A Legacy Easter Tradition Worth Passing Down

Click here for our free Easter Scavenger Hunt Guide

Easter has always been one of the most meaningful days of the year in our home. Long before sunrise, we’d pull on our Sunday best and head to the early morning church service—sleepy-eyed, but hearts full. Afterward, we’d return to the smell of a homemade feast lovingly prepared by my mother. Everything felt sacred that day: the hymns, the table set with care, the laughter of siblings in the hallway.

But what left the deepest impression on my heart wasn’t the basket or the breakfast—it was the hunt.

Each year, my brother, sister, and I would go on a special Easter scavenger hunt. But this wasn’t your ordinary candy search. My parents had carefully hidden clues around the house, each one tied to a part of the story of Christ’s crucifixion. A small piece of linen. A thorn. A nail. Each prop was a symbol, and when we gathered them all, we’d sit down together and take turns retelling the story of Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection—using the clues we’d found as markers along the way.

Looking back, I realize how deeply those quiet reenactments shaped my understanding of Easter. They made the story come alive—not just something we heard at church, but something we lived, together as a family.

It’s a tradition my husband and I now carry on with our own girls. And every year, I’m reminded that the greatest legacy we leave isn’t wrapped in ribbons or tucked in a basket—it’s in the stories we tell, the faith we live out, and the moments we hold sacred.

If you’re looking for a meaningful way to mark this season with your family, I hope you’ll consider adding this tradition to your Easter celebration. It’s simple, heartfelt, and has the power to plant seeds that grow for a lifetime.

Directions: 

You may not have a prop for every single clue—especially if you’ve got multiple little ones joining the hunt—and that’s perfectly alright. Simply divide the props among your children as best you can. Some clues might have an object to go with them, while others will rely on imagination and storytelling.

Clue number 1 is handed directly to each child to get them started. From there, the rest of the clues will be hidden throughout the house, tucked in the spots listed below. The Easter baskets will be hidden at the very end, waiting to be discovered once the final clue is found.

When all the clues have been gathered, settle in and enjoy listening as your children piece together the story of the Resurrection—the greatest act of love and sacrifice the world has ever known. You might find yourself tearing up... or stifling a laugh. (Kids do have a way of delivering sacred stories with the most unexpected flair!) Either way, these are the moments they’ll remember—and so will you.

From our home to yours, we pray this Easter brings joy, laughter, and a deeper sense of wonder to your family traditions.

— Hoagland House

You Will Need:

Any item can go with any clue.

1 large nail (we use a 12” exterior galvanized steel spike from Home Depot)

A cotton ball soaked in vinegar

30 pieces of silver (we use a mix of nickels, dimes, and quarters)

A crown of thorns

A torn piece of cloth

Spices (I use myrrh incense resin)

A Bible

A stone

A hammer

A cross

A perfume bottle

A die

Clue Answer Key:

Child One:

Clue 1: Jesus rode on humble feet—find this where you leave your shoes so neat.

📍Hide clue 2 in the shoe rack or mudroom.

Clue 2: Waving branches, people cheer—look where coats and jackets hang near.

📍Hide clue 3 by the coat rack or closet.

Clue 3: His last meal before the pain—check the place you snack or dine.

📍Hide clue 4 in the pantry or dining table drawer.

Clue 4: He drank with friends and prayed with dread—find this where the cups are kept.

📍Hide clue 5 in the kitchen cabinet.

Clue 5: Before the rooster made its sound—find it where morning starts each round.

📍Hide clue 6 by the alarm clock or window.

Clue 6: They pierced His side, the deed was done—find this near the sink or in the kitchen run.📍Hide clue 7 in the utensil drawer.

Clue 7: He carried wood upon His back—search near books or a wooden stack.

📍Hide clue 8 on a bookshelf or wood pile.

Clue 8: A sign above His head they placed—find it where you write or trace.

📍Hide clue 9 in a school supplies drawer or desk.

Clue 9: He was beaten, bruised, and torn—check where belts and ties are worn.

📍Hide Easter basket in a closet or dresser.

Child Two:

Clue 1: Find where things grow and sometimes bloom—Jesus prayed here in the garden gloom.

📍Hide clue 2 in a houseplant or near the garden window.

Clue 2: He was betrayed with coins so cold—check where you keep your silver and gold.

📍Hide clue 3 near a piggy bank or change jar.

Clue 3: They bound Him and led Him away—look where you keep things tied each day.

📍Hide clue 4 in a junk drawer or ribbon/twine stash.

Clue 4: Not a crown of gold or gem—find this where you rest your head at 10.

📍Hide clue 5 near their pillow.

Clue 5: Mocked as King in robe and thread—check where your Sunday clothes are spread.

📍Hide clue 6 in their closet.

Clue 6: They placed Him on the cross with these—search where you fix or build with ease.

📍Hide clue 7 in toolbox or craft area.

Clue 7: The symbol of His love and loss—go find the shape that forms a cross.

📍Hide clue 8 near a cross decor or Bible.

Clue 8: They gambled for His clothes that day—check where your games are put away.

📍Hide clue 9 in a game drawer or box.

Clue 9: He was laid in a borrowed room—look where darkness fills the room.

📍Hide Easter basket in a closet or under the bed.

Child Three:

Clue 1: They wrapped Him gently for the tomb—find this in the laundry room.

📍Hide clue 2 in the folded linen pile.

Clue 2: A heavy stone sealed up His grave—find this where your shoes behave.

📍Hide clue 3 in a boot or shoe.

Clue 3: Glowing bright and full of awe—find this where your nightlight saw.

📍Hide clue 4 by a lamp or nightlight.

Clue 4: They brought sweet spices for His head—search the place where smells are spread.

📍Hide clue 5 in a spice rack or drawer.

Clue 5: He is risen, just as said—check where you keep the extra bed.

📍Hide clue 6 in a linen closet or guest bed drawer.

Clue 6: The angels said, ‘Do not fear’—your final clue is waiting near.

📍Hide clue 7 on the family Bible or favorite devotional spot. 

Clue 7: The stone is gone, the tomb is bare—find joy hiding in the air.

📍Hide clue 8 in a balloon, drawer, or anywhere fun.

Clue 8: He is the Light, now shining bright—go to where you get your light.

📍Hide clue 9 near light switch or candle shelf.

Clue 9: Folded neatly, left in place—look where towels fill the space.

📍Hide Easter basket in bathroom or linen cupboard.

Click below to download our free Scavenger Hunt clues & guide.

Easter Scavenger Hunt Guide.

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