How to Celebrate Easter and Passover in a Blended Family

Blended families with Jewish and Christian heritage can embrace both traditions to bring the family closer. Encourage observance of both traditions and the participation of all family members. Enjoy learning each other's traditions and add your own personal flair to the celebrations.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Colored eggs
• Roasted lamb
• Herbs

1. Discuss the common themes that your heritage considers important and celebrates during the Easter and Passover holidays. Talk about mutual themes of each tradition, such as family, food and renewal

2. Color Easter eggs. Hide them on Sunday morning for an Easter egg hunt. Peel and slice the found Easter eggs to make creamed eggs on toast. Make the toast from slices of traditional Jewish Challah bread.

3. Roast a leg of lamb with rosemary. Serve the lamb with mint sauce. Comment during dinner about how the lamb and herbs are reminiscent of the bitter herbs in a Jewish Pasach meal and how the meal also represents the Lamb of God. Make it clear that both Easter and Passover traditions are historically valid and completely valid in your blended family

4. Buy new clothing to wear at services of both faiths. Celebrate both early morning mass or a church service and a Seder at a local synagogue. Wearing the same new outfit to both types of religious events gives the traditions mutual credence.

5. Create your own traditions, unique to the blended family. Make your Easter and Passover holiday a special cornerstone in your family's lifestyle. Take pictures of each family member dressed in their holiday finest and create a scrapbook dedicated to the holiday celebrations, year after year after year.

Tips & Warnings

• Use Kosher salt when cooking roast lamb and creamed eggs. The larger crystals add bursts of flavor and acknowledge the family's blended traditions.