Lenten and Easter Traditions to Help Shape Your Family’s Faith

 Tammy Marino of Unbound reflects on creating special traditions to share joy and strengthen faith.  

So many think of Lent as a time solely for sacrifice, for giving up something as we focus on becoming closer to God. But Lent is also an opportunity to slow down, reflect, pray and intentionally build traditions with our children to prepare for the celebration of hope, renewal and joy at Easter.

Our Musical Tradition

In our family, we started a Lenten tradition during the pandemic that we still practice today. During COVID, my husband, our four kids and I were looking for ways to build connection at a time of isolation. Because our house is always filled with music, it didn’t take us very long to devise a plan to hold weekly Facebook Live concerts. We are big fans of the a capella group Pentatonix, so we titled our concert series “Lentatonix.”

Beginning in Lent of 2020, each Friday my family would compile a list of anywhere from five to 15 of our favorite contemporary worship songs and set up our equipment, everything from keyboard and guitar to microphones and speakers, and perform the songs. I am the default camerawoman as my voice doesn’t exactly inspire.

We thought it was just a small way for our crew to reach out and show our friends and family that there are still ways to enjoy each other and rejoice together. But we quickly learned how much our little family concerts were needed.

Our numbers of viewers kept increasing weekly as requests poured in for people’s favorite songs. We realized what started as a mustard-seed-sized idea had become a powerful way to share my kids’ musical gifts to glorify God, while giving others an opportunity for reflection and connection.

Now, six years later, my kids are older and instead of the time leading up to Easter being focused on planned egg hunts and full baskets, it has truly become a season of sacrifice and preparation, a season for giving and connecting. And we still do Lentatonix on a smaller scale as some of the kids are now away at college.

This year we have a home concert planned and we have invited friends and family to join us and take turns at the microphone, sharing worship songs they know and love. It is a blessing to know that our tradition has brought others together in prayer through music.

What Does Easter Renewal Look Like for Your Family?

We read in Matthew 28:6, “He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

Spring and Easter have always symbolized new life. Why not spend time talking as a family about what renewal looks like for you? You might discuss habits you can break, attitudes that need refreshing or ways to get closer to God as a family.

You might consider creating a renewal plan that could include daily devotionals during Holy Week, taking family prayer walks as the weather warms or journaling gratitude for new beginnings. When families practice faith intentionally, Easter becomes a way of living.

Make Giving Part of Easter Renewal

As Easter celebrates the greatest gift ever given, perhaps your family could consider honoring that through generosity. Charitable acts help children connect Resurrection hope with compassion.

As it says in Matthew 25:40, “And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” 

Giving can take many forms. You might prepare Easter baskets for children in need or visit a nursing home to play games or sing songs with residents who are often lonely.

You can also consider visiting Unbound.org to sponsor a child in Africa, Asia or Latin America whose family is experiencing poverty. Walking alongside a family by creating a connection, sending monthly financial support, and exchanging letters and photos is a beautiful way to forge a relationship with a family in another country while also building a closer relationship with Jesus.

As Easter comes around, enjoy the egg hunts and family meals as joy must be part of the story. But let the celebration flow from gratitude. Talk about the Cross, forgiveness and hope.

Household Easter traditions need not be elaborate. When worship, renewal and generosity become part of our family rhythm, we’re doing more than celebrating a holiday — we’re spreading love and strengthening faith. And years from now, our children won’t just remember the Easter Bunny and the baskets on Easter morning. They’ll remember why it mattered.

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Copyright 2026 Tammy Marino for Unbound
Images: copyright 2026 Unbound, all rights reserved.