Our Easter Morning Breakfast

Illustration of braided bread and eggs by Elena Pancorbo

Many years ago, I had the privilege of attending the Passover seder in the home of a Jewish family. I witnessed the symbolism of each food in this sacred meal. I listened to the story of the first Passover, the quickly eaten meal, and the escape from Egyptian slavery.

Later, as I studied the Passover as outlined in Deuteronomy 16 with my seminary students, I thought about how the symbolism pointed to the Savior. I started to wonder if my family could do something at home to celebrate the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ for Easter.

So, over the years, our family developed a traditional Easter meal—not at night, like the Passover meal, but in the morning, reminiscent of that first glorious Easter morning.

We start by singing an Easter hymn to focus our thoughts on the Savior, and then we eat leavened bread to celebrate the risen Christ. It signifies Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life that sustains us throughout our lives (see John 6:35). The bread is braided in three parts and formed into a circle to signify eternity and the circle of life.

We place eggs in the braided bread to remind us of new life and to signify that, like the chicks that have to struggle to be free of their shell, we have our own struggles in life. Strengthened by the help of our Savior, we can break free, repent, and become whole. We also drink grape juice to remind us of the Last Supper and the Savior’s Atonement in Gethsemane and on Calvary’s hill.

In the traditional Passover dinner, attendees eat dry, bitter herbs to remind them of the Israelites’ long, bitter years in bondage to the Egyptians. In contrast, for our Easter breakfast, we decorate with spring blossoms to remind us of the springtime when Jesus was resurrected and gave each of us a promise of life after death. This represents new growth after the long dark of winter.

The flowers also remind us of the beauties of the world that a loving God has created to bring us joy. In addition, we light candles to signify the Light of Christ, “the true light that lighteth every man [and woman] that cometh into the world” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:2).

During the meal, we go around the table and share our understanding of the symbolism and what we learn about the Savior. Each year is different because everyone finds new insights. This is our celebration of Jesus Christ—His life, His death, and His Resurrection on that first Easter morning.