Celebrate Holy Week at Home: Fun Activities for Palm Sunday & Easter Prep

As we near Holy week and the Triduum, we can look ahead to observing this most important week in our church calendar and find ways to encourage children to enter into this holy time with us.

Palm Sunday Crafts

Holy Week begins with Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Recreate this scene with your little ones by making your own palm branches. All you need is some green construction paper, scissors, and a little creativity. Have the kids decorate their palms with stickers, glitter, or even draw their own designs. Then, gather the family and have a mini-procession around the house, waving your palms and singing "Hosanna!". Shining Light Dolls has a printable palm craft that would be perfect for this activity.

Another fun Palm Sunday craft is to make your own donkey puppet. Use a brown paper bag, construction paper, and markers to create your very own donkey friend. As you play with the puppet, talk about how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a humble donkey, fulfilling the prophecy.

There are many beautiful ways to fold palms. Find some tutorials or videos and try it out together. Shining light dolls has a few videos too! Many cultures have traditions of making elaborate works of art using palms. Engage children in looking up some of these creations. Hang the blessed palms around your home as a reminder to welcome Jesus, our King, into our homes and lives.

Holy Thursday Traditions

Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist, when Jesus shared a final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion and offered his Body and Blood. To mark the special event, create a special family dinner. It would be a wonderful time to invite other church members, neighbors, or the homeless.

As you eat, take turns reading the account of the Last Supper from the Gospels and discuss its significance. You could even try washing each other's feet, just as Jesus did for his disciples, as a way to practice humility and service.

A special practice on this day is to pray before the Altar of Repose for one hour. Typically the Altar of Repose is decorated to look like the garden of Gethsemane and will have Jesus' body exposed in a monstrance in participation with Jesus praying in the Garden. When Jesus went to pray he asked the disciples to stay awake 1 hour with him and so it is the tradition to spend an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

Good Friday Reflections

Good Friday is the most solemn day of Holy Week, as we remember Jesus' suffering and death on the cross. Spend time in quiet prayer and reflection as a family. You could read the Passion narrative, pray the Stations of the Cross, or simply sit in silence, meditating on the immense love that led Christ to make the ultimate sacrifice.

For a more interactive activity, create a simple Good Friday altar in your home. Gather a crucifix, candles, flowers, and any other religious items you have. Encourage each family member to spend a few minutes in quiet prayer at the altar throughout the day.

This is also a traditional day of fasting, find a recipe for hot crossed buns to make together and eat to break the fast.

Good Friday is often marked with the Stations of the Cross devotion. There are several ways to incorporate this devotion at home with children but there are also typically churches that will be offering the devotion on this day.

Preparing for Easter

As you move through the somber days of Holy Week keep the solemnity and let your family live into the sorrow. Allow your hearts to be prepared for the coming joy.

Easter preparations can include baking traditional breads, gathering decorations, dying eggs - symbolic of new life, or reading the full account of holy week from scripture.

Since the liturgical color for Easter is white, prepare a white cloth for your table and/or family altar.

As Easter is our most Joyous feast, think about inviting friends, family, and others to share in an Easter feast. Incorporate children in the preparations.

No matter how you choose to observe Holy Week at home, the most important thing is to enter into the sacred mysteries with your family. These special days are an opportunity to slow down, reflect on the passion of our Lord, and joyfully anticipate the hope of the Resurrection. Wishing you and your loved ones a blessed and meaningful Holy Week!