Holy Cross Day is almost here! Holy Cross Day is the special day when Christians around the world celebrate the cross of Christ.
The cross is pivotal to the Christian faith. It is the instrument of Christ’s redemption for the whole world. It is such a holy object to us and the saving acts of God through the cross of Christ are reason to celebrate!
Holy Cross Day is an ancient feast day that celebrates the cross and all that it means for our lives. It is the day that we discover not only the cross itself but its rediscovery after it was lost in the fall of Jerusalem.
The earliest Christians considered the tomb where Jesus was buried to be a holy site. However, after the siege of Jerusalem in AD 70, the city was reduced to ruins. Later, in AD 130, Emperor Hadrian built a Roman colony over its ruins. He ordered the tomb of Christ filled to create a flat foundation for a temple dedicated to Venus.
In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helena Augusta, converted to Christianity and set about finding and restoring Christianity’s holy sites and objects. Constantine sent his mother to have the pagan temple over the tomb destroyed and the old ruins of the tomb excavated. During the excavation, three crosses were uncovered believed to be the cross of Christ and the two thieves. This was the cause of many celebrations and a feast day was created to commemorate it.
Ways to Celebrate:
Make a dessert in the shape of the cross. I love this super easy and decadent Holy Cross Icebox Cake. Your kids will have so much fun making it! You simply layer crisp chocolate cookies with whipped cream. Stack in the shape of a cross, chill until set, and voila…total heaven!
Make a cross craft out of toothpicks. This is a fun and easy activity for your kids. Break up toothpicks and glue them in the shape of a cross on black construction paper. Punch holes in the corners of the paper, thread twine through, and hang or process through your house.
Make homemade basil pesto. Tradition says that basil was growing all over the hill where St. Helena found the cross of Christ buried. Because of this, priests hand out basil sprigs to in Greece the parishioners on Holy Cross Day. Gather up bundles of basil and tie them with a ribbon. Place the basil bundles on the table as decorations for your feast. For dinner, make homemade pesto and spread on slices of crusty bread or add to hot pasta.
Show your children how to make the sign of the cross over themselves. People often believe that making the sign of the cross over ourselves is superstitious or weird but that was never how it was intended to be used. Making the sign of the cross is just a way that we remind ourselves that we are set apart for Christ.
Let's Get Ready Together!
Celebrating Holy Cross Day is a beautiful and meaningful way to honor the profound significance of the cross in our faith. As you gather with your family to reflect on the history and engage in these simple yet rich traditions, you’ll create lasting memories and deepen your connection to Christ’s sacrifice. I’m excited to journey alongside you as we celebrate not only this special day but many more throughout the liturgical year.
Be sure to follow along this week as I share all of the recipes and tutorials you’ll need to celebrate Holy Cross Day in your home!
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