Ways to Experience Holy Week Together as a Family: 10 Meaningful Traditions to Strengthen Your Faith

Holy Week marks the days leading up to Easter Sunday. It’s a time when Christians remember Jesus’ final week before his death and resurrection.

A lot of families want to make this week more meaningful, but honestly, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin.

Celebrating Holy Week as a family can strengthen your faith and bring everyone closer together through simple activities and traditions. You really don’t need fancy plans or expensive supplies.

The main thing is spending time together and learning about the important events of Holy Week. That’s what sticks.

This guide gives practical ways to experience Holy Week with your family. You’ll find ideas for crafts, prayers, service projects, and daily Scripture readings.

Each activity helps you and your loved ones connect with the deeper meaning of Easter.

1) Create Palm Sunday crafts and hold a family procession with palm branches

Making palm branch crafts is a fun way to help your kids understand Palm Sunday. Have your children dip their hands in green paint and press them onto paper to make handprint palm leaves.

Paper plate crafts are another simple option. Help your kids create a scene with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey with palm branches below.

Once you finish the crafts, organize a little procession around your home or yard. Everyone gets a palm branch they made.

Walk together, maybe sing a song, or read the Palm Sunday story out loud. Kids really get into it.

This activity shows your children how people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem by waving palm branches. When they make something themselves and act out the story, it sticks with them.

2) Read and discuss Holy Week Scripture passages together daily

Start with Palm Sunday and end on Easter—each day of Holy Week has its own story from the Bible. Pick one passage to read together each evening at dinner or before bed.

Palm Sunday covers Jesus riding into Jerusalem. Monday through Wednesday focus on his teaching in the temple.

Maundy Thursday tells about the Last Supper. Good Friday goes through the crucifixion. Holy Saturday is a day of waiting.

After reading, ask your kids simple questions. What happened? How did people feel? Why does it matter?

Let everyone share their thoughts. Don’t rush it—sometimes the best moments come from unexpected questions.

You don’t have to be a Bible expert. Just read and talk about what stands out. Kids notice things adults overlook, and their questions can be surprisingly deep.

Keep a Bible or devotional guide somewhere handy so you remember to read each day. That little bit of consistency makes a difference.

3) Prepare and share a special meal as a family to reflect on Holy Week

Sharing a meal together gives your family space to talk about what Holy Week means to each person. You can keep it simple or plan something special for one of the key days.

Thursday is a great night for a family meal since Jesus shared the Last Supper with his friends. Try serving unleavened bread to remember the bread Jesus broke.

A bitter herb salad can help everyone think about the tough moments Jesus faced. Don’t worry about fancy recipes.

Let everyone pitch in with cooking or setting the table. While you eat, ask what stood out to each person that day.

You can read a short Bible passage before you start the meal. The real value is in slowing down and making time for important conversations.

4) Make Holy Week-themed stickers or decorations together

Decorating as a family makes your home feel special during Holy Week. You can craft simple things that tell the Easter story and serve as daily reminders.

Start with paper decorations. Cut out crosses, palm branches, or empty tombs from construction paper. Hang them up or stick them on windows.

Let everyone personalize their creations with markers or crayons. Kids love adding their own touch.

Making stickers is fun too. Draw Holy Week symbols on adhesive paper or even regular paper with tape. Kids enjoy putting these on their doors or notebooks.

Try setting up a display for your table or mantel. Use whatever you have—cardboard, paper, scraps of fabric.

Work together to build a simple scene from Palm Sunday or Easter morning. These projects spark conversation about what happened during Holy Week.

5) Attend Holy Week church services as a family

Going to Holy Week services together can help your family grow closer in faith. Each service tells a different part of Jesus’s final days.

Start with Palm Sunday—it’s about Jesus entering Jerusalem. Holy Thursday focuses on the Last Supper.

Good Friday marks the day Jesus died on the cross. The Easter Vigil on Saturday night celebrates his resurrection.

Pick one or two services that fit your family’s schedule. You don’t have to go to every single one.

These services might run longer than usual. Bring quiet activities for little ones if you need to.

Talk with your kids before you go so they know what to expect. Afterward, spend a few minutes sharing what stood out to you.

Ask your children what they noticed or learned. Sometimes they catch details you didn’t.

6) Organize a family-friendly Stations of the Cross walk at home or nearby

You can bring the Stations of the Cross into your home this Holy Week. This tradition helps your family reflect together on Jesus’ final hours.

Set up stations around your house or yard. Use simple wooden crosses, printed pictures, or even everyday objects.

Traditional guides have 14 stations, but you can adjust that for your family. Gather what you need—prayer booklets, candles, small objects for each station.

Let your kids help set up. Walk slowly from station to station as a family.

At each stop, read a short scripture and say a simple prayer. Encourage your kids to think about what they see and feel at each moment.

You can do all the stations at once or spread them out over several days. Some families like to do one each day during Holy Week.

7) Set up a prayer garden or quiet space for family reflection

Creating a dedicated prayer space can help your family slow down during Holy Week. No need for a big yard or fancy supplies.

Pick a quiet corner of your home or yard. Add a bench, some flowers, or stones in a circle.

You could include a cross, a statue, or just a small table with a Bible and candles. Plants like lavender or rosemary add a peaceful feeling.

If you’re indoors, a corner with cushions and soft lighting works just fine. Make the space available all week so anyone can visit when they need a quiet moment.

Younger kids might enjoy arranging stones or picking flowers. This space becomes a gentle reminder to pause and reflect together.

Your family can use it for morning prayers, evening devotions, or just a few minutes of quiet during the week.

8) Hold a Holy Week family storytelling night with Bible stories

Gather your family for a special storytelling night focused on Holy Week. Take turns reading Bible passages that tell the story of Jesus’s final week, from Palm Sunday through Easter.

Pick key moments to share each evening. Start with Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey.

Move through stories about the Last Supper, Jesus praying in the garden, and the crucifixion. End with the resurrection story on Easter morning.

Make it interactive—let everyone read a part. Younger kids can act out scenes as you read.

Pause and talk about what each story means. Create a cozy spot with blankets and pillows.

Maybe light a candle or dim the lights to set a peaceful mood. Snacks never hurt, either.

This activity helps everyone understand the Holy Week story in a personal way. Your family builds memories while learning together.

9) Host an Easter egg hunt with a focus on the resurrection story

An Easter egg hunt feels more meaningful when you connect it to Jesus’ resurrection. Fill plastic eggs with small objects that represent different parts of the Easter story.

Try making resurrection eggs. Each egg holds something simple—a piece of fabric for the purple robe, a nail or toothpick for the crucifixion, and an empty egg for the empty tomb.

Hide the eggs around your home or yard. Give your kids clues or numbers so they find them in order.

As they open each egg, read the Bible verse that matches the object inside. You can also try a scavenger hunt with regular household items.

Write clues that lead to things like bread, coins, or a stone—each one connects to a moment from Jesus’ final week.

This activity is great for kids between five and nine. It keeps them engaged and teaches them about Easter’s true meaning.

10) Clean and donate items from your home as a Lenten act of service

Decluttering during Lent isn’t just about tidying up. It’s a chance to help others and make room for spiritual growth.

Go through closets, toy bins, and storage spaces as a family. Look for things you don’t use anymore but that someone else could enjoy.

Let your kids help decide what to give away. They’ll see how generosity works in real life, and it might even spark some good conversations.

Set aside a little time each week during Lent to focus on one area. Maybe it’s a closet this week, a bookshelf next week.

Bring your donations to a local charity, shelter, or thrift shop. When you drop things off, talk with your kids about how these simple gifts can help people nearby.

The Spiritual Significance of Holy Week

Holy Week marks the last days of Jesus Christ’s life on earth, from his arrival in Jerusalem to his death and resurrection. It’s a sacred time that invites you to walk alongside Christ and think about the huge sacrifice he made for everyone.

Understanding the Liturgical Calendar

Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday. It falls right at the end of Lent, that 40-day stretch before Easter.

The week includes several big days. Palm Sunday remembers when Jesus entered Jerusalem and crowds waved palm branches for him.

Holy Thursday is about the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his friends. Good Friday marks the day Jesus was crucified.

Holy Saturday sits between death and resurrection—a day of waiting. The Easter Vigil kicks off Saturday night, celebrating Christ’s resurrection.

Each day adds another layer to the story of Christ’s suffering and his victory over death.

Key Themes and Reflections

Holy Week brings a few core spiritual themes front and center. Sacrifice leads the way, as Jesus chose to give his life for others.

This asks you to consider selflessness and real service in your own life. Love stands out too—Jesus showed the deepest love by dying for everyone.

Redemption brings hope, with Jesus overcoming sin and death. The resurrection means new life and forgiveness are possible.

Suffering takes on meaning when you remember Christ’s willingness to go through pain for something bigger. These themes invite you to dig deeper into your faith, and maybe try living with a little more purpose and kindness.

Fostering Family Unity Through Faith

Holy Week gives families a chance to get closer through shared spiritual moments. Honest conversations and simple traditions can help build real bonds rooted in faith.

Encouraging Open Discussions with Children

Talking openly with your kids about Holy Week gives them space for questions and understanding. Start by asking what they already know about the week, from Palm Sunday to Easter.

Let them share their ideas, even if they’re unsure. Use simple words to break down tricky topics.

If you’re talking about Good Friday, you might just say Jesus made a sacrifice because he loved everyone. Younger kids connect better with concrete stories than with big, abstract ideas.

Match your explanations to your child’s age. Five-year-olds might focus on Jesus riding a donkey, while older kids can wrestle with sacrifice and redemption.

Share your own questions and feelings too. Admitting you don’t have all the answers shows that faith is a journey, not a quiz. Kids pick up on that honesty and feel safer expressing their own doubts or confusion.

Building Traditions That Grow with Your Family

Start with rituals that change as your kids get older. Maybe you make a simple palm branch craft when they’re little.

Later, that same activity could spark a family talk about humility or faith. It’s funny how the basics can grow right along with your children.

Pick just one or two activities each year and stick with them. Maybe you always share a special meal on Holy Thursday.

Or you all go to services together on Good Friday. Familiar routines help kids know what to expect, and honestly, they end up looking forward to those moments.

As your children get older, let them take on new roles in your family traditions. Maybe your teenager reads scripture out loud.

They could help cook, or even explain Holy Week events to the younger ones. Giving them more responsibility lets them feel like these faith practices belong to them, too.