Since the mid-5th century, churches have abstained from singing or reciting “Alleluia” (“praise the Lord”) during Lent as a form of verbal fast to increase anticipation for Easter Sunday. In order to make this liturgical tradition more relatable to our kids, we choose to physically bury the “Alleluia” in our home. Here’s how we do it:
What I used:
- Wooden “A”
- Purple acrylic paint
- Paintbrush
- White paint pen
(1) Paint “A” purple. Here’s a handy link explaining the symbolism of purple during Lent.
(2) When dry, write “lleluia” on the “A” with the white paint pen.
(3) Find a place to physically bury the “Alleluia” or hide it in your home somewhere.
Before burying your “Alleluia,” consider singing a song that features the word (I’m always up for a little Leonard Cohen myself, but something more traditional works as well).
We also love saying a brief prayer as we bury the “Alleluia.” Here’s one of my favorites:
Loving God, it’s time to say goodbye to the Alleluia, our song of joy. We let this beloved song rest for a while, so that it will return to us at Easter to remind us again of the joy found in praising the Lord. Amen.
(4) On Easter Sunday, “resurrect” your “Alleluia” and enjoy singing songs featuring the word again. We also let the kids bring the painted “Alleluia” with them to church on Easter Sunday.
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