to follow right after a time of abstinence and penance (Lent). It’s said that people once again have the opportunity to let go of past sins, ask for forgiveness, turn a new leaf, and recommit to the beliefs they hold. While some kids might be too young to understand the true meaning of these concepts, through practical examples and observing the behavior of grown-ups they can learn to associate Easter with these values. 

Before You Leave 

Even though kids play with eggs, eat a lot of chocolate, and play games during Easter, the holiday itself is very serious and it’s nice for parents and teachers to try and bring the true meaning of Easter closer to kids. Hopefully, you liked our approach, and you have a clearer idea of how to explain the history of Easter without traumatizing children with the scary details. 

If you need more resources, check out our main website where we have a whole section with an Easter and Spring worksheet collection. With just one click, you can download the one that works best for you so that your child or students learn more about this holiday via fun activities. 
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