The “new normal” during the coronavirus pandemic will never feel right when it comes to major holidays like Easter. But there are ways to celebrate this important time without taking chances. The most important thing to remember is that if Easter is a family tradition, there is no reason to think it can’t be just as special. In fact, it could potentially become the most memorable of all to your kids someday, who may tell their children about it when the time comes.
USA Today’s Charles Trepany suggests ways to make Easter special. For one, make sure grandparents are involved while keeping them safe. Drop off Easter goodies at their door. Keep up the Skype, Zoom, or FaceTime calls. Or send personalized videos to them they will no doubt cherish for years to come.
Just because community Easter egg hunts have been called off, it doesn’t mean you can’t get creative with it. Keep your egg hunt inside or in your backyard, but beef up the number of eggs just to make it interesting. This is also something you can capture on your smartphone and share with others.
The holiday dinner can still be a feast that can compare to any other. Set up a laptop or iPad with a few of your dining table so that its camera shows your gathering, and ask others to do the same. Try to keep family members at a one-at-a-time rule as they say things to one another at the table. And why not go all out? Use that special china crystal that usually sits unloved throughout the rest of the year and add those lovely cloth napkins (an excellent time to practice napkin folding with your kids!), and order flowers from a florist who offers sanitized delivery. Dress up for the dinner and make it extra special.
If your church does not have streaming Easter services, find one that does. There will be hundreds of online resources to access an Easter mass or service. Or simply turn on the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (look for “Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square”) singing Handel’s Messiah, which will be live-streamed on Friday. Los Angeles Times’ Sharon Boorstin adds that if you are a fan of gospel spirituals, look up Aretha Franklin’s performance at the Obama White House from 2014, singing Amazing Grace. The Queen of soul will fill your house with worshipful tones
The idea is to celebrate the spirit and beauty of the Easter holiday. While it may feel more inadequate that most years, planning a bit can make it one of the most memorable holidays ever. It’s the meaning that counts.
Source: LATimes | USAToday | TBWS
