Our family has a special Easter tradition using seven candles. On the Saturday before Palm Sunday, we light all seven candles at dinner time. We explain how Jesus, the Light of the world, rode into Jerusalem honored as a king. But even then, plans were forming of how to kill Him. After dinner that first night, we blow one candle out.
The next day, we light six candles before dinner and blow one out at the end of the meal. Each night, we tell more of the Holy Week story. And so on until Good Friday, when we light just one candle.
Then we blow out this last candle, to represent the darkness that fell over the land when Jesus was crucified. We tell of how Jesus’ disciples hid in darkness, afraid for their own lives. We also tell of our relatives--missionaries overseas--who hid in darkness during World War II, until they were caught and taken to a POW camp.
We allow no lights in the house until Sunday morning. Each time I reach for a switch, I am further reminded of this solemn time.
On Easter morning, we light all seven candles at breakfast time. What a contrast! No matter what weather greets us, everything seems bright. We celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and our own hope as believers. Then we attend Easter church service, followed by a traditional meal with our family members who were spared by God and returned to America.
This tradition was inspired by Treasuring God in Our Traditions by Noel Piper.
