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I like to try to make Holy Week a time apart from the rest of the year, even a time apart from the rest of the world. I received a great comment on the post about decorating for Lent that is worthy of sharing for all of us to think about:
I am revisiting this topic, as we enter Holy Week and look forward to Easter! I find I have SO many Easter decorations for the kids: bunnies, snow globe, special books, etc. I would love to get them out before Easter Sunday, so we can enjoy them for longer and anticipate Easter in a more tangible way, but also feel drawn this year more into fully embracing Lent and not celebrating Easter at all until Sunday. Any thoughts on this, anyone? –Carolyn
(My answer) Carolyn,
Great question! I, too, love our Easter decorations. Over the past few years decorating for Lent, I’ve somehow trained myself to live in the Church year to the point that when I saw Easter eggs hanging from my neighbors’ trees, just this week, not even that early, I thought, “Easter eggs!? Gasp — It’s still LENT!” I just put up all the Easter decor Saturday night after the kiddos go to sleep and get the sand out of the candy dishes and fill them (mmmm!!), so Easter morning has a little of that “Christmas” feel. Then I leave them up until (a) we get sick of them or (b) Pentecost, the end of the 50 days of Easter. I can eat jelly beans that long, can’t you? 
I do have the Easter books out — the ones about the real Easter — to read and prepare for the day so my son can listen to the readings (maybe) at Church and know what’s going on.
Your Turn!
Does anyone do anything “extra” for Holy Week? Extra prayer or sacrifice to enter into the depth of the week a little further? I feel like a runner in the final leg of an endurance race — in order to win, he gives his all and sprints to the end, where he collapses, hopefully in victory. Holy Week is a time to “amp up” my regular sacrifice. Yes, I’m considering going without dark chocolate this week. (Ahhhh!) I would like to also include a daily Rosary. That’s got to be more important than television, or even updating my blog…!
May your week be truly holy as you await the Resurrection at Easter!
Catholic Cuisine has a superb menu plan for Holy Week…
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Things that we have done in years past with our five kids include making a crown of thorns from branches of our raspberry bushes and making oil lamps out of Sculpy Clay and using them to light a Jerusalem dinner on a blanket in our living room. Both were ideas that were gleaned from the “A Christ Centered Easter” book that we picked up from our local Sam’s Club. The book was written by an LDS author, but the ideas are applicable equally to all Christians. http://deseretbook.com/store/product/4253892 It has brought such deep meaning to our Holy Week celebrations that our kids actually favor Easter to Christmas.
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I never really go all-out for Easter decorating, but this year I have tried to keep a more somber mood during Lent. I was scheduled to host a meeting at my home last Friday, and thus sorely tempted to make things pretty for spring. I compromised by using only what I had, namely wild violets from the yard and some greenery in a vase instead of blossoms.
I really like Regina Doman’s discipline of keeping her winter wardrobe through Lent, and not breaking out the spring colors/short sleeves till Easter.
You can bet we’ll be glad to see those Easter pastels on eggs, dresses, golf shirts and a pretty dessert next week, though!
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We’re still figuring this out too . . . like I mentioned on your Lent decorating post, we cover our crosses in dark purple cloth for the season of Lent – for Easter (or, on Saturday night when you are making the other changes in decor in anticipation of Sunday!) I would switch those out with a nice creamy white sash around each one.
On Good Friday we keep a quiet time from 12-3, no TV, no phone, no radio and focus on just being together as a family and maybe studying the word of God or reading a religious book quietly (last year on Good Friday I started Pope Benedict’s “Jesus of Nazareth”). Food on that day also tends to be very minor and penitential.
I’ve also seen some neat crafts for children that begin on Palm Sunday and are ready by Easter Sunday. This one is of my new favorites:
http://dawnathome.typepad.com/by_sun_and_candlelight/2009/04/happy-palm-sunday.html
I also might focus on some form of “lamb” craft or food to acknowledge Jesus being the Lamb of God and his role as the sacrifice for our sin.
Also – Hot Cross Buns on Friday and a special brunch and dinner on Easter Sunday.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Sarah
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Thanks, everyone. I was pretty much already convinced to leave the decorations in the basement until Sunday, but you all clinched it — as we continue to strive to live IN the world but not be OF it. (Side note: I actually broke down yesterday before reading this post and put out two Easter tea towels. My 3 1/2 year-old Kate asked me about them, and then said, “Mama, these need to go back in the basement until Easter Sunday,” at which point she promptly removed them from the kitchen and marched them right back downstairs, without so much as an “okay” from me. How wonderful!!!)
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