Easter Basket Ideas & Easter Traditions

Unique, easy, inexpensive & fun DIY Easter basket & egg hunt ideas for babies, toddlers, tweens, teens & adults. 

Easter is right around the corner. And to be honest, I have no real idea about Easter Traditions, Easter Baskets and/or Easter Egg Hunt because I did not grow up here. My knowledge about Easter is limited to the little bit of Easter that I have been exposed to in the last few years. 

But I have always been curious to learn more about Easter (just as I am curious to learn about other cultures and celebrations), and now that we have an almost 3-year-old I figured it was about time. 

So as always, I turned to my dear friend, Kathy of @peppyfitfoodie to educate me, you can always count on her to come to your rescue! 

In this guest blog post, Kathy is sharing all about Easter — Easter Traditions, Easter Basket Ideas, her childhood memories from Easter, and more… 

As you read this post about Easter, I hope that you too are transported to Kathy’s childhood days (just as I was) and that you too find ideas on how to put together fun and unique Easter Baskets for your little ones (beyond just the usual culprits aka candies ;)).

EASTER TRADITIONS 

For most people, the earliest memories of holidays are always Christmas. Most likely it’s not just Santa, but all the presents under the tree. 

For me, however, my fondest memories and the funnest ones were always around the Easter holiday. Maybe it was because I was a bit of a tomboy and I loved the idea of playing Sherlock Holmes and searching for clues to find Easter baskets and Easter eggs.  

Easter was also double the fun because the Easter bunny always left a basket at our house and then seemed to leave one at grandpa’s and grandma’s too.  

Easter also meant dressing up, white patent leather shoes, white gloves and frilly dresses for the girls and little boys in suits and ties. I always laugh when I see pictures of little me because I never look overly happy to be dressed in all that finery.  

In my family, Easter Sunday church services were also a tradition. My grandmother would go to Catholic Mass and the rest of us would head to our services at our church, Sheppard of the Hills United Methodist Church.

We would sing, the kids would come in for the children’s gathering before heading to Sunday School for another story and a fun Easter-themed craft.   

To me, Easter was really all about the renewal of hope. Christ died and rose. He fulfilled the promise. Above everything else, that was the message I took away.  

After church, we all headed to grandpa and grandma’s house for the traditional Easter dinner.

Grandma would be cooking in the kitchen and I would sneak in and watch. By the time we got there, she would already have the salad ready along with her homemade French dressing. The leg of the lamb would be in the oven and the scallop potatoes ready to go.

Grandma always had the best smelling kitchen.

The funny thing is now, all these years later I don’t recall what we had for dessert. 

How weird is that?

It’s probably the sugar high from eating everything in our baskets.  

My best guess is that it was my favorite Schaum Tortes, as my grandmother was German.

Wondering what they are? Check out my post.

EASTER BASKET IDEAS

I think my favorite part of Easter as a mom was creating an Easter basket for our own sons. Baskets surely got more and more elaborate over the years. As a child, I remember when money must have been tight, because we didn’t have baskets, merely paper plates.  

My Easter baskets growing up never included those cute chocolate bunnies or colorful dipped hard-boiled eggs because of allergies, so the Easter Bunny had to be creative. Jelly Beans and Peeps. That’s it as far as candies and treats went, but I would find a Barbie or a stuffed animal. 

For our own sons, we loved creating themed baskets. When they were young, it was simply treats, a book and maybe a toy. Then it was Legos. As they grew up, we still hid their baskets and they were still filled with their favorite treats.

Josh loved art, so his basket would include sketch pads, new pencils, erasers.

Zach loved music, so it would include sheet music, a vinyl album or a CD.  

My mom and I always made fun baskets for the hubby too. Wouldn’t you love to see their expression when the kids yell, “Dad, I found your basket!” We all never truly grow too old for the Easter Bunny. 

Today’s Easter Bunny’s have so many more options! Your standard jelly beans, peeps, chocolate bunnies are still available, but now you can gluten-free bunny-shaped crackers, sugar-free, vegan and fun individual-sized treats in Easter colors make packing that Easter Basket easier. 

Since many kids won’t be going back to school this year, if you are able, include a coloring or activity book.

As our weather is getting nicer, for the younger ones include a box of sidewalk chalk, a bottle of bubbles, activities that will take them outside to enjoy. 

For older kids, create and include a coupon book for “dinner of your choice” “breakfast of your choice” “Movie Night” “Outside Picnic in the Yard” “Virtual Adventure Day” or other coupons where you are giving them a choice. 

Right now, I think that’s what they are feeling the most. So think outside the box. It doesn’t have to be all sweets or a ton of toys.  

A few Easter Basket Ideas for your own kids this season

• Baby Shark Fingerlings 
• Hairdorables Dolls 
• Blume Dolls 
• Baby Yoda 
• 5 Surprise Mini Brands  
• LOL Surprise Spring Bling 
• Foodie Surprise Yolkies Mystery Collectible Figures 
• Play-Doh Classic Camera Retro-Inspired Toy with 5 Non-Toxic Colors 
• Lego Mini-Figures 
• Mad Mattr Unicorn Sparkle Mattr 
• Kid-Sized Kitchen tools and watch Kids In the Kitchen On PBS 
• And my new favorite Made to Move Barbie!  

Check out many of your favorite stores, including Target who has popular toys 40% off! 

And as I was saying earlier,  why leave the adults behind during Easter, right? 

Creating Easter baskets doesn’t have to be a chore, you can make it as personal as you like. It can cost you a little (hello Dollar Store) or a lot. It’s all up to you. 

If I was creating an Easter Basket for Myself now, it would include a few new Momentum Jewelry wraps, because who couldn’t use a little motivation, encouragement, and inspiration right about now?

I’d also include some Great Lakes Collagen, protein powder, gift certificates to Penzey’s, Savory Spice House, as well as all the small businesses I love to shop at and cafes I enjoy.  Throw in a ton of pamper-at-home items and I am good to go! 

Easter Basket For My Hubby, I’m thinking a huge bag of his favorite Peanut M&M’s, definitely those fun colored hard-boiled eggs, a fishing lure or ten, and a giant homemade carrot cake muffin with cream cheese frosting! 

Since he travels a lot for work, I’d make sure there were a few new Goob Tubes and his favorite packs of almonds and cashews that seem perfect to stash in his suitcase. There is nothing worse than a hangry hubby. 

Easter Basket For my Adult Friends…

A garden-themed Easter basket for Cindy can include new seeds, gloves, and knee pads. 

A yoga-themed Easter basket for Georgina can include a cork yoga block and a strap. 

A travel-themed Easter basket for Portia can include cute new travel shoes, pants or a collapsible water bottle. 

A woodworkers-themed Easter basket for Adam can include a couple of new tools. 

A baking-themed Easter basket for Tammy can include a new pan from Williams-Sonoma.  

The possibilities are endless! 

EASTER EGG HUNT

I always loved hiding the Easter eggs in the yard! Since I grew up loving the hunt, it was fun finding hiding spots for first the baskets and then little plastic eggs.  

I always thought it wasn’t fair growing up that all the kids were let loose at once and could have all the eggs they could find. Seeing the little ones upset because they got four eggs while their siblings or cousins had baskets overflowing just didn’t seem fair.

The solution?

With twins, we would hide two colors for each of them. When they found an egg they could only take their colors.  It was interesting that they actually didn’t share the hiding spots with each other when they would find someone else’s stash.

Once they sat down tired from racing all over, they would have a “did you find the one in the planter” conversation.  And yes, I always had a map. I’m kind of AR like that. It made making sure they were all found that much easier.

Eggs would be filled with candies, little toys and as they grew up, coins or dollar bills.   

Lastly, this year, with COVID-19, many of our churches will be closed. This does not mean that hope is not still with us, it does not mean that the promise is not fulfilled. I, like many others, will attend services through Live Streaming services.

I am blessed to have a brother who is a pastor and I will choose to hear his sermon and have my spirit and hope renewed. He serves at an inclusive United Methodist Church in Long Beach, California. If you feel so inclined, you can hear him here. 

And with quarantine and shelter in place so many families won’t be together. All the community and church Easter egg hunts have been canceled. I know a lot of moms who were checking with each other to see if they were doing Easter baskets this year.  I think we need to keep the joy in the season, it is after all about rebirth. 

Spring is showing its colors and our children need the comfort of normalcy. And that means hiding an Easter basket, hiding the Easter eggs in your own back yard or house or apartment.

Do a zoom or FaceTime with family members. Maybe you have a friend who will dress in a bunny costume and hop past the front window.

As much as you can keep the wonder of the season alive. 

Happy Easter! – Kathy @peppyfitfoodie 

“Easter is the only time when it’s perfectly safe to put all of your eggs in one basket.”

xoxo,

Kusum