Works For Me: Celebrating Spring

*My Works-For-Me Wednesday tip is a semi-re-run this week. I shared this favorite family tradition last year, though I've updated it a bit.

I think I've made it pretty clear how I feel about winter.  As far as I'm concerned, except for the one bright spot of Christmas, it's the bleakest time of the year.  When winter does finally shed its sorry self, I feel like celebrating--don't you?

On top of this, I can't quite stomach the over-commercialization of Easter (what does this have to do with this?)  A few years ago, we started doing things a little differently around here.

Instead of doing the bunny and egg dealie on Easter, we have a celebration-to-end-all-celebrations on the first day of spring (March 20th, this year).  We color eggs, we hunt for them, we do silly little gifts and we bake a bunny-shaped cake that the kids get to decorate (instructions here).  Basically, we do all the more secular Easter traditions on the first day of spring, and we do it big.  Outside of Christmas, it's our biggest celebration of the year.

This little family tradition serves several purposes.  First, it frees up Easter to focus on the real reason we celebrate.  Secondly, the kids still get all the fun of egg hunts and the like, albeit at a slightly different time.  Thirdly, it just feels right to celebrate spring, that old friend who faithfully returns to make me feel a little lighter each year.  My kids love this tradition and start talking about it weeks ahead of time.  And I already have a throw-down of a celebration in the planning stages (this year the first day of spring falls during spring break, which is especially handy).

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Comments

[Lady Why]

I can totally relate to the 'winter blues'! It snowed here in Alabama on Saturday but tomorrow is supposed to be a sunny 75 degrees! Woo Hoo! Time for some sandals and mosquito spray, if you ask me!

[Alana]

I really love the idea of doing the bunny stuff on the first day of Spring - this year it falls on my daughter's birthday so it could be extra special. Great tip - thanks so much.

[jen]

I remember when you posted about this idea before; I loved it then, and I love it now...if only I had the mental capacity to remember to DO it! I do want to know: Do you do anything for Easter day then? (just curious)

Oh and if Easter just happens to come before the first day of spring, you get all the goods on clearance!

[Melissa Markham]

That's a great idea:) And then you don't have to stop the 'fun' of the secular part because it is time to go to church, so definitely a tofer! Thanks for sharing.

[HeresTheDiehl]

great idea...thanks for sharing!

[Robin (PENSIEVE)]

Just the thought of Spring buoys my spirit, but when we get temps in the 60s...then 70s? WAHOOO!

I missed this tradition before, Shannon, so it's GOOD to recycle (hehe, I posted about recycling, so it's on the brain). I LOVE YOUR FAMILY'S IDEA! I sooooo wish I had thought of something like this years ago when my children were smaller.

Today I saw a banner in front of a church, and on one side was a life-size cut-out of Jesus on the cross, on the other side, a life-size cut out of a bunny (the banner was @ an egg hunt the church was hosting).

Heck, I was confused, I can only imagine a child!!

[Teresa]

What a good idea! We love spring here too. This might be something I have to discuss with my hubby. Thanks for sharing!

[~mary~ 4boys4me]

Another lover of spring here. I just can't bring myself to throw a spring party when it's still freezing outside! ;)

[Kristin]

I moved to Florida from Michigan. It makes winter a whole lot easier! Heck, and I'm not even 45 yet LOL I didn't come to Florida to retire - I came to live :)

That is such a cool idea about doing the egg dying for the first day of spring. What a great family tradition. Thanks for the recycling of good information!!

Have A Great Day!
Kristin

[Andrea]

I love it! I struggle with this very same thing - when I searched for books in my library for storytime, there was ONE book with the REAL Easter story, and the rest were bunnies. So just before I read to the kids (this is at work, mind you!), I asked if they knew why we REALLY have Easter. I wanted to draw that distinction quickly!
I think I'll incorporate the Dryer family tradition in my own home, if you don't mind!

[Andrea]

Oh, and you Southerners make me laugh! You don't know winter until you live where I do! :) But we can celebrate Spring together just the same!

[Smockity Frocks]

Thank you, Shannon.

[popsicles on the porch]

Sounds like a fun tradition! :)

[Julie Stiles Mills]

I'm giving away a book! Enter to win by posting a comment and sharing a time saving tip. I need me some time saving tips.

[Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home]

That is a wonderful idea. I also love spring, and think it would be a perfect thing to celebrate with the family. We really want to keep Easter free of all the secular activities as well, but I agree that these activities can still be so much fun for kids. I think our daughter would love this- perhaps we'll do it ourselves... thanks!

[Shannon]

Love the Spring party idea. Also, really enjoy all the great tips and wonderful blogs I find through your WFMW's.

[Stretch Mark Mama]

Well, *I* for one am glad you re-posted that! What a great idea!

[JanMary, N Ireland]

I love the spring party idea - much better than having the chocolate-fest on Easter Sunday. Thanks for sharing. I love to read the WFMW blog links, but don't often post in them. Where do you all get such amazing ideas?

[Col @ gigablonde [things to do in ny when you're *not* dead]]

I *LOVE* the idea of freeing up Easter for the real reason we celebrate! We should do that with ALL holidays! Give gifts on the first day of winter ... ? Sounds like a good idea, hmm? I think you're really onto something here!

xoxo,
Col

[The Happy Housewife]

What a great idea, we don't celebrate Easter (in the typical way) but it would be fun to celebrate spring. I am not a big fan of winter either.

[Sheila Gregoire]

I totally agree about Easter! I had to write an article on how to celebrate Easter once and the editor changed most of my ideas to make them totally undoable--and the opposite of Easter.

Meanwhile, we're stuck in a snowstorm up here again and I just wish spring would come!

I've written a post on how to get kids--even toddlers--to clean with you. Check it out at To Love, Honor and Vacuum today!

[erin]

that is a great idea bc you can celebrate Easter and what it means as well as let the kids enjoy the fun of easter eggs and chocolate!!!!

[Heather]

This is my first time participating in Works for Me Wednesday! Thank you for hosting this!

[jennifer]

I love this meme!!

[TracyMichele]

Shannon! What a fantastic idea!! I always struggle with the traditions that have nothing to do with Easter. Mamma guilt sets in causing me to wonder if I am doing them an injustice NOT looking for the Easter Bunny. I absolutely love this idea but eeeek.. I have only 8 days to prepare! :) Better get hopping (ok.. cut me some slack, it is early!).

[Ames]

I *love* this idea! It really does make much more sense to celebrate the fertility spring-related things (eggs, bunnies, chocolate?) on the equinox, when they were originally celebrated, and keep Easter for what it was originally for. Brilliant!

[Joanne]

Great ideas! Mine is #134 on the Mr. Linky. :)

[Jenn]

I really think this is a great idea. What sorts of things do you do with your children to celebrate the real purpose of Easter?

[RAN]

Real similar to what we have ALWAYS done. The bunny cake and all. But my children are now in their late 20's. We missed all the fun,as they outgrew the kiddy stuff, so when they were in their teens, we returned to having the egg hunt and the egg toss. Let me tell you, when there are good prizes and money in those eggs......they will knock.each.other out to get the most eggs! When they were in college, quarters were the best find - for laundry. Every year we try to come up with different fun prizes for the eggs. The grands have to have their own egg hunt, because their parents get too crazy at the hunt. The egg toss is always fun. We usually do a weekend camping trip, where we have all this great fun. Other young couples usually come and enjoy it too. After easter I stock up on all the fillable eggs, for the next year. I now have about 150 eggs to fill in the next week! But it's so much fun, almost better than christmas.....shhhhh...I didn't say that, did I?

[Andrea]

Hey, Shanon-

I found a rock in MY dryer yesterday!

http://andreabraun.blogspot.com/2008/03/blog-post.html

[Jenni @ Swimming in Sugar and Spice]

Hi Shannon,

I've been "lurking" here for a while - forgive me for not commenting before now. But I happened to write a post about this before seeing your site, so I thought I'd just go ahead and link up.

I so appreciate your site, for many reasons, and want to thank you for all the work you put into it!

Oh, and Happy Spring! :)

[Amy]

I'm only leaving a comment because you told me to. :P

[Kookaburra]

OMG I can't stand winter, so I can totally relate to wanting to celebrate spring. I love to see the sun actually shining and being able to get outside and enjoy the weather.

[Char]

SUCH a great idea - love how you get to do both, but keep it separate. Thanks for sharing!

[Tafy Sills]

I actually like winter with its cold crisp days. Days when you can curl up in your favrotie chair with a blanket on you and a good book.
However, spring is my favorite time of the year. We do the Easter bunny visit and eggs, but we have always been careful to emphasize the real reason for the celebration, just as with Christmas. We know both holidays have many pagan traditions tied to them. We are slowly making changes and have started calling Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday.
This is my 2nd week of taking part in WFMW. I enjoy taking part and got many great tips last week.
Tafy Sills from Blackberry Lane Farm

[aimee]

I am SO tired of winter too! I would never make it living up north where it is still freezing and snowing! I left a link to our Easter traditions. Hope you enjoy.

[sam]

This really is a great idea. My kids are too old but it will be a good one to tuck away and use in the future.

[Jen]

Oh I love that idea ... I may steal it ... because really, the easter bunny and Jesus have NOTHING in common!!

[Melissa]

Thanks for the great idea on how to separate the Resurrection from the bunnies, and the candy, and the commercialization of it. I'm going to suggest it to my neighbors and see if they want to do something neighborhood-wide like this!
Super idea!

[Pinkaholic Mom]

I love your Spring tradition. I envy your creative mind.

[Pinkaholic Mom]

I love your Spring tradition and envy your creative mind.

[warillever]

Good tradition, and a great way to keep the fun of commercial Easter without diluting the paschal message.

It wouldn't quite fit in our home, though, becuase the first day of spring falls during Lent when we try to keep celebrations (and candy) toned down a bit. We use the bunny traditions as a breaking of the fast, and actually enjoy combining the secular and religious traditions.

[Jessica R]

Do you stand eggs on their end? That is my favorite thing to do on the first day of spring. It is the one day of the year that eggs will stand on end. We always line our front walk with eggs and then wait for them to eventually roll over.

[laane]

I remember the tip. And I still like it.
Such a lovely tradition.

[mzzterry]

Maybe the third time I try this i might get it right. I STILL can't understand why my links are being deleted. helppppp11

[Mrs. Nicklebee]

I love the idea of the spring celebration being separate from Easter, Shannon. Good idea!

[Jill]

I did got get a chance to actually read this last night as I simply posted my Mr. Linky and immediately fell asleep. Mr Linky is brutal here on the eastern time zone. Anyway, I absolutely LOVE this idea and am going to discuss its implementation as soon as the hubby gets home.

[Janelle]

I love your idea as well. This year we have decided to wait and get all the easter stuff out on Easter Sunday. Not before. We'll do our celebrating after he is risen. Alleluia.

[Proverbs31]

We had our own dissatisfaction with Easter celebrations as well, Easter before last, and started our new Easter tradition last year.

I'm always glad for the spring, and to be rid of winter.

[Un-Domestic Mama]

This is a fantastic idea! We have so many different households to visit on Easter, that we run around crazy.

[Melody]

Sounds perfect to me...wonder if I can convince the grandparents!

[Laura]

Thanks for the great tip! I am anti-commercialization but pro-crazy-fun, and that is a good way to get the fun in and remember the reason for the season. Thanks.

[DeAnna]

I LOVE that spring celebration idea!!!!

[oh amanda]

I read your post about this last year and was so excited we're doing a first day of spring party this year! I hope you blog it for us!

[Becky]

I linked. this was my first time doing a "WFMW" what a neat idea! =]

[Renee]

We love to celebrate anything and everything here too, from the special date to the ordinary. Great post!

[Ellen Stevens]

What a great idea. We do similar celebrations. Although, because Spring is a few months away here in Alaska, it will be awhile. And, our celebrations are more akin to releasing trapped, frenzied maniacs after months of Cabin Fever... Loads of fun! :)