An Easter Garden – Celebrating the Empty Tomb

This is probably one of my most favorite Easter Ideas to date!

While researching for Christ-centered Easter projects last year, I came across this wonderful suggestion…

An Easter Garden!

What to do:

1. Use a planter or tin foil baking dish as your base.
2. Add soil.
3. Cut an empty orange juice container or toilet paper roll in half and bury it in the soil so that just the opening shows (it should look like a cave).  This is your tomb!
4. Add small plants around the tomb and other accents like a pathway of pebbles leading to the tomb.
5. You could even wrap a small figurine (Jesus) in toilet paper pieces and lay him in the tomb.
6. Place a stone in front of the grave.
7. Discuss with your children the events of John 19 as you create your Easter Garden.

Here comes the best part…

On Easter morning before your Happy Buddies wake up, remove the figurine and roll the stone away.  Place a sign in your Easter Garden that reads, “He is Risen!”

You could even place some bright flowers as a symbol of new life!

When your Happy Buddies come down for Easter breakfast, your Happy Home can celebrate the glory of the empty tomb (John 20) and the wonder of His resurrection!

Here are some pictures of an Easter Garden my friend, Marcy, made for her Happy Home…The tomb (which is a terra-cotta pot) has a note that reads Matthew 27:59-60, “Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.”

Here is the Easter Garden on Easter Sunday!  The stone is rolled away and a note with Matthew 28:6 is written for all to see!

This is a tradition you will love year after year.

Happy Easter Garden-ing! 🙂