Easter Fires Party

by Maria
(CA, USA)

Easter is a special holiday for our family and our friends, as we are Christians. Often times, we will have a celebration the night before Easter Sunday. This is sometimes called an "Easter Fires" party.

It's especially great for the kids. Arriving at the host home, each child is greeted with a basket of treats, knowing that, later, they'll be able to find more. As everyone mingles and the kids get to have fun with their friends, a meal is served.

This meal isn't a "sit-down" type meal, but more like a barbecue where everyone eats when they want to. The kids join in on this part with their parents. Where it gets especially fun for the kids, though, is right after dinner with the lighting of the fire.

Usually, the host family has enough space to have some sort of a bonfire. Before the bonfire, as the families are eating, a few volunteers have been outside placing treats and Easter eggs around the property / backyard.

These eggs usually have candy hidden inside of them, but often have coins or even a few with bills, and then small toys, as well. Once the bonfire is lit, the children gather their baskets and begin searching for all of the hidden candies and eggs.

This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour. Adults are free to converse and hang out while the kids roam the area looking for all of the sugary goodness they can find.

After the search, the children will either play games outside like tag, freeze-tag, etc. or go back inside for a movie or to decorate Easter eggs while they enjoy the treats they found. The evening winds down with songs, dancing and praying for each family as the fire continues to burn.