If you’re looking for an easy way to have a Christ-centered Easter, a last supper celebration with food, music, and Christ-focused messages is exactly what your family needs. These ideas will show you how to have a last supper celebration, a meaningful Easter tradition for children, couples, and friends. For a meaningful Easter Sunday tradition for kids, check out our Resurrection or “Empty Tomb” Rolls here!
Every year, my husband and I try to find ways to make Easter and Christmas more meaningful. It’s so easy to get caught up in the commercialism and forget that Jesus truly is the reason for the season. Our family friend shared with us that his family has a New Year’s tradition of eating a meal together in their living room and talking about their goals for the next year. Jesse and I decided that we wanted to adapt that tradition for our family for Easter.
Foods from the New Testament
First, we discussed foods that would likely have been eaten in the time of the New Testament. We knew that the Last Supper was really a celebration of the Passover, so we researched common foods that they might have eaten and found adaptions that we could buy to make it simple. Here is a list, but I’m sure you could find more!
- Lamb
- Fish or chicken (we made fish, but you could probably substitute a rotisserie chicken)
- Unleavened bread (we just bought pita bread, but you could make your own!)
- Olives or olive oil (we added herbs to a bowl of oil for dipping bread into)
- Wine (we use nonalcoholic drinks, like Martinelli’s or Welch’s sparkling grape juice)
- Grapes, dates, and figs
- Nuts
- Honeycomb/Honey
- Legumes (we use lentils)
Almost all of these foods are found easily at the grocery store, and the preparation is pretty simple. The most important thing is the intention of focusing on the Savior and his life, so don’t stress too much about the “authenticity” of it!
Where to Host Your Last Supper
Although you can share your Last Supper meal at your dinner table, we found that it was more meaningful for us to have it in our living room. We laid down blankets and pillows to create a place where everyone could lounge and reach the food easily. “Lounging” or laying by the table, instead of sitting, was a common Passover tradition, signifying freedom.
The Message
There are so many resources that you can use, both videos and scriptures. Below I have included a daily reading schedule that you can use each day leading up to Easter! My husband and I typically host our Last Supper dinner on Thursday, so we read about the Passover, Christ’s Atonement in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Judas (click on these links for our favorite videos!)
Scriptures
Palm Sunday: Triumphal entry (Matthew 21:6-11)
Monday: Cleansing the temple (Matthew 21:12-16)
Tuesday: Teaching in Jerusalem (Matthew 21-23)
Wednesday: More teachings of the Savior (Matthew 24-25)
Thursday: The Passover, Christ suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26)
Good Friday: Christ’s Trial, crucifixion, and burial (Matthew 27: 1-61)
Saturday: Christ’s body lies in the tomb (Matthew 27: 62-66) while his spirit ministers to those in the spirit world (Doctrine and Covenants 138)
Easter Sunday: Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and appearance to His disciples (Matthew 28: 1-10)
Creative Details
To add to the setting, here are some ideas for making this tradition more memorable.
- Dress in New Testament costumes, like you would for a family Christmas nativity! We generally use bathrobes and towels to look like “shepherds”. You can also go all out and buy or make more authentic costumes that make you feels like you are really there.
- Eat by candlelight or set up candles in safe places around the room! This lighting really makes a difference in the tone of the whole experience. If you have an old kerosene or oil lamp, this would be be a great time to bring it out!
- Play music! We enjoy playing hymns from our church and instrumental music that might have been played in that era. If someone in your group has a talent for playing an instrument, invite them to play and you can sing together.
- Share testimony and experiences of how the Savior’s Atonement has impacted your life.
- Invite others to come and enjoy this event with you!
We hope you found some helpful tips for starting this Last Supper/Passover Tradition in your home! It is a great way to focus on the Savior during the Easter season. For a great Easter morning tradition, try our Resurrection or “Empty Tomb” Rolls here! What are your favorite Christ-centered traditions? Tell us below!