In todays blog we will be taking a look at how we can spend quality time with our loved ones over Easter, with a focus on Easter activities for the elderly. There are many ways in which we can celebrate Easter, from activities at home to getting out and about. With this in mind, we have put together some helpful suggestions to get you started. Ideas that will maximise on the importance of nurturing relationships, highlighting the importance of companionship and the benefits of regular social interaction.
The second half of todays blog will also focus on the origins, history and traditions of Easter. So, without further ado, let us begin.
Why it’s important to spend quality time spent together during this significant holiday?
For older adults Easter can be a time filled with deep personal reflection, which also coincides with the change of seasons, often turning our thoughts to new beginnings as well as the nostalgia of Easter’s past. With this nostalgia, however, can also come a feeling of loneliness or longing, especially for the elderly. Primarily because national holidays are usually associated with spending time with family and friends, a full house of often different generations. And sadly, for many older adults struggling with loneliness and isolation, the holiday period may not be reflective of what they experience now. That is why it is all the more important to take steps to ensure your loved ones are able to celebrate this Easter in a way that is beneficial to them.
For some older adults Easter may hold great significance if they follow a particular religious faith. While for others Easter is simply seen as a time in the calendar when families and friends get together and strengthen their bonds by sharing meals, giving gifts, baking and going out to make the most of the spring sunshine. There may even be an Easter egg hunt, and I am happy to declare that you are never too old to take part in such a fun activity!
With the Easter break fast approaching, now is the perfect time to plan in some ways that you can celebrate Easter together, creating those all-important memories that keep us connected and induce joy. Below we have put together a few suggestions:
The Bespoke Life Easter Ideas for older adults
1. Make a Roast dinner together
Having family or friends gathering for Easter? Why not plan the Good Friday or Easter Sunday roast with your older adult together. You can tie this in with discussing some of your most memorable roasts and Easter meals whilst deciding what meat or vegetarian main you will be cooking, not forgetting those all-important sides, followed by the dessert!
When it comes to the cooking, think about prepping the vegetables together. If everyone is happy too, divide the cooking so that each person brings a dish! If your loved one is able to, giving them the opportunity to contribute by cooking a something or making a dessert will be emmensly rewarding for them. They may have a family dish handed down through the generations that they can cook or a signature dish that is theirs only.
For many of us preparing a dish for others is a way to show our love, and for older adults this can be especially true. When shared, dishes become a talking point at the table and a proud moment for those that contribute, especially when it goes down a storm. If they are unable to make something by themselves, do it together. Today, many dishes be made a few days in advance, keeping things stress free and a whole less complicated.
Positive benefits: Quality time spent together, evokes memories, strengthens family/friend bonds, boosts cognitive function, physical activity, helps with manual dexterity, fun, laughter, encourages thinking and problem-solving skills. Reduces loneliness and isolation. Boosts self esteem and encourages independence.
2. Bake Easter Biscuits or a simmel cake
Baking can be a wonderful mindful activity to do together. Furthermore, it is an activity where skills and recipes are passed down through generations. You could bake some Easter biscuits or keep it simple by making some Easter chocolate cornflake cakes and adorn them with mini eggs. If you want to truly get into the Easter spirit, you could look up a recipe for Simmel cake. Simmel cakes are traditionally linked to Mothering Sunday, which coincides with the middle of Lent, this is when the Lent fast is completed and eating cake is once again permitted. It is thought that Simmel cakes date back to medieval times. Many older adults will likely have childhood memories of eating or baking Simmel cakes with family, so having a go at baking one together is something to consider.
Positive benefits: Fun, great activity to do if house bound, encourages quality time together, breaks isolation, evokes memories, improves cognitive function, physical activity, end results can be eaten and shared!
3. Take part in an Easter egg hunt
Easter egg hunts are a fun activity to take part in whatever your age. Whether it is an organised event locally or something arranged at home, they are a wonderful way to bring back many memories of childhood, moving through the decades to perhaps being a parent and organising them for your own or someone else’s children and eventually to grandparents. Allowing ourselves a moment to be bring out our inner child has positive benefits in that it gives us the freedom to escape to another world, let go and have fun.
Positive benefits: Fun, a social activity to be done with friends, family, grandchildren, evokes memories and creates new ones, physical activity, encourages problem solving skills.
4. Decorate the house
There are many reasonably priced Easter decorations to choose from in the shops and online today. However, you could brighten up your home by making your own. For example, you could make an Easter tree together by collecting a small branch, potting it and hanging home made decorations, such as brightly painted eggs. Follow the link below for some ideas on Easter decorations for both adults and children: www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas/by-occasion/easter-craft-ideas/
Positive benefits: spending time together, evokes memories and creates new ones, opportunity to create gifts, accessible for all, improves cognitive processes, concentration and focus, creative, mindful, manual dexterity.
5. Discuss memories of Easter
Simply sitting with a cuppa and a warm, buttery hot cross bun talking about memories of Easter’s gone by can be a lovely way to celebrate this time of year. For older adults with Dementia, going through photograph albums, can be a helpful way to spark conversations around this subject. A photograph album can be hugely comforting, as it can help reinforce a sense of oneself and their place in the world. You never know, you may find out some stories from you past that you were not aware of!
Positive benefits: Instills one’s sense of self, evokes memories, sparks conversation, builds strong connections with others and breaks social isolation.
6. Get out and about
Why not get out and about for a walk and enjoy the spring sunshine. Whether that be to the local park, a green space, garden centre or local national Trust, there are plenty of accessible places to visit. It’s a wonderful time of year when the spring flowers are blooming, a true joy to behold. You could also take part in a locally run Easter activity. Many gallery spaces and garden centres hold Easter workshops from flower arranging to egg decorating. If you are religious, attend a service and enjoy the wonderful sense of togetherness it brings.
Positive benefits: Physical exercise and fresh air, breaks social isolation, boosts vitamin D, encourages shared experience and makes memories, brings joy and encourages conversation.
Easter Origins, history and traditions
Like Ramadan, the date of Easter each year is determined through the lunar calendar and so this holiday shifts in its dates each year (decided in 325AD). Easter falls on the Sunday, proceeding the first full moon, after the spring equinox. As well as holding religious and pagan significance, Easter is also seen as a celebration of the seasons, of spring, fertility and rebirth.
Easter Origins
There are a few different theories surrounding where the name ‘Easter’ is derived from. For example, in the majority of European countries, the name came from:
“The Hebrew word ‘Pesach’, otherwise known as “Passover” – the Jewish springtime holday”.
The second theory is in English-speaking languages and Germany, it is believed that the word derives from:
“A pagan springtime goddess called Easter, who is documented by an Anglo-Saxon monk who wrote during the 8th Century AD. Eostre was a goddess celebrated with a festival during the spring equinox”.
www.history.co.uk/articles/the-pagan-roots-of-easter
The significance of Easter in religion
Christianity
For Christians all over the world, Easter is an important date in their calendar. A time when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3 days after his crucifixion. The holiday recognises the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, observed on Good Friday and the resurrection, celebrated on Easter Sunday. Easter is incredibly central to the Christian religion as it is a symbol of Gods love for humanity and salvation through the practice of Christian faith.
“The Resurrection of Christ, a central doctrine of Christianity, is based on the belief that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead on the third day after his Crucifixion and through his conquering of dearth all believers will subsequently share in victory over “sin, death, and the Devl”.
www.britannica.com/topic/resurrection-religion
Christians also observe ‘Ash Wednesday’ (5th March 2025) more commonly known as the beginning of ‘Lent’. Lent is seen as a time of penance when fasting is observed for 40 days, coming to end on 17th April, when Easter begins with Good Friday on 18th April.
Interestingly, during the Middle Ages, eggs were not permitted to be consumed during Lent, and it has been documented that this was the time when people began to decorate eggs, ready for them to be enjoyed when fasting was over. In today’s society many Christians give up something they love, ranging from chocolate, sweets and social media.
To this day Easter is still one of the most important pillars in Christian religion. Many Christians attend special church services that are held across the UK that mark Easter, celebrating themes of resurrection, partaking in holy communion, practising prayers and singing hymns.
Themes of resurrection through history during springtime
There are various stories documented in history that follow the same themes of resurrection around the time of spring. These date back to stories from the most ancient civilization known as the ‘Sumar” (located in what we now know as modern Southern Iraq) to Greek Mythology and the story of Inanna. These stories all share common themes of salvation, hope, rebirth and renewal, themes that time and time again we now associate with spring and Easter.
Easter Traditions
Over time many of the customs and rituals that we now associate with Easter celebrations were documented in hisorty as traditions prevelant not only in Christianity but also in folklore and paganism. Once again, they all have links and associations with springtime, rabbits, eggs, and flowers. It is no wander that these symbols have merged over time and continue to hold significance during Easter in the UK and throughout the world in countries such as Germany, Spain and Italy.
Easter Eggs
As we discussed earlier, during the Middle Ages, eggs were not permitted to be consumed during Lent, and it has been documented that this was the time when people began to decorate eggs, ready for them to be enjoyed when fasting was over. In today’s society many Christians give up something they love, ranging from chocolate, sweets and social media.
The Easter Flower
A flower that originates from Japan (Lilium longiflora – follis), more commonly known as the ‘Easter Lilly’, is a symbol of virtue, purity, life, innocence and hope. In Christinanity the Lilly is a symbol of the resurrection of Christ and are often used to decorate churches or homes during Easter.
Easter Bunny
It is thought that the Easter Bunny is derived from mythology. The mythological figure from Germany ‘Ostara’. Ostara was the symbol of new life and the emergence of spring. The story’s goes that Ostara changed her pet bird into a rabbit to entertain the children. The rabbit laid brightly coloured eggs; those eggs were given by Ostara to the children as gifts. The myth eventually evolved into the Easter Bunny that we are familiar with today.
Conclusion
As we move towards celebrating this important holiday, it is helpful to remember that it is observed by many of us in strikingly different ways. Easter means something different to us all and there is no right or wrong way to mark the occasion. Whether you are spending time with family, friends, attending a church service or quietly obvserving in a completely different way, The Bespoke Life would like to wish you a warm and joyous “Happy Easter”.
If you would like more information and confidential chat about how The Bespoke Life can support you, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
