Celebrating Easter Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions And Lockdowns

Easter, which will be celebrated on April 12, 2020, is one of the most important holidays in the Christian religion. The springtime holiday, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, is usually observed with special worship services, family gatherings, and community-hosted egg hunts.

However, this year, the beloved traditions have been canceled to comply with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, which include bans on large crowds and stay-at-home orders. Here are some of the innovative ideas that city officials, communities, and individuals have devised to ensure Easter 2020 will be magical for all.

Church services

On Easter Sunday, families typically don their finest attire and head to worship services. Unfortunately, in-person attendance will not be possible this year. To make up for it, churches nationwide are getting innovative. Many will live-stream their services on YouTube or Facebook, allowing people to listen from the comfort of their homes. Others, like the Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church in Brewster, Massachusetts, plan to offer drive-in Easter services. ​​​​​​Worshippers will be allowed to park outside the church at a safe distance from other cars. They will then be able to tune their car radio to a low-frequency FM transmitter and hear the service while watching the pastor, instrumentalists, and song leader conduct the service from a stage.

“We found that people really want to have a sense of community,” said Buster Waters, a deacon at Cape Cod Bible Alliance Church in Brewster. “They want to be together. But of course, with the social distancing, this isn’t going to happen.”

Egg hunts

Local officials in states across the US are coming up with creative twists on the traditional egg hunts to ensure kids can participate in the fun activity without breaking the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. In Oklahoma City, community members are being asked to decorate their front-facing windows with Easter-themed images, so children walking in their neighborhoods, with their parents or guardians, can “find” them.

In North Carolina, the Richmond County Chamber of Commerce and Richmond County Tourism Authority have organized a virtual Easter egg hunt. From April 6 to April 12, 2020, participating local businesses will post an Easter egg on their respective Facebook pages for Easter egg seekers of all ages to discover. Those who submit screenshots of 10 of the eggs via e-mail to the chamber office will be entered for a chance to win a gift basket filled with items and gift cards supplied by local businesses.

Family gatherings

While in-person Easter brunches with extended families will not be possible, many people are hosting virtual meals via video calls on online platforms such as Zoom. Others are setting up portals on social media sites like Facebook to continue with beloved Easter traditions, such as making candy, with family members who live elsewhere. Meanwhile, restaurants are offering special Easter meals, which can be picked up curbside or delivered to homes.

Have you come across a clever Easter celebration idea in your town or community? If so, let us know by adding your comments below.

Have a happy and safe Easter!

Resources: CNN.com, USAtoday.com, Independent.co.uk, www.ketv.com