Beyond The Candy: A Fun Spin On The Easter Basket
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As a hallmark of the Spring season, Easter has become more and more special to me over the years. A holiday to celebrate one of the most glorious days in all of history, Easter brings to mind both the sacrifice and ultimate celebration of Christ rising from the grave to conquer death. Unlike Christmas however which is celebrated in a mass of carols, gifts and tinsel, Easter seems to frequently sneak up on me. Perhaps it is the changing date or the varying weather, but whatever the case, each year I hope to be better at celebrating Easter beyond the events of Holy Week. Unfortunately, despite my best efforts last year to establish more Easter traditions (written about in the post: Easter Celebrations: 5 Great Ways To Experience The Season!), the upheaval and moving of our first few months in 2023 has led to few new traditions this year. That being said, even on the busiest of years when new traditions seem out of reach, creating unique Easter baskets, spending time with family and reflecting on the finished, redemptive work of Jesus have been able to hold steady. So, whether you have fully embraced this Easter season or you are looking for a sercy to inspire growth and delight in the next, I hope that this gift guide will give a fun spin on Easter basket options beyond only candy filled eggs.
The History Of Easter Baskets
Harking back to medieval times, Easter baskets have been said to be derived from a variety of sources. Some say that medieval Catholics would fill the baskets with items forbidden during Lent and bring them to the church to be blessed by the priest as a celebration of the end of Lent. On the other hand, the exchange of baskets was said to have begun as a festival for the pagan goddess of spring and fertility who was often depicted holding woven baskets. As eggs and rabbits were also common symbols of new life, they were frequently integrated into the celebrations as well. (source) Whatever the reason, Easter baskets have become a common ritual for the average American family with wicker spilling over with paper grass, chocolate bunnies and Jelly Belly filled plastic eggs.
While Easter baskets are most certainly not the reason for Easter, they can become a fun tradition to use for celebrations. Beyond just candy, they can be filled with both exciting and meaningful treasures much like a Christmas stocking. You can exchange gift baskets on Easter morning, or even a couple of days beforehand to distinguish the goodies from the holiday itself while also allowing for full utilization of the basket contents for Easter celebrations! With the majority of items shown blow costing less than $25, you can tuck one or two of these goodies in with your candy and your family and friends will be sure to love them all season long.
Easter Basket Gift Guide: For Her
Who says gift baskets have to be saved only for the kids?! These great gifts are just right for the fabulous ladies in your life.
01. Ginger Jar Bouquet Note Card Set – Handmade by artist Michelle Mospens, this floral note card set provides 6 cards with envelopes perfect for sending little notes of encouragement.
02. Silk Scarf – An affordable 27”x27” silk scarf (that comes in many styles!) adds so much pizazz to an outfit. Wear as a headscarf or tie around your neck for added sophistication. Perfect for the fashionista in your family!
03. Beaded Raffia Earrings – As every girl needs a pair of fun statement earrings, these beaded Raffia dangles come in a million colors and are the best pop to add to outfits all spring/summer long.
04. Scripture Memory Coloring Cards – Created by the Daily Grace Co. these beautiful adult coloring cards are perfect for memorizing scripture and are lovely to display throughout your house or carry along on the go in your car.
05. Harney & Sons Assorted Tea Sampler – Who doesn’t love a good hot tea?! While iced drink season is coming, a soothing cup of hot tea is always a treat.
Easter Basket Gift Guide: For Him
While some people say that men are so hard to shop for, these 5 items are perfect Easter goodies they will love!
01. Watercolor Fish Note Card Set – Have you ever had a hard time finding stylish note cards that aren’t floral? Well look no further than this handmade 6 card set created by artist Michelle Mospens. These are a perfect option for the avid outdoorsman or beach lover.
02. Reversible Self Tie Bow Tie – With a family of majority boys, there is much love around our house for bow ties! And who wouldn’t want a classic style that is TWO IN ONE?! His perfect Easter Sunday outfit is now complete.
03. BBQ Seasoning Rub Set – For all the grill masters in your family, this is a gift that just keeps on giving. With 5 unique BBQ rubs included, you can rest easy knowing good things will be coming from the grill for months to come.
04. Stand Firm Scripture Memory Cards – Complete with 11 scripture meditation cards, this Stand Firm set is designed to help you fight daily battles through the living Word. I was blown away by how the Lord used scripture memorization to minister to Charlie and I throughout his chemotherapy, so be sure to grab them up for easy memorization to be equipped in the Lord all year long.
05. The New Man: Becoming A Man After God’s Heart – Written by Dan Doriani, The New Man is a book that both my dad and Charlie thoroughly enjoyed when they read it together before we got engaged. Exploring God’s character and how He desires to shape men into the friends, husbands, fathers and leaders that He created them to be, this book is a great read.
Easter Basket Gift Guide: For Kids
You certainly don’t want to leave the littles out for fun Easter basket goodies! Here are a few to make your Easter season and months afterward extra special.
01. Smashable Egg Kit – For a unique spin on candy eggs, make this sweet treat for a fun activity kids will love! As a DIY smashable edible egg kit, this activity will be sure to entertain kids of all ages.
02. Life Of Jesus Kids Card Set – With 20 cards describing the life of Jesus, this Life Of Jesus Card set is perfect for daily Scripture reading and reflection questions to engage your kids in the days leading up to Easter. Bonus, each card also forms an easy to remember timeline of Jesus’s life!
03. The Jesus Storybook Bible Coloring Book – Wonderful to pair with the beloved Jesus Storybook Bible, this Jesus Storybook Bible Coloring Book provides 60 pages of coloring fun for kids ages 4-8. Let their creativity flow and their hearts be nourished!
04. Colorful Kite Kit – Have a beautiful Easter weekend or planning for your summer beach trip? Get creative with kite decorations with this Colorful Kite Kit. Assemble, decorate and then grab a breeze and watch them fly!
05. Seersucker Easter Basket – This Seersucker Egg Basket is the perfect Easter bucket for all of your family, church and neighborhood Easter Egg Hunts! With colors in mint, blue, and pink, these seersucker baskets will make for the sweetest Easter pictures.
Easter Basket Gift Guide: For Families
Change it up this year and create one large family Easter basket! Pair these gifts with a few chocolate bunnies (some people aren’t as willing to share those! ;)), and you are set for loads of family fun!
01. Tea Light Fondue Set – Who says chocolate has to be limited to bunnies? Branch out and have a family fun night with chocolate or cheese fondue. Pair with fruit, Peeps, pretzels, bread or cookies for guaranteed deliciousness.
02. Bocce Ball Set – Fabulous for the backyard or the beach, Bocce Ball is the ultimate outdoor family game that can include all generations.
03. The Story Of The Bible From A To Z – Perfect for kids and families, this devotional traces the Bible through the alphabet from Genesis to Revelation. Written with discussion questions and prayers, this format provides intentional family devotions that can last long after Easter.
04. The Chosen – Experience the life of Christ and His disciples in a new way this Easter season through The Chosen. With 3 seasons released thus far, The Chosen is the first multi season show about Christ’s earthly ministry (and is made outside of Hollywood). Dive in with wonderful conversation starters through this unique and wholesome entertainment platform.
05. Do You Really Know Your Family? Game – My youngest brother gave this as a gift to Charlie, and our family has had the MOST fun playing! With trivia and challenge cards, this game is easily adaptable for conversations with kids, teens and adults, so you can see how well you really know those around your Easter table!
Final Thoughts
Easter baskets can be such fun for kids and adults alike. If this Easter has snuck up on you as much as it has on me, I hope that these gifts and resources might help stretch out intentional study and celebration far into 2023. Do you have a favorite Easter tradition or gift basket item? If so, I would love to know your thoughts and comments in the section below!
Happy celebrating!
