When our children were young, during Holy Week they looked forward to hanging beautifully decorated eggs (that I had collected) on our Easter Egg Tree each day. By Easter - Pascha - the tree would be full. I made my own last year with pussy willow branches stuck into florist foam, which I nestled down into a pretty tin. In Europe, pussy willow branches are used in place of palm branches on Palm Sunday, since palms are not available in that region.
A variation of this Easter Egg Tree would be to hang these beautiful little "Miracles of Christ" icon cards on the branches at the beginning of Holy Week (Lazarus Saturday). Each card is about 31/2 by 4 inches and would just need a hole punched at the top with a ribbon threaded through it in order to tie it to a branch. On each successive day of Holy Week, your children could take down a card, read the story from Christ's life on the back, and replace the icon card with an Easter egg.
"Miracles of Christ" icon cards are available HERE at Orthodox Marketplace |
"Behold the Bridegroom comes at midnight, and blessed is the servant whom he shall find watching, and unworthy is the servant whom he shall find heedless.
Beware, therefore, oh my soul. Do not be weighed down with sleep, lest you be given up to death, and lest you be shut out of the kingdom.
But rouse yourself, crying, Holy, Holy, Holy are Thou O God."
To hear this beautiful Orthodox hymn, “Alleluia, Behold the Bridegroom”, click HERE.
Your tree looks beautiful Wendy!
ReplyDeleteWendy, I love your tree! The blue egg with the rabbit is my favorite!
ReplyDeleteI love this time of year...wishing you a wonderful Holy Week and bright Pascha! That's a great idea to use pussy willows to hang the eggs upon...
ReplyDeleteWe had trees like this in Germany. I loved them! Now we have cats that love them. :(
ReplyDeleteWow! Gorgeous tree!!! It makes me want to make one of my own!
ReplyDeleteJenni - You could do this! Not hard at all! (and it gives you an excuse to start a beautiful egg collection.) :)
ReplyDelete