Beyond the Chocolate: Easter Traditions That Bring Families Together
When we think of Easter, chocolate often steals the spotlight—rows of eggs on supermarket shelves, baskets full of sweet treats and wrappers scattered by mid-morning. But if you ask me, Easter is about so much more than that. It’s about connection. It’s about traditions. And it’s about taking a pause from the busyness of life to spend time with the people we love most.
Some families use the Easter break to head off on holidays—camping trips in the bush, long weekends at the beach, or family getaways that leave lasting memories. And we always love this time together. But if you're not heading away this year, don’t feel like you’re missing out. You can still make this Easter feel special right at home—no plane tickets or beach towels required.
One thing my family has always been big on is traditions. Over the years, they’ve become the thread that ties our memories together. And Easter is no exception.
Every Easter, since our girls were just toddlers, we’ve had an Easter egg hunt. It started simply—just me, drawing little picture clues to help them find their eggs. They were only two at the time, and I can still remember their faces lighting up as they followed the “map” I created (with our help of course!) As they moved into primary school, I found colourful plastic eggs and popped two mini eggs inside each one. Each child had their own colour so they knew exactly what to look for. The clues were written simply so they could read them on their own—and off they’d go, squealing with excitement around the house and yard.
As they got older, the clues became trickier. The hiding spots became smarter. But the coloured egg tradition remained. Even now, with my daughters at uni, the Easter hunt is something they still look forward to. Last year, I switched things up—no clues this time. I simply hid the eggs and left them to it. And guess what? They loved it. It was so much FUN! I even managed to outsmart them with a few hiding spots!
That’s the magic of tradition. Our girls don’t remember which brand of eggs they had each year. But they do remember the laughter, the little moments of surprise and the joy of doing something together. Those are the memories that last.
In today’s world, it’s so easy to get caught up in screens and schedules. But Easter offers us a gentle reminder to disconnect from the digital and reconnect with what really matters—each other. Whether you're with toddlers, teens or grown-up kids coming home for the break, you can create moments that they'll carry with them for life.
And don’t worry if you’re starting late. It’s never too late to begin a new tradition.
Here are a few ideas if you’d like to start your own Easter traditions:
Create a personalised Easter hunt with clues tailored to your kids’ ages (or just hide the eggs and see how long it takes them!).
Bake something special together—hot cross buns, a family favourite slice, or even decorate cupcakes. See my FREE Easter mini eBook for some delicious inspiration!
Have an Easter brunch or lunch where everyone helps prepare a dish. My Easter Table recipe eBook has some fabulous ideas to get you started!
Spend the day tech-free—just good food, great company, fresh air and plenty of laughs.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the chocolate—it’s about the connection.
Do you have your own Easter traditions? I’d love to hear about them! Feel free to share your stories with me on Instagram or tag me in your Easter moments @cookingwithange. Let’s inspire each other to make Easter meaningful in our own way.
Wishing you a joyful Easter season,
Ange x
