Easter has never been a huge holiday in my family – certainly not as big as Navidad (Christmas). But I do have many memories of attending mass on Easter Sunday, dressing up, and spending the remainder of the day together as a family. Sometimes we got together with extended family for an Easter meal, and sometimes we spent the rest of our Easter Sunday at home. Either way, I do remember each year going shopping with mami to buy my Easter dress for that year’s holiday and attending mass.

I also remember the Easter story that was always performed during mass. This was actually one of my favorite parts – to see some of the people in our church community acting out the various roles from the Bible and bringing the story of Easter to life.

Over the years, our Easter traditions have changed. Our  involvement with church lessened, even before I got married. As I got older, it  no longer seemed as important to find a new Easter dress. As my brothers got older, married, and our household became smaller, things evolved.

Now that I’m married and with my own children, we haven’t really picked up the traditions either. Or, rather, how we celebrate Easter has changed. Sadly, I admit that we haven’t attended mass on Easter Sunday in many years. I don’t really buy my daughter a fancy Easter dress each year and we barely take pictures with the Easter bunny. I feel like a bad mom when it comes to Easter.

However, we do have an Easter egg hunt, whether at our own house or a local public hunt (sometimes both). We also put together our own Easter baskets and give the kids a personalized basket each and every year. I wish I had taken the time to make this DIY Easter basket, though, but perhaps next year!

In the end, I wonder how much of this is truly important. What will my children remember about Easter? Will they talk about what was missing or focus on the fact that we spent Easter together as a family? Will they remember their Easter baskets and yearly Easter egg hunts?  I hope they remember the positive and appreciate what we did together as a family. I think this is far more important than a bad picture with the mall’s Easter bunny.

How does your family celebrate Easter?

Many thanks to the Hershey’s team for inspiring this post and helping me reminisce on the Easter traditions of our family. Thanks also for the lovely Easter basket sent our way! Check out more Easter memories and tips from other bloggers on the Hershey’s Bunny Trail.

No compensation received for this post. As always, all stories and opinions are my own.

Have you been looking for the perfect Easter basket and haven’t had any luck finding one? I hear you loud and clear!  How about making your own Easter basket with things you might have lying around the house? Or you can also pick up the items on your next shopping trip to Walmart!  Sound good?

It is so easy, even your children can have a hand in creating such beauty; plus it is versatile too!

DIY Easter Basket: How to Make an Easter Basket from a Canister

What you need:

• an empty large canister (I used a family-size Ovaltine container. It measures about 16 inches around and 4 1/2 inches tall.)
• two pieces of white card stock
• assorted ribbons and trims
• flower for embellishment (optional)
• all purpose glue
• scissors
• hot gun & glue (optional)

Instructions

Begin by cutting the pieces of card stock that will cover your bin.  Because the bin I used was longer than the length of my paper, I ended up using two pieces of card stock.  All you need to do is measure around your bin (that’s the length), then the  side (that’s the width).  Once you’ve cut your piece or pieces of card stock, begin to cover your bin.  Start at one end by placing a generous amount of glue on the bin and then pressing down the card stock, making sure not to leave any air bubbles.  Continue until you get to the end, overlapping your paper and glue.

Now you are ready to start decorating.  Pick out your trim and cut to the length of your bin.  Begin to glue (I used a glue gun for this part) where your card stock meets.  Glue around once again, pressing to make sure there are no air bubbles left.

Continue the same process until you’ve almost covered all your bin, leaving the top clear for later.  Make two holes and insert your ribbon (or ric rac) to make your handle.

Knot each end on the inside of the bin.   Glue the ends to give it extra support (after all, it is for holding lots of goodies!)

Now you can finish adding the last round of trim to the top of the bin.  When you get to the handles add a generous amount of glue to reinforce the handles.

For a final extra touch, you can add a flower.  I made my own using a dye cut machine, but you can very well buy a flower already made and glue it onto the basket.

You are done!

Now you have a lovely Easter basket your little one can be proud of!

You can also use this basket after Easter as a centerpiece!

It is all up to you! (Okay, and maybe your little one.  ¡Si te deja!)

For the centerpiece, all I did was insert a pint-size mason jar, added some water, tied some fresh flowers with a rubber band, then inserted them into the jar.  Ta-da!  The Easter basket becomes a lovely centerpiece.

Have fun creating!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.