Everything About Easter

Everything About Easter - Crafts, Coloring Pages, Decorations, Gifts, Recipes and More!

Easter is the most important event in Christianity. Everything About Easter helps us getting prepared for Easter, both spiritually and materially. Associated with Easter are symbols that help us visualize the true meaning of it.

Everything About Easter also gives ideas that you can share with kids and family in preparation to this event. Included in the lens are costumes, crafts, colouring pages, decorating ideas, decorations, gifts, recipes, and loads of information related to Easter.

Included In Everything About Easter

Definition of Easter
Easter in Different Languages
Ash Wednesday and Lent
The Holy Week
Family Countdown To Easter
Easter Books for Adults
The Easter Egg
Easter Eggs to Color
Easter Eggs Stuff
Easter Egg Chocolate Molds
Easter Egg Decorating Ideas
Easter Crafts
Easter Colouring Pages
How To Make a Jelly Bean Chick
Easter Books for Children
The Easter Bunny
Easter Bunnies
The Easter Lamb
Easter Lambs
More Easter Lambs
Easter Cake Molds
The Easter Candle
Easter Candles
More Easter Candles
Easter Lily
Easter Plush Toys
Chocolate Easter gifts
Easter Costumes For Kids
Easter Chicks From Amazon
Easter Gifts From Amazon
Easter Light Decorations
Easter Basket Gifts
Easter Gift Baskets of Treats
Comments About Easter
Easter Related DVD's
New Amazon
New Text module

Definition of Easter

Easter () is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year.Anthony Aveni, "The Easter/Passover Season: Connecting Time's Broken Circle," The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004), 64-78. According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead on the third day of his crucifixion. Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday'Easter Day' is the traditional name in English for the principal feast of Easter, used (for instance) by the Book of Common Prayer, but in the 20t...

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Easter in Different Languages

In the Christian liturgical year Easter is the most important event. Different countries refer to Easter by other names in different languages.

The word Easter is said to be derived from the name of an ancient Pagan Goddess Eostre. Other references to Easter are Sunday of the Resurrection, Pacha and Resurrection Day.

Below are how other countries and languages refer to Easter:

Afrikaans: Paasfees
Albanian: Pashkët
Amharic: (Fasika)
Azeri Pasxa: Fish (pronounced fis`h)
Berber: tafaska
Catalan: Pasqua
Danish: Påske
Dutch: Pasen or paasfeest
Esperanto: Pasko
Faroese: Páskir (plural, no singular exists)
Finnish: Pääsiäinen
French: Pâques
Greek: Pascha
Hebrew: Pascha
Icelandic: Páskar
Indonesian: Paskah
Irish: Cáisc
Italian: Pasqua
Japanese: Seidai Pasuha
Latin: Pascha or Festa Paschalia
Lower Rhine: German Paisken
Malayalam: Pæsacha/Pæsaha
Northern Ndebele: Pasika
Norwegian: Påske
Persian: Pas`h
Polish: Pascha
Portuguese: Páscoa
Russian: Paskha
Scottish Gaelic: Casca
Spanish: Pascua
Swedish: Påsk
Tagalog: (Philippines) Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay
Turkish: Paskalya
Welsh: Pasg

Based on "Great Day" or "Great Night:" This is used in most Slavic languages:

Bulgarian: Velikden
Czech: Velikonoce
Latvian: Lieldienas
Lithuanian: Velykos
Polish: Wielkanoc
Slovak: Velká Noc
Slovenian: Velika no
Ukrainian: Vjalikdzen'

Based on "Resurrection"

Bosnian: Uskrs or Vaskrs
Chinese: Fùhuó Jié
Croatian: Uskrs
Korean: Buhwalchol
Lakota: Woekicetuanpetu
Serbian: Uskrs

Other bases:

Estonian: Lihavõtted
German: Ostern
Maltese: L-Ghid il-Kbir
Tongan: Pekia

Ash Wednesday and Lent

The Preparation of Easter

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a forty day period where Christians are expected to repent their sins and ask for forgiveness.

In several countries the days before Ash Wednesday are characterised by Carnival, while the day before Ash Wednesday is popularly known as Mardi Gras. Carnival and Mardi Gras has become a time for partying before sacrificing during Lent. Mardi Gras has no religious significance.

On Ash Wednesday, a special service is called in Christian Churches marking the beginning of lent and signifies repentance with the marking on the forehead with ashes.

Lent

The origin of the word Lent is very unclear. Some say that the word Lent is derived from Anglo-Saxon languages referring to spring, new life and hope.

The lenten period is calculated forty days before Easter. Sundays are not included in the count as they signify Christ's glorious resurrection from death.

The Holy Week

The Final Week of Lent

The last week of lent before Easter is called the Holy Week. Beginning the day after Palm Sunday, celebrating Christ's triumphal entry in Jerusalem, the Holy Week is the most solemn time in the liturgical year.

On Maundy Thursday the church celebrates the Passover. In the Passover Jesus celebrated his Last Supper with his apostles. In other countries Maundy Thursday is also refered to Holy Thursday or Green Thursday.

Good Friday is the commemoration of Christ's crucifixion. In churches the alter is draped in black cloth and in some countries a Good Friday procession takes place.

Family Countdown To Easter

Family Countdown to Easter: A Day-By-Day Celebration: With Stickers

by: Debbie Trafton O'Neal

Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)

Beginning with Mardi Gras and ending with Easter, this book has 41 days of trivia, crafts, recipes, activities and colorful stickers (not reusable). While this is a Christian book, it is not a devotional. It is colorfully illustrated with stickers to use to countdown the days. Many activities relate to the Easter trivia (e.g., hot cross buns), others are almost science experiments (growing grass in an egg shell or basket). This is a good source of ideas to make everyday of Lent a celebration.

Easter Books for Adults

Easter in My Heart: Uplifting Stories of Redemption and Hope

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Faith: Believing In The Risen Jesus

by: Gerald O'Collins

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter (True Books)

by: Nancy I. Sanders

Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

Lent and Easter Wisdom From St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi

by: John V. Kruse

Amazon Price: $9.31 (as of 12/17/2009)

Come to the Table: A Catholic Passover Seder for Holy Week

by: Meredith Gould

Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 12/17/2009)

The Easter Egg

By their nature eggs are a symbol of fertility. There exists some sort of explanation how the egg is now considered to be an Easter symbol.

Eastern Christians traditionally dye their Easter eggs red, resembling Christ's blood. Other used green, to honour new foliage that emerges after winter. German Protestants wanted to keep the Catholic custom of eating coloured eggs in Easter but did not want their children to fast. As eggs were forbidden for Catholics during lent, it stand to reason why they are ate a lot at Easter time.

Easter Eggs to Color

Moms Who Think: Load of Easter Eggs to colour.
Apples 4 The Teacher: Easter Egg colouring pages.
Easter Eggs to Colour: Printable Easter Eggs craft sheet has more than a dozen fresh eggs ready to decorate with paint, markers, crayons, stickers and glitter.

Easter Eggs Stuff

Here are some ideas how to decorate your Easter eggs.

ColorBox Pigment Ink Pad Petal Point Easter Eggs

Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)

Hand decorated Panorama Easter Egg

Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)

Disney Cars Easter Egg Decorating Kit

Amazon Price: (as of 12/16/2009)

Easter Eggs: 40 Fabulous Projects for the Whole Family

by: Matthew Mead

Amazon Price: $2.85 (as of 12/16/2009)

Easter Egg Chocolate Molds

BUNNY EGG Easter Candy Mold chocolate

Amazon Price: $2.29 (as of 12/17/2009)

2 LB. EGG Easter Candy Mold chocolate

Amazon Price: $2.29 (as of 12/17/2009)

3D PLAIN EGGS Easter Candy Mold chocolate

Amazon Price: $2.29 (as of 12/17/2009)

3D CRACKED EGG Easter Candy Mold chocolate

Amazon Price: $2.29 (as of 12/17/2009)

FANCY EGGS Easter Candy Mold

Amazon Price: $2.29 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Egg Decorating Ideas

Easy Sponge Painted Eggs: Try this Easter egg decorating idea. Kids will love sponge painting their Easter eggs with different colors and designs.
BloPen Easter Eggs: Have some springtime fun with these BloPen Easter eggs. Kids love to craft these and the BloPens add an extra element of fun to create simple and great looking designs.
Easter Egg Heads: Bring out a young crafter's creativity with these Easter egg heads. Kids think the wiggle eyes are especially funny.
Jewelled Easter Eggs: Get stunning results with very little effort by crafting these jeweled Easter eggs. They may not be Faberge, but kids like making them and delight in admiring them once they're done.
Marbled Easter Eggs: You and your kids can turn plain eggs into precious marble patterned Easter Eggs in a few simple steps.
Oil and Food Coloring Marbled Eggs: Simple technique, wonderful results--this egg decorating craft requires no special materials except a child's imagination!

Easter Crafts

Get Crafty This Easter

Here are some Easter crafts for kids that you could make out of things found at home.

Easter Bunny Jelly Bean Bag: Dress up a plastic bag full of jelly beans - learn how to make an Easter bunny jelly bean bag!
Free Easter Craft Projects: Free Easter Craft Projects - Browse our wonderful collection of arts, crafts and ideas for this special holiday.
Easter Chick Thumbprints: Why not have a go at making some of these gorgeous thumbprint chicks!
Easter Egg Craft Ideas: Decorate Easter Eggs with Nana

Easter Colouring Pages

Activity Village: Have a look at asuper collection of original Easter coloring pages, print, and enjoy with your kids!
Easter Colouring Pages: Color pictures of Easter eggs, Easter bunnies, baskets and more. Click on a link below. When the printable coloring page has loaded, click on the picture to print it.
Preschool Colouring Book: Colouring pages for the preschoolers. You will find a variety of bunnies, chicks, eggs and baskets.
Kookerkids Colouring Pages.: Lots of colouring pages. You will find Spiritual Colouring pages too.
Free Colouring Pages: A large variety of Easter symbols to colour. Online drawing included.
Colouring Pictures For Everyone.: Great colouring pages to print and colour. All Easter symbols included.
More Colouring Pages: Online Colour Activities available in B&W or colour.

How To Make a Jelly Bean Chick

Ideal gift for family and friends

These cute little spring chicks make the perfect gift for teachers, friends or family. A sweet treat lies inside this little Easter cutie! Be sure to check out our main Easter craft index for even more fun such as Easter crafts, recipes and egg hunt ideas!
What you'll need:

* 1/3 cup jelly beans
* Pleated sandwich bag
* 1 large yellow pom pom
* 3 yellow foam hearts
* 2 small wiggle eyes
* Scrap of orange felt or foam
* Chenille stem
* Small pom pom (color to match chenille stem)
* White craft glue
* Scissors

How to make it:

1. Pour jelly beans into sandwich bag. Gather beans into one corner of the bag and twist chenille stem snugly around the bag.
2. Trim the top of the bag, above the chenille stem, to about 1/2 inch. Fan out the top of the bag as if opening it to expose the center.
3. Put a generous amount of white glue on the yellow pom pom and place on top of the bag.
4. Put two yellow foam hearts next to each other on the table. These will be your chick's feet. Glue bag on top of the feet so that the rounded ends of the hearts are poking out the front.
5. Cut the third yellow foam heart on half, these two pieces will be your chick's wings. Glue one to each side of the jelly bean bag.
6. Glue wiggle eyes to the front of the pom pom head.
7. Cut a small triangle from the orange felt or foam and glue on as the beak.
8. Use the scissors to trim the ends of the chenille stem to about 2-3" each. Fold each side of the chenille stem in toward the center to look like a bow tie.
9. Glue small pom pom to the center of the chenille bow tie.

Tips:

* If you don't have pleated sandwich bags you can use zipper bags, just cut the zipper top off before starting.
* You can make full yellow chicks by using all yellow jelly beans, however this may be cost prohibitive unless you buy your jelly beans from a store that sells individual colors in bulk.
* As an alternative you can glue the wings inward toward the front of the jelly bean bag and glue a small slip of paper with the message "Happy Easter" on it in front. Keep in mind that this will hide the jelly beans on your project.

Courtesy of Amanda Formaro

Easter Books for Children

The Very First Easter (Candle Bible for Toddlers Sticker Fun)

by: Juliet David

Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

Before and After Easter: Activities and Ideas for Lent to Pentecost

by: Debbie Trafton O'Neal

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Family Countdown to Easter: A Day-By-Day Celebration: With Stickers

by: Debbie Trafton O'Neal

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Extras: Faith-filled Ideas for Easter Week

by: Group Publishing

Amazon Price: $5.13 (as of 12/17/2009)

Lilies, Rabbits, and Painted Eggs: The Story of the Easter Symbols

by: Edna Barth

Amazon Price: $16.00 (as of 12/17/2009)

The Easter Bunny

Another Easter Symbol

One of the Easter symbols is the bunny. Claiming its origin in Alsace and Germany the bunny was mentioned in German writings for the first time in 17th century. They were made edible in the early 1800's.

The bunny is became a symbol of fertility since they give birth to large litters hence a symbol of the rising fertility of earth at the Vernal Equinox.

According to tradition in Germany, children built brightly coloured nests which were made up old clothes. The bunny or the Oschter Haws would lay eggs in the nests of those well-behaved children. As tradition spreads the nest were replaced by Easter baskets.

Easter Bunnies

Plush Chocolate Easter Bunny Cuddlekin 12"

Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

Lil'Kinz Mini Plush Stuffed Animal White Rabbit

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

Bountiful Bunny Basket Easter Basket

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Sunny Bunch Easter Bunny By Gund

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Deluxe Plush Pink White Furry Easter Bunny Rabbit Ears

Amazon Price: $3.67 (as of 12/17/2009)

The Easter Lamb

A Representation of Jesus

The lamb in another Easter religious symbol and also considered as a traditional delicacy in Easter dinner. It is an Easter symbol particularly in Central and eastern European countries representing Jesus' sacrifice during the Last Supper. Jesus is also referred to 'The Lamb of God'.

The traditional Easter Lamb depicts a white lamb draped with a victory flag as seen in holy pictures in homes of central and eastern European families.

Easter Lambs

Plush Lickety Lamb 9"

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

TY Classic Whispers Cream Lamb

Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

A Country Yumkin: Fluffy Lamb

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Alabaster 13" by Gund 36151

Amazon Price: $16.28 (as of 12/17/2009)

Gund Baa Ba Plush Lamb [Toy] [Toy] [Toy] [Toy]

Amazon Price: $10.13 (as of 12/17/2009)

More Easter Lambs

BASHFULLY - lamb

Amazon Price: $22.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

Ty Arabesque - Ballerina Lamb

Amazon Price: $7.72 (as of 12/17/2009)

TY Beanie Babies™Baaabsy Baaag™ - lamb purse

Amazon Price: $10.20 (as of 12/17/2009)

TY Classic Lambert White Lamb

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

15" Floppy Bean Bag Pals - Lamb

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Cake Molds

Nordic Ware Easter Bunny 3-D Cake Mold

Amazon Price: $20.00 (as of 12/17/2009)

SCI Scandicrafts Lamb Mold 11-inch, 8-Cup

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

SCI Scandicrafts Rabbit Mold 12-inch, 5-cup

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 12/17/2009)

Wilton Cottontail Bunny Pan

Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

The Easter Candle

The Eternal Light

The Easter Candle, also referred to as Paschal Candle will be lit on Easter Vigil. The Easter Candle one of the symbols of Easter warms the heart of believers after moment of darkness during Good Friday.

Normally, tall and decorative, the Easter Candle announces the risen Lord and hence his victory over death, or resurrection. So big is the meaning that the church keeps the Easter lit until Ascension Day.

In the liturgical calendar the Easter candle appears in two occasions; baptism and funerals. In baptism parents light a baptismal candle signifying the responsibility of keeping the faith alive in us. In funerals the Easter candle symbolises the victorious Christ over death giving us hope that dead is not the end.

Easter Candles

Easter Candle Climber, Porcelain Candle Holder

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Cracked Egg Candles

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

PINK FLOATING FLORAL CANDLES - EASTER SPRING HOME DECOR

Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

More Easter Candles

FLOWER SCENTED CANDLE - EASTER SPRING HOME DECOR

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Hang it on the Cross Candle Holder

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Egg and Berry Arrangement with Glass Hurricane

Amazon Price: $55.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Lily

Traditional Easter Flower

This flower is from an island near Japan. The lily is known to be a symbol of Easter and the arrival of spring. For hundreds of years the lily is recognized as a symbol of purity and holiness.

A legend says that when Jesus was going somewhere, all plants and animals of the earth bowed their head before him by way of respect. All except the lily. It was far too good and too proud. When the lily saw Jesus on the cross, it bent down it's head for the first time, and they say that since that day, the lilies continue to bend the head as respect.

Easter Plush Toys

Below are some plush toys relevant to Easter.

Mary Meyer Sweet Lola Lamb - $10.00

Whether she comes into your home during the Spring - or any season for that matter - Lola will steal your heart. She is a gentle white lamb, with soft pink trim. And all she wants to do is cuddle! Both whimsical and fun, Sweet Rascals sit up to be noticed, drawing attention wherever they are.

Mary Meyer Sweet Lola Lamb - $10.00

Hoppy Easter Fancy Pals Aurora Purse Pet - $8.99

This is a very soft 8 inch plush pet carrier with a 6 inch pink rabbit pet inside. This carrier has two handles, a zipper opening for easy removal of your pet, and has embroidered eggs on the other side.

Lambsy Fancy Pals Aurora Purse Pet - $8.99

This is a very soft 8 inch plush pet carrier with a 6 inch lamb pet inside. This carrier has two handles and a small opening for easy removal of your pet.

Powderpuff Pink Fancy Pals Aurora Purse Pet - $8.99

This is a very soft 8 inch plush pet carrier with a 6 inch white rabbit pet inside. This carrier has two pearl handles and a small opening for easy removal of your pet.

Chocolate Easter gifts

Lindt Lindor Assorted Easter Chocolate Eggs, 20.2 Oz Bag(pack of 2)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/17/2009)

Perugina Baci Dark Chocolate Easter Egg w/4 baci Chocolates

Amazon Price: $25.99 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Delights - Green Egg Tin

Amazon Price: $64.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

Milk Chocolate & Caramel Easter Surprise!

Amazon Price: $41.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

1/2lb Sugar Free Belgian Chocolate Caramel Filled Easter Eggs

Amazon Price: $34.95 (as of 12/17/2009)

Easter Costumes For Kids

Easter Costumes for Children are the cutest thing, whether it's an infant bunny costume or a toddler lamb costume. You can get that perfect picture of you child in a little blue bunny costume or a cute pink lamb costume that grandma will just love.