Hopping into Easter with Family Traditions Old and New

olympia easter
Finding her basket Easter morning is a tradition for most families, including Madi K's.
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By Kira Stussy, Tumwater High School Intern to ThurstonTalk

For the Robertson girls, dressing in matching outfits was a beloved tradition when they were young.
For the Robertson girls, dressing in matching outfits was a beloved tradition when they were young.

Easter is a widely celebrated holiday worldwide and locally. To prepare for this much loved holiday, families all have their own traditions every single year. Hard-boiled eggs are dyed and then hidden, friends and families come together, and children hop out of bed to discover what the Easter Bunny was up to while they slept.  Families around Thurston County share some of their more common activities, as well some traditions that are a bit more unusual.

The Robertson family shares one of their unique Easter traditions. When her girls were younger, Shelley Robertson used to buy them matching dresses specifically for the holiday. Sadly, Shelley admitted that they “won’t let [her] do that anymore.” Along with the dresses, the Robertsons also emphasize the significance of Easter to their children, making sure they know it’s about more than the bunny. They also spend time with extended family, traveling up to Tacoma to visit grandparents. When asked what her favorite family Easter tradition is, Anna Robertson replied, “going on Easter eggs hunts.”

Similarly, with the Hamblet family it is all about the significance of the holiday. They focus on the religious roots of Easter and start by “reading a children’s book about Easter a few weeks before the holiday.” Reid Hamblet (father) has missed the past few Easters for work and his family is hoping to be able visit him there, perhaps even coordinate an Easter Hunt there as well.

The Hamblets dye their own real eggs for their epic hunts. They gather with friends and family and try to “build up” the holiday and the significance of it before the big day actually arrives so that their kids can truly understand what it is about.

olympia easter
Finding her basket Easter morning is a tradition for most families, including Madi K’s.

Another local family shared their tradition of waking up to a scrumptious breakfast prepared by their mother, Kate. Later, the kids, Madi and Josh, participate in a family Easter egg hunt at their grandparents’ house with all of their cousins. This Thurston County family claims that Easter is a very “big deal” in their home, and like with all holidays, they have an abundance of decorations set up around the house to help get in the festive mood.

When many kids think of Easter, what is one of the very first thoughts that pops into their heads? They immediately picture the Easter Bunny bouncing into town, carrying a basket filled to the brim with eggs and candy at the ready. When the Easter Bunny visits Madi K’s home, he literally leaves a trail of his fur lying around! He also leaves a basket full of toys and candy. When asked about the basket, Madi giggled and nodded saying, “Yeah, he leaves good presents.”

When the Easter Bunny stops by the Robertson’s abode, he also leaves a basket of goodies for Anna and her siblings. If they could ask him just one question, both girls agreed they’d want to know “how he gets to everyone’s house in just one night?” An age old question indeed. Both girls thought the Easter Bunny would be large in size compared to the tiny bunnies that scamper on the side of the road. Madi thinks he would be approximately the size of a man if not bigger. Although neither girl has actually seen the bunny, they know he is real based on the eggs and gifts he leaves behind.

Easter is a holiday that comes with many family traditions followed over the years.  Some are unique and original and some are comfortingly familiar.   No matter which tradition a family follows, each family creates a special holiday that will make memories for future generations.

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