One of my favorite things that I learned when researching my latest book on celebrating the season of Easter, was the practice of dyeing Easter eggs red. I thought it would be fun to take a deep dive into the history of the red egg as well as some fun ways to incorporate the tradition into your home. For Christians, Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and early in the history of Christianity, the egg became a symbol of this resurrection . Just as a chick hatches from its egg and emerges into a new life, Christians believe that Jesus emerged from his tomb on Easter Sunday, having conquered death and bringing new life to all who believe in him. The practice of dyeing eggs red for Easter is a longstanding tradition in the Orthodox Christian Church, particularly in Greece and other parts of Eastern Europe. The red color symbolizes the blood of Jesus Christ, which was shed on the cross for the redemption of humanity. The red eggs are often prepared on Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday. The eggs are boiled and then dyed red using natural dyes made from onion skins. The eggs are then used in various Easter customs, including being placed in baskets of food that are blessed by the priest on Easter Sunday. The red eggs are also exchanged as gifts among family members and friends as a symbol of the new life that Jesus' resurrection brings. In the Orthodox Christian tradition, dyeing eggs red for Easter is often associated with the story of Mary Magdalene and her encounter with the Roman Emperor Tiberius. According to the legend, after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene traveled to Rome to share the Gospel with Emperor Tiberius. During the meeting, she gave the emperor an egg and explained to him that the egg was a perfect symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. However, the emperor was skeptical and responded that it was impossible for someone to rise from the dead, just as it was impossible for the egg in Mary Magdalene's hand to turn red. The egg miraculously turned red at that moment, shocking everyone who witnessed it. This miraculous event is said to have convinced the emperor of the truth of Mary Magdalene's message, and he allowed her to continue her missionary work. There are still many more days left in our Easter season celebrations. Introducing the tradition to your family is a great way to keep the celebration going! Read a book on the legend of Mary Magdalene and the red egg. The Miracle of the Red Egg tells the story of how this tradition started way back in apostolic times. I hope this new tradition will be a blessing to you and your family! Helpful Links : How to Dye Easter Eggs Red Using Natural Dyes The Significance of Eggs in Easter Easter Fun With Egg-Cracking Games How to Celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene

Good Friday is the most solemn day of the church year. It holds profound significance for Christians, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. We solemnly remember the sacrificial acts of Jesus, who bore the sins of humanity and “reconciled to himself all things, whether in heaven or on earth, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:20) As we commemorate Good Friday, we enter a period of profound reflection and reverence, pondering the immense weight of Christ’s sacrifice and the boundless depth of his love for us. Christians worldwide pause on this day to contemplate a pivotal moment in our salvation narrative when God’s immense love for us found full expression in Jesus’s sacrifice on a wooden cross. In Scripture The story of Good Friday—the betrayals, trials, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ—is recounted in all four of the Gospels. Christ Before the Jewish Leaders After Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, he faced several trials before different authorities. First, the Jewish religious leaders, including the high priest Caiaphas, brought against him accusations of blasphemy for claiming to be the Son of God. Despite Jesus’ silence, the council found him guilty and sentenced him to death. Christ Before Pilate However, lacking the authority to execute, they sent Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, accusing him of claiming to be king and thus challenging Roman rule. According to Luke, Pilate also sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who was in Jerusalem at the time, but Herod, finding no fault in Jesus, sent him back to Pilate. After questioning Jesus and finding no fault, Pilate attempted to release him. He offered the crowd a choice between freeing Jesus or Barabbas, a notorious insurrectionist. The crowd, incited by the chief priests, chose Barabbas. Pilate, symbolizing his innocence of Jesus’ blood by washing his hands, reluctantly handed Jesus over to be crucified at the crowd’s insistence. The Crucifixion and Burial Roman soldiers mocked, beat, and crowned Jesus with thorns. They forced him to carry his cross to Golgotha (“the place of the skull”), where they crucified him between two criminals. Pilate ordered a sign declaring him “King of the Jews” in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek to be affixed above Jesus’ head, infuriating the Jewish leaders. Darkness covered the land during the crucifixion, and Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Before dying, he entrusted his mother to the beloved disciple John and declared, “It is finished.” Upon his death, the temple curtain tore in two, an earthquake occurred, and tombs opened. These signified the moment’s momentous nature. Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Sanhedrin who had not consented to the council’s decision, requested Jesus’ body from Pilate. He was granted permission, so he took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and placed it in his new tomb, which he had carved in the rock. The tomb was sealed with a large stone and guarded by Roman soldiers. Prophetic Fulfillment Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice fulfills Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, affirming Jesus as the promised Savior. These prophecies underscore the belief that the prophets foresaw his life, death, and resurrection as part of God’s redemptive plan for humanity.  Perhaps the most pointed prophecies about Jesus’ suffering and death come from the book of Isaiah, where we find a “suffering servant” despised, rejected, and bearing the sins of many. The suffering servant clearly prefigures Jesus’s crucifixion and the purpose behind it: offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins.  Psalms 22 begins with the words Jesus cried out on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The psalm goes on to describe details mirroring the crucifixion scene. These include being surrounded by enemies, having pierced hands and feet, casting lots for the sufferer’s clothing, and ending in praise to the Lord, “for he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” Zechariah 12:10 says, “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child…” This is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ side being pierced by a spear during His crucifixion (John 19:34-37). Psalms 34:20 prophesies the protection of the righteous man’s bones: “He protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.” This is fulfilled in Jesus’ crucifixion, as His legs were not broken to hasten death (a common practice), which was unusual for crucifixion victims (John 19:33-36). The Good Friday Service Good Friday holds a prominent place in Christian church history, dating back to at least the 4th century in Jerusalem. Egeria, a pilgrim who visited Jerusalem during Holy Week, provides an account of the procession of Christ’s actual cross through the streets to Golgotha, where Christ’s followers venerated it. Stark Symbolism In modern Good Friday services, the atmosphere is solemn as we silently contemplate Christ’s death. The service, held from noon until 3 p.m., symbolizes Jesus’s last hours on the cross. As the liturgy commences, we are starkly confronted with a stripped-down church. The altar lacks a cross, candlesticks, or altar cloths. Black veils shroud any symbol of Christ, and the clergy wear solid black, signifying mourning. We stand as a wooden cross is processed to the front of the church. O ye people who pass by on your journey, behold and see,Look upon me: Could there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow?Behold and see, all ye people come, give heed,And consider my grief and sorrow. – O Vos Omnes by Tomas Luis de Victoria Veneration of the Cross The Veneration of the Cross begins. This ancient practice appeared in the first centuries of the church in Jerusalem. During the Veneration of the Cross, we honor the cross and its meaning in our lives. We remember the words of John 3:16-17: ​​For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. We recite holy anthems, marveling at what God accomplished for us through the Cross of Christ. Churches never celebrate Holy Communion on Good Friday. However, some celebrate the Mass of the Presanctified, where the clergy give the congregants the Blessed Sacrament retained overnight at the Altar of Repose. This is the last time anyone will receive the Eucharist until Easter.  The service concludes with the Lord’s Prayer, and all depart in silence. The Stations of the Cross Many churches also offer the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross, is a devotional practice that commemorates the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This tradition involves meditative walking through fourteen stations, each representing a specific event from Jesus’s final day on Earth. This practice allows Christians to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, meditating on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. Each station typically features a cross and sometimes a plaque or artwork depicting the scene, around which the faithful gather for prayer and reflection. The origins of the Stations of the Cross date back to early Christianity when pilgrims in Jerusalem would retrace Jesus’s path to Golgotha, known as the Via Dolorosa . Over time, since not all Christians could make the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the practice of replicating this path in local churches emerged, becoming formalized in the late medieval period.  Ways to Observe Good Friday Read Luke 23:1-54, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, and Psalm 22. Attend a Good Friday service at your church.  Observe a fast since this is a significant fast day for the church. Traditionally, we consume no meat or alcohol. Many choose to observe a complete fast from all food and drink except water. Note: Do not impose this on children. However, adults and older children can do this if they choose. If you cannot observe a complete fast, try to eat very small and bland meals that require no cooking.  Walk the Stations of the Cross with your family.  Watch a film about Jesus or listen to sacred music. Put black crepe over any crosses in your home.  Have everyone wear black for the day. Explain to your children that we are in deep mourning as we remember Christ’s suffering and death. Make Hot Cross Buns. Traditionally, Christians have eaten these after the Good Friday service. They originated at Saint Alban’s Abbey in 1361 when the monks distributed them to the poor. They are cut or iced with the sign of the cross.   the recipe - Hot Cross Buns Ingredients: Buns 1 package dry yeast ¼ cup warm water (100-110 degrees) 1 teaspoon white or light brown sugar 1 cup milk ½ cup butter 1/3 cup brown or raw sugar 1 teaspoon salt 2 eggs, beaten 4 to 4 ½ cups sifted flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon ground cloves ½ teaspoon nutmeg ½ teaspoon ground ginger 2/3 cup dried currants or raisins Icing: 2 tablespoons milk 4 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar (more if needed) Grated rind of one lemon Directions: Sprinkle the yeast into the lukewarm water. Stir in one teaspoon sugar. Let sit until frothy. Scald the milk. Add the butter, sugar and salt. Stir until blended. Cool to lukewarm. Beat the eggs until light, and combine with the milk mixture. Add the yeast. Sift 3 ½ cups of the flour with the spices into a mixing bowl. Make a well, and pour in the yeast mixture. Beat for 5 minutes. Toss the currants with the remaining ½ cup of flour. Mix into the dough. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if necessary. The dough should be fairly firm; otherwise, it will not take the cuts for the cross. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover the dough with a towel and put it to rise in a draft-free spot until doubled in volume; this will take about two hours. Punch the dough down. Shape it into two dozen buns. Place them 1 ½ to 2 inches apart on well-greased cookie sheets or in muffin tins. With a sharp knife, cut a cross on the top of each bun. Allow them to rise until doubled in bulk, 30 to 45 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes. For the frosting: Mix the milk with enough sugar so that the icing is not runny. Add the rind. Brush a cross on the top of each bun. Recipe from A Continual Feast by Evelyn Vitz.

Good Friday is a major fast day but it is traditional for simple foods to be eaten after the Good Friday church service which takes place from 12-3 pm (the hours that Our Lord was on the cross). In Great Britain, Hot Cross Buns are traditional fare on Good Friday. They originated at Saint Alban’s Abbey in 1361. The buns were marked with the sign of the cross and distributed by the monks to the poor. Hot Cross Buns 2 cups whole milk 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup sugar 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) of active dry yeast 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 tsp. (heaping) baking powder 1/2 tsp. (scant) baking soda 2 tsp. salt 1/4 c. sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon Spices: Cardamom, nutmeg, allspice (optional) 1/2 c. raisins 1 Tablespoon orange zest Cooking spray 1 egg white Splash of milk Egg Wash : One egg Optional Toppings : Flour Crosses : 1/2 cup bread flour 5 Tbsp. water Apricot Glaze : 1/4 cup apricot jam 2 tsp. water Icing: 1 egg white Powdered sugar Splash of milk For the buns: Combine 2 cups milk, oil, and 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan. Stir and heat until very warm but not boiling. Turn off the heat and allow to cool until mixture is still warm, but not hot, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk mixture. Add 4 cups of flour and stir to combine. The mixture will be very sticky. Cover with a towel and set aside for 1 hour. Add the remaining 1/2 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Fold together to combine. At this point, you can cover tightly and store the dough in the fridge overnight or continue on with making the buns. Combine 1/4 cup sugar with the cinnamon and whatever other spices you want to use. On a lightly floured surface, stretch and press the dough to slightly flatten. Sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of the sugar/cinnamon mixture. Sprinkle on about a third of the raisins. Then fold the dough over on itself and flatten so the dough is "plain" again. Repeat the sugar/raisin process, then fold and flatten the dough again. Repeat a third time until all the raisins are used. (You won't use all the sugar/cinnamon mixture.) Fold the dough one last time. Pinch off golf ball-sized bunches of dough. With floured hands, quickly roll the dough into a ball, then turn the edges under themselves slightly. Place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place for at least 30 minutes (an hour or more is better). Preheat the oven to 400˚. Mix 1 egg white with a splash of milk. Brush onto each roll. Now, here comes a topping option! If you want to go "old school", now's the time to add your flour crosses. If not, continue to the next step. Bake for 20 minutes or until the tops of the buns have turned golden brown. Remove from the pan and allow them to cool completely. If you added flour crosses but want a little more sweetness, brush the cooled rolls with the apricot glaze. If you didn't want flour crosses, pipe your hot cross buns with icing. Mix 1 egg white with enough powdered sugar for the icing to be very thick. Add a splash of milk, as needed, for consistency. When the rolls are completely cooled, add the icing to a small plastic bag and snip the corner. Make a cross on each roll with the icing. I hope that you have a blessed Good Friday!

Maundy Thursday begins the sacred journey of the Easter Triduum (pronounced tree-do-um ), the “Three Days” that span from sundown on Maundy Thursday to sundown on Easter Sunday. These are the holiest and most solemn days of the Christian year, drawing us into the heart of our faith. On this night, we remember the Last Supper, the washing of the disciples’ feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist, and Christ’s lonely vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is a night filled with holy mystery, a quiet, reverent threshold into the power and sorrow of His Passion. Knowing his hour had come, Jesus spent his final evening in intimate fellowship with his disciples, breaking bread, bending low to serve, and pouring out his love in word, action, and prayer. The Scripture Story of Maundy Thursday On Maundy Thursday, the Church remembers the night Christ observed the Passover with his disciples right before his betrayal and arrest. The Passover Supper was pivotal in the lives of the Jewish people because it commemorated their deliverance from slavery in Egypt when God acted mightily on their behalf. It was on this night that God established the Old Covenant, choosing Israel as His people and sealing that covenant with the blood of a spotless lamb. “The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” —Exodus 12:13 On the night of the Passover, the Israelites were told to take a spotless lamb and prepare it for a meal. They were then to take the blood of the lamb and cover their lintel and doorposts. This was a sign for the angel of death to 'pass over' their homes during the tenth plague, sparing their firstborn from death.  Jesus, Our Sacrificial Lamb The New Testament draws direct parallels between the sacrificial lamb of Passover and Jesus' sacrifice. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus walk up, refers to him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Jesus acknowledges this connection at the Last Supper when he takes bread and wine and says: “This is my body... this is my blood... Do this in remembrance of me.” He introduces the elements as his body and blood, foreshadowing his impending sacrifice and revealing that this Last Supper is the fulfillment of the Passover ritual. In that moment, time seemed to bend—reaching back to the blood of lambs smeared on ancient doorposts and forward to the blood that would soon stain a Roman cross. Just as the blood of the lamb in Exodus marked salvation for the Israelites, so the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, became the means of salvation for all who place their trust in him. With these words, Jesus instituted the celebration of Holy Communion or Holy Eucharist, transforming the Passover meal into the New Covenant, sealed by his own blood. As the lamb’s blood once saved the Israelites, the blood of Christ would bring salvation to the whole world. “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” —1 Corinthians 11:25 The Washing of Feet and the Mandatum After the meal, Jesus rose, removed his outer garments, and assumed the role of a servant. This is the great inversion - the Lord becomes the servant, the Master stoops. He washes the dust and filth from the feet of men who scarcely understood Him. One would betray, one would deny, all would abandon, and still He knelt. He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around him. He said to them, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) This new command, from the Latin mandatum , is where Maundy Thursday takes its name. The Maundy Thursday Service The Church lives out this moment each year in the Maundy Thursday liturgy. Following Christ’s example, many churches include a foot-washing ceremony during the service. In some traditions, the priest washes the feet of several parishioners; in others, the congregation takes turns washing one another’s feet, reenacting that tender and surprising moment of Christ’s servanthood. After the foot washing, the liturgy moves to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, just as Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples at the Last Supper. This moment, so solemn and sacred, is the heart of the Maundy Thursday service, when we remember that Christ will give himself fully for our redemption. Following Communion, the Blessed Sacrament is set apart and reverently processed to a small side altar, called the Altar of Repose. This represents Christ going to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asked his disciples to “watch and pray.” The Stripping of the Altar Then, one of the most somber moments occurs, the Stripping of the Altar. At the end of the service, all candles are removed, the altar is stripped bare, crosses and other reminders of Jesus are put away, and the Church is left empty and dark. After a short reading about the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the congregation leaves the Church in total silence in preparation for the solemnity of the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. The church doors are left open so that people may come and sit before the Altar of Repose. At the Altar of Repose, we remember Christ’s anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, how he asked his disciples to watch and pray with him, and how they all fell asleep, leaving him to pray alone.  We remember his betrayal by Judas, his desertion by the disciples, his trial, and his denial by Peter.  And lastly, we remember how he was mocked and beaten and how He loved us to the end. Ways to Celebrate: Attend the Maundy Thursday service at your church.  Sign up for a time to bring your family to the Altar of Repose. This is such a touching thing to do with your family!  We don’t want Christ to be alone on this night, so we go to the altar and “watch and pray” with him just as he asked his disciples that night. If going to the Altar of Repose would be too much to expect from your children, hold a vigil in your home upon returning from the Maundy Thursday service. Light a candle, sit quietly in a darkened room for a few minutes, and then Read Matthew 26:17-29 or Luke 22:7-38 with your family.  Have a foot-washing ceremony with your family.  Eat a meal reminiscent of the meal Jesus and his disciples ate. Remind your children that this meal is different from the Jewish Passover Meal because we are not awaiting the Messiah, Jesus already died and saved us. Because of this, Christians are not obligated to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus has given us a new obligation, to celebrate the Eucharist in remembrance of Him. We are merely remembering, through food, what it must have been like for Jesus and his disciples. Suggested foods: Bitter Herbs: Dip a bunch of parsley in salt water and taste it. Haroset: Applesauce with cinnamon. Unleavened bread: Crackers, store-bought matzo or pita bread will all work. Wine: red wine or grape juice for the children. Lamb: You could make a dish made with lamb or a roast.

Today is Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday. Spy Wednesday is the Wednesday before Easter Sunday, commemorating the day that Judas Iscariot made a deal with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. It is called "Spy" Wednesday because Judas acted as a spy, secretly plotting to turn Jesus over to his enemies. Spy Wednesday is a difficult day. How might one of Jesus’ companions turn against and betray him? Someone who has witnessed the love and power of God through Jesus approaches the religious leaders and asks them what they would give him for Jesus. What drove him to this? We are told in scripture that he has secretly been stealing money from Jesus but there also seems to be more going on. Was he hoping that the arrest of Jesus would be the spark that launched a Jewish rebellion against the Romans? Was he fed up with Jesus’ upside-down teachings? We can only guess his motives. But we can look at our own hearts and motives. Reflecting on Judas’ betrayal is also difficult because it is a powerful reminder of our capacity for betrayal. We have to ask ourselves what powerful forces drive us to steal from Jesus and betray him. Ways to celebrate : Read John 12:1-11 and Matthew 26:1-25 as a family. Discuss: Why do you think Judas was bothered by what Mary did? Why do you think Judas decided to betray Jesus? What is the difference between Mary’s response to Jesus and Judas’ What must it have been like for Jesus to be betrayed by one of his closest friends? Make Jidáše, a Czech Sweet Bread. Jidáše are shaped to look as if they were made from a rope on which the apostle Judas hanged himself after he had betrayed Jesus. And that’s where the Czech pastry Jidáš (Judas) got its name from! Jidáše Ingredients 4 cups all-purpose flour 1.1/4 cups whole milk lukewarm 2 teaspoons active dry yeast ⅔ stick butter unsalted melted and a bit cooled 2 egg yolks ⅓ cup granulated sugar pinch of salt 1 whole egg for egg wash 2 Teaspoons honey to glaze Jidáše after baking Instructions Put the flour into a bowl and make a well in the middle. Pour in two-thirds of the lukewarm milk. Add ½ teaspoon of sugar and the yeast. Take a fork and stir the flour in from the sides, until a small puddle of semiliquid batter forms in the middle. Dust its surface slightly with flour and let it rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the butter. It shouldn’t be hot, just warm. Add the melted butter to the bowl with activated yeast, add yolks, a pinch of salt, and the rest of the lukewarm milk and sugar. Stir everything together with a wooden spoon, then knead the mixture until it turns smooth and stiff and it doesn’t stick—or it´s sticky only a little bit. I knead and fold the dough with my hands on a dusted kitchen worktop for 10 minutes. Don't underestimate this step. Let the dough rise for a further 30 minutes. Divide the raised dough into pieces of about 2 1/2 oz each. Roll each piece into a string about 10 inches (25 cm) long and 2/3 inch thick, then form a spiral. Flatten the end of the string and tuck it under the spiral so that the Jidáše doesn't roll up on itself during baking. Transfer the finished Jidáše to a tray lined with baking paper, cover them with a clean towel, and let them rise for 45 minutes. Heat the oven to 350 °F. Whisk the egg in a separate bowl to make egg wash, and brush the Jidáše with it. Bake Jidáše for 15 minutes until they turn golden brown. Melt the honey so it gets liquid, and glaze Jidáše right after taking them out of the oven. Notes Makes about 10–15 pieces of Jidáše pastry, depending on their size. Jidáše glazed with honey is sticky, but it should be that way; it is honey after all. The sooner you glaze them, the less sticky their surface will be. Like all yeast dough pastries, Jidáše taste best on the day they are baked.

Today is Holy Tuesday, also known as Fig Tuesday, which is marked by a series of poignant teachings and parables from Jesus, as well as one curious act that speaks volumes, the cursing of the fig tree. In the Gospel of Matthew (21:18-22) and Mark (11:12-14, 20-25), Jesus approaches a fig tree in hunger. Finding no figs, He curses it, and by the next day, it has withered. It’s a dramatic moment, not about produce but about fidelity. The fig tree becomes a living parable: a warning against empty religiosity and a call to bear the fruit of genuine faith. On this day, Jesus also engages in confrontations with the authorities in Jerusalem, delivering some of his most memorable parables and teachings, including the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32), the Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46), and the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14). Each one presses us to examine not just our words, but our response, do we have this kind of faith? Holy Tuesday doesn’t ask for fanfare. It asks for faith. Ways to Celebrate Read Matthew 21:18-22. Continue your spring cleaning. Eat something with figs in it like fig preserves or fig newtons!

It’s Monday of Holy Week! According to the gospel of Matthew (Matthew 21:12-17), right after Jesus enters Jerusalem, he immediately goes to the temple. He drives out the money changers so it seems appropriate that the Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week are set aside for spring cleaning! Traditionally, Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week have been used for accomplishing the bulk of the work for Easter day. Easter Sunday is the most important feast day and is a time for joyous celebration so as little work as possible was supposed to be done on that special day. Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week were set aside to get the bulk of the work out of the way. The cleaning, cooking, and ironing were done by Wednesday so that the rest of Holy Week and Easter could be enjoyed with no distractions. I love this Holy Monday tradition, especially for us moms, where it seems like Easter brings more work and stress than normal. Years ago, I started trying to clean and prep at the beginning of the week and it did seem to help. We don't get everything done that was on my list and it still ends up being stressful but I like to think that we are getting enough of it done so that we can more fully participate in Holy Week. Ways to celebrate: Read Matthew 21:12-12 as a family. Have you ever seen Jesus act like this before? Why do you think he is so frustrated? What do you think the temple should have been like? Spring clean! Assign chores to each family member, put on some good worship music, and clean your house! If you have some things that you can make in advance for Easter, go ahead and make them. I make casseroles during these days and put them in the freezer. I set them out to thaw on Holy Saturday and simply pop them in the oven to make on Easter Day.

On Maundy Thursday, the Church remembers the night Christ observed the Passover with his disciples right before his betrayal and arrest. The Passover Supper was pivotal in the lives of the Jewish people because it commemorated their deliverance from slavery in Egypt when God acted mightily on their behalf. It also meant that God chose them and made them his special people. God established the Old Covenant with the Jewish people at the Passover and promised to be their God. On the night of the Passover, the Israelites were told to take a spotless lamb and prepare it for a meal. They were then to take the blood of the lamb and cover their lintel and doorposts. This was a sign for the angel of death to 'pass over' their homes during the tenth plague, sparing their firstborn from death.  The New Testament draws direct parallels between the sacrificial lamb of Passover and Jesus' sacrifice. In the Gospel of John, John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus walk up, refers to him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus acknowledges this connection at the Last Supper when he breaks bread and shares wine with his disciples. He introduces the elements as his body and blood, foreshadowing his impending sacrifice and showing that his Last Supper is the fulfillment of the Passover ritual. Just as the blood of the lamb in Exodus was a means of salvation for the Israelites, the blood of Jesus shed on the cross was the means of salvation for all who put their trust in him. During this Passover meal, the celebration of Holy Communion, or Holy Eucharist, was instituted by Christ. In I Corinthians 1:25-26, we read, “In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Amidst the celebration of the Old Covenant, Christ announces the beginning of the New Covenant, which is sealed by his blood. After the meal, Jesus rose, removed his outer garments, and assumed the role of a servant. He poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel wrapped around him. He said to them, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) This new command, from the Latin mandatum, is where Maundy Thursday takes its name. This is why many churches have a foot washing service on Maundy Thursday. Following Jesus’ example, the priests wash the feet of those in the congregation or are the first to wash the feet of those in the congregation, who then take turns washing each other’s feet.  After everyone has received the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion, the Blessed Sacrament is set apart and processed to a small altar called the Altar of Repose, where the faithful are asked to “watch and pray” throughout the night.  Then, one of the most somber moments occurs—the Stripping of the Altar. At the end of the service, all candles are removed, the altar is stripped bare, crosses and other reminders of Jesus are put away, and the Church is left empty and dark. After a short reading about the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, the congregation leaves the Church in total silence in preparation for the solemnity of the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. The church doors are left open so that people may come and sit before the Altar of Repose. At the Altar of Repose, we remember Christ’s anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, how he asked his disciples to watch and pray with him, and how they all fell asleep, leaving him to pray alone.  We remember his betrayal by Judas, his desertion by the disciples, his trial, and his denial by Peter.  And lastly, we remember how he was mocked and beaten and how He loved us to the end. Ways to Celebrate: Attend the Maundy Thursday service at your church. If your church does not have one, find one in your area that does. Read Matthew 26:17-29 or Luke 22:7-38 with your family. Discuss - What do you think it means when Jesus says that the bread is his body and the wine is his blood? Do you think the disciples were confused? Do you recognize some of the words that Jesus used? Read John 13:1-17 Discuss - What does it mean that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet? Who normally washed feet during Jesus’ times? What does Jesus tell his disciples to do after he washes their feet? Have a foot-washing ceremony with your family. Eat a meal reminiscent of the meal Jesus and his disciples ate. Remind your children that this meal is different than the Jewish Passover Meal because we are not awaiting the Messiah, Jesus already died and saved us. Because of this, Christians are not obligated to celebrate the Passover meal. Jesus has given us a new obligation, to celebrate the Eucharist in remembrance of Him. We are merely remembering, through food, what it must have been like for Jesus and his disciples. Suggested foods: Bitter Herbs: Dip a bunch of parsley in salt water and taste it. Haroset: Applesauce with cinnamon. Unleavened bread: Crackers, store-bought matzohs or pita bread will all work. Wine: red wine or grape juice for the children. Lamb: You could make a dish made with lamb or a roast. May you and your family have a blessed Maundy Thursday!

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest week of the liturgical year. During Holy Week, we walk with Jesus through his final days before his crucifixion. The tone of this week begins with joy as we remember his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Like the people in the Bible, we wave palm branches and shout “Hosanna,” proclaiming Jesus to be the “King of Kings.” We remember his ultimate victory over death. We also pray that we who bear these palm branches will “ever hail him as our King and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life” (Book of Common Prayer). However, the day intertwines our joy with impending sorrow. The jubilation of Jesus’s arrival foreshadows the path to his crucifixion. We grow painfully aware of our fickle human nature, for the same voices that welcomed him at his coming would cry out for his crucifixion just a few days later. But we are also reminded of Jesus’s humility. He chose a path of peace and servitude over power and dominion, inviting us to reflect on the nature of true kingship and the kingdom of God. The Scripture Story of Palm Sunday All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), knowing that it would mean the end of his earthly life. As he moved toward his final destination, he continued healing, teaching, and preaching about God’s kingdom.  As Jesus and his disciples neared Jerusalem, arriving at Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead with a specific task: to find a donkey and her colt, untie them, and bring them to him. The disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to Jesus, laying their cloaks on them as makeshift saddles. As Jesus rode towards Jerusalem, a crowd gathered, waving palms and spreading their cloaks and palms on the road. The multitude shouted praises, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  The Pharisees were furious over this response to Jesus. They cried out to him and told him to rebuke his disciples. But Jesus replied that if his disciples kept quiet, the very stones would cry out (Luke 19:39-40).  When Jesus drew near to Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. His tears were for their inability to recognize the time at hand, for the peace that could have been theirs had they opened their hearts to his message. He foresaw the dire consequences of their rejection, knowing that the time was coming when the Romans would besiege the city, trapping them with no escape.  The Symbols of Palm Sunday Palms During the Roman Empire, palms were a symbol of triumph and victory. It was customary to wave them when someone of the highest honor was passing by and to lay them down in their path. Later, with the Early Church, they became associated with Christian martyrs and their spiritual victory or triumph over death. They are also mentioned in Revelation 7:9, where a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, stood before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  Riding a Donkey Jesus entering Jerusalem riding on a donkey fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9,  Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!See, your king comes to you,    righteous and victorious,lowly and riding on a donkey,    on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The choice of a donkey instead of a horse symbolized peace, as kings rode horses when they went to war but rode donkeys in times of peace. Jesus’s entry on a donkey was a declaration of His kingdom of peace, starkly contrasting with the expectations of a military messiah who would overthrow Roman rule. The Palm Sunday Service The Palm Sunday service typically begins with the Liturgy of the Palms. The congregation often gathers outside the church building for this part of the service, where they receive blessed palm branches. The priest leads the people in prayers and reads the Gospel account of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. This leads to the “Procession of the Palms,” where the congregation processes into the church holding the palm branches aloft, reenacting Jesus’s journey. The congregation sings hymns such as “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” as they process, echoing the Hosannas of the biblical narrative. A reading of the Passion of Christ (the time from his arrest to his death) plays a central role in the service. Churches often do this as a dramatic reading, with different voices representing characters in the story, such as Jesus, Pilate, and the crowd. This immersive reading helps congregants engage more deeply with the story of Jesus’s suffering and death and sets the tone for the solemn observances of the coming Holy Week. The vestments for the day are deep scarlet red, the color of blood, indicating the supreme redemptive sacrifice Christ was entering the city to make. Palm Sunday Traditions Around the World In India, during the Gospel reading, the crowd repeats “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord God” three times, followed by a congregation shout of “Hosanna!” Marigolds are then strewn about the sanctuary. In many northern areas, people will use pussy willow and other twigs instead of palms. In Latvia, Palm Sunday is known as “Pussy Willow Sunday,” where the twigs are blessed and distributed, sometimes used for ritualistic swats to awaken children. Hoegaarden, Belgium, hosts a large Palm Sunday procession. Men dressed as the Twelve Apostles carry a wooden statue of Christ around town. Children also go door to door offering palms for coins. In the Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox Church, where they call the day “Hosanna,” palm leaves are blessed, distributed, and crafted into crucifixes and ornaments. In the Philippines, the people process a statue of Christ on a donkey to the church in the morning. Congregants line the route, waving intricately woven palm branches. In certain English regions, Pax Cakes (Latin for “Peace”) are given by the priest to the congregation. Dating back to 1570, a frustrated landowner funded cakes and ale to foster peace and reconciliation among parishioners before Easter Communion. Today, Pax Cakes are distributed with the blessing of “Peace and good neighborhood.” Ways to Observe Palm Sunday Read Matthew 21:1-11.  Attend the Palm Sunday service at a church. Holy Week is one of the most important times in the Christian year, and traditionally, every effort is made to attend every Holy Week service.  Do something special with your palms. Since a priest has blessed the palms, they should not be thrown away. Traditionally, palm fronds or crosses are brought home, hung over doorways or next to crosses, or pressed in bibles to be saved until Shrove Tuesday , when they are brought to the church, placed in a collection basket, and burned to make the ashes for Ash Wednesday . Intensify your Lenten fast. You may have let some of your commitments slide during the previous weeks. If so, recommit yourself to follow your Lenten discipline this final week before Easter.  Make a Palm Sunday Wreath : a simple wreath of palm branches and a red ribbon. Don’t worry if you don’t have palms! You can use any branches or greenery from your yard. Make a Palm Sunday Mobile : decorate your home with this sweet Palm Sunday Mobile that you can easily make with your children. All you need are simple supplies that you already have in your home and yard. Make Pax Cakes : round shortbreads stamped with the image of the Easter lamb and flag or the Chi Rho (the insignia for Christ’s name).

Here’s a fun and easy Palm Sunday food for your family! Pax Cakes! On Palm Sunday, we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He was going to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover and also to meet his death. Because of this, Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Holy Week. According to the Gospels, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem amidst great crowds of people who laid down their cloaks in front of him and also laid down palm branches. Christians around the world celebrate this special day by attending the Palm Sunday service at their church where they wave palms and read the story from the bible. In certain areas of England, after the Palm Sunday church service, Pax Cakes (Pax is “Peace” in Latin) are given out by the priest to the congregants. This tradition goes back to 1570 when a local landowner grew frustrated with the parishioners in her church. It seems they were not getting along with each other and she had had enough! She gave her priest five shillings to buy cakes and ninepence to buy ale to be distributed and consumed in church on Palm Sunday. Ha! The landowner hoped that the cakes and ale would ensure peace and reconciliation between the neighbors before they took their Easter Communion the following Sunday. The custom fell away from use for a time but was revived in the 1800s, although when it was revived, it was only for the cakes and not the ale. Pax Cakes are round shortbreads, stamped with the image of the Easter lamb and flag or the Chi Rho (the insignia for Christ's name). The cakes are handed out and a blessing of “Peace and Good Neighbourhood” is spoken by the priest with each cake given (hence the name of Pax Cakes since “pax” is the Latin word for “peace”). In honor of this funny tradition, make Pax Cakes for Palm Sunday! These shortbread cookies require very few ingredients and are so easy to make. Plus, they are made of shortbread and shortbread is absolutely amazing! For an added flair, to your cookies, pipe a Chi Rho insignia on them made from a simple confectioner’s sugar icing. Pax Cakes 3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup powdered sugar 1 to 2 Tablespoons milk Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, mix together the butter and 1 cup of sugar. Add the vanilla salt. Add flour and mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Roll the dough 1/2-inch thick and cut with a round cookie cutter or a clean jelly jar. Place the cookies on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the edges begin to brown. Allow to cool to room temperature. When the cookies are cool, place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Blen the powdered sugar with enough milk to form a thin icing. Put icing in a sandwich baggie and clip a corner of the baggie to use to pipe the icing. Draw the Chi Rho insignia on each cookie.

Palm Sunday is this Sunday! Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the holiest week of the Church year. We begin this day with joy as we remember Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We wave palm branches and shout “Hosannas”, proclaiming him the “King of Kings”. We remember his ultimate victory over death and we corporately pray that we who bear these branches will “ever hail him, as our King, and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life”. Book of Common Prayer p.271 Celebrate this day in your home with a simple wreath made of palm branches and red ribbon. We switch from purple to red on this day because red symbolizes the passion or suffering of Christ. Don't worry if you don't have palms! Palms are only available in very specific geographic zones and I just happen to live in one! Just use any branches of greenery that you can get from your yard. Palm Sunday Wreath Gather four palms or four small branches of greenery. Stack the greenery so that two palms or branches are facing down and two palms or branches are facing up. Push them towards each other until all you see is greenery meeting greenery. Cut two 12-inch pieces of ribbon. Gather them together and tie them around the joining of the stems in a simple knot. Place a thin wire through the back of the knot and hang the wreath on a contact hook on your front door or a prominent place in your home. Have a blessed Palm Sunday!

Holy Week is one of the most beautiful and solemn weeks of the entire Church year. It’s a time to enter in slowly and intentionally, to enter into the final days of Jesus’ earthly life, and to allow the rhythm of the Church and its liturgy to shape our homes, our habits, and our hearts. After the long path of Lent, Holy Week invites us to walk with Christ through His Passion, death, and resurrection, not just by remembering what happened long ago, but by participating in it now, in real time. The Church gives us this week as a gift: not to rush through, but to dwell in. Below is a brief overview of each day, giving you a sense of the movement and meaning of the week. You’ll find links to more detailed reflections and family ideas for each day so you can prepare ahead and walk this journey well. An Overview of the Week April 13th - Palm Sunday April 14th - Holy Monday April 15th - Fig Tuesday April 16th - Spy Wednesday The Triduum April 17th - Mandy Thursday April 18th - Good Friday April 19th - Holy Saturday till sundown April 19th - The Great Easter Vigil begins at sundown April 20th - Easter! Palm Sunday Holy Week begins with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We join the crowds in welcoming Jesus into Jerusalem with palms and hosannas but we know that by week’s end, those cheers turn to jeers. There’s such a stark contrast in this day, the joy of His welcome, and the shadow of the cross already beginning to fall. Read more about Palm Sunday here . Holy Monday After entering Jerusalem, Jesus goes to the Temple and drives out the money changers. It’s a day of cleansing and confrontation, He is making space for true worship. In the Church’s tradition, Holy Monday also became a day for practical preparation, as households began their cleaning and cooking for Easter. Read more about Holy Monday here . Fig Tuesday Jesus teaches boldly on this day. He curses the fig tree and speaks in parables, confronting hypocrisy and calling His followers to bear fruit. Known in some places as Fig Tuesday , this day invites reflection on the state of our hearts: are we living lives rooted in real faith? Read more about Holy Tuesday here . Spy Wednesday This day marks Judas’ betrayal, his secret agreement with the chief priests to hand Jesus over for thirty pieces of silver. It’s a hard, sobering day, one that invites us to reflect on the ways we, too, can turn from Christ in small or subtle ways. Read more about Spy Wednesday here . Entering the Triduum The Triduum (pronounced TRIH-doo-um ) means the Three Days and is the sacred three day journey at the heart of Holy Week. It begins at sundown on Maundy Thursday , continues through Good Friday and Holy Saturday , and culminates in the joyful celebration of the Easter Vigil . These days are not separate events, but one continuous liturgy that invites us to walk with Jesus through His Passion, death, and resurrection. These last Three Days, more than any other days during the year, we take special care to remember all Christ has done for us and what it means to be called his friends. Maundy Thursday Maundy Thursday draws us into the Upper Room. Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, shares the Last Supper, and gives us the gift of the Eucharist. The name “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum , meaning commandment, “A new command I give you: love one another.” The night ends in sorrow, as Jesus is arrested in Gethsemane. Read more about Maundy Thursday here . Good Friday The most solemn day of the Church year. We remember Christ’s Passion, His trial, crucifixion, death, and burial. The Church is stripped bare. The altar is empty. We meditate on the cross and the price of our redemption. And yet, even here, we call it “Good,” because through the cross, salvation has come. Read more about Good Friday here . Holy Saturday A day of waiting and quiet. Jesus lies in the tomb. The disciples are scattered, grieving. And yet, even now, God is at work. Christ descends to the dead, and the world holds its breath. This is the in-between space, before the resurrection, after the cross. Read more about Holy Saturday here . The Great Easter Vigil As night falls on Holy Saturday, we move into the liturgy of the Great Vigil of Easter, the most glorious and meaningful liturgy of the entire Church year. Celebrated after sunset on Holy Saturday, it begins in darkness, reminding us of the stillness of the tomb. Then, a flame is kindled, the Paschal candle is lit, and the light of Christ spreads through the Church. Through Scripture, we journey from creation to resurrection, hearing the great story of salvation unfold. The Alleluia returns, bells ring out, and we proclaim that Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! This service moves from silence to song, from darkness to blazing light, from mourning to joy. It is the Church’s great turning point, the moment when everything changes and Easter truly begins. Read more about The Great Easter Vigil here . Easter Sunday Easter Sunday is the most joyful and triumphant day of the Christian year. Christ is risen, He is risen indeed! After the sorrow of the cross and the silence of the tomb, we rejoice in the victory of the resurrection. Death has been defeated, and new life has begun. The Church is filled with light, flowers, and song. The Alleluia returns, and we proclaim the Good News: Jesus lives, and because of Him, we have the hope of eternal life. Easter is not just a day, it’s the beginning of a new season. For fifty days, the Church celebrates the resurrection, remembering that the story doesn’t end at the empty tomb. It continues in us, as we live as people of the risen King. Read more about Easter Sunday here . Let the Sacred Shape Your Days This is the week when everything changes. When we let ourselves slow down, enter in, and walk each day with Jesus, we find that Holy Week isn’t just something to observe, it’s something to live. Whether you’re able to participate in every service or you’re guiding your family through it at home, trust that the Lord will meet you there. Let the days unfold with reverence. Let your home be shaped by the sacred. And prepare your heart, because Easter is coming!