Resurrection Eggs: A 12-Day Easter Countdown Activity for Families
Resurrection eggs are a set of 12 numbered Easter eggs, each containing a small symbolic object that tells a part of the Easter story. Families open one egg per day in the 12 days leading up to Easter Sunday, read a Scripture passage together, and discuss what each object represents. The 12th egg is left empty, representing the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
When most people hear the word "advent," they think of Christmas. But Easter has its own advent season, too—and it's one of the most meaningful ways a family can prepare their hearts for the holiday.
Easter Advent is known as Lent: the 40-day season before Easter when Christians historically fast, pray, and reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. One of the most engaging ways to walk through that season as a family, especially with young children, is with resurrection eggs.
Resurrection eggs take your family through the complete Easter story, from Palm Sunday all the way to the empty tomb, one egg at a time. Each of the 12 eggs contains a small object paired with a Scripture passage and a simple summary that even the youngest children can follow. Open one egg per day for the 12 days leading up to Easter Sunday, and by the time Easter morning arrives, your kids will know the story by heart.
Best of all, it costs almost nothing and takes less than an hour to put together.
What You'll Need: Resurrection Eggs Supply List
- 12 empty plastic Easter eggs
- A Sharpie marker
- An empty egg carton or gallon zip bag for storage
- A leaf or a few blades of grass
- 1 cotton ball
- 1 cracker (any kind)
- 3 silver coins (dimes work perfectly)
- A small knotted piece of string or yarn
- A small piece of purple fabric, felt, or ribbon
- A small cross (make one by taping or hot-gluing two toothpicks or small craft sticks together, trimmed to fit inside an egg)
- 1 nail (small enough to fit in an egg)
- A small piece of sponge
- A pinch of spice (a clove, a piece of cinnamon stick, and a peppercorn are great options)
- A small rock
- Egg #12 stays empty — that's the point
How to Set Up Resurrection Eggs
- Number your eggs from 1 to 12 using the Sharpie. Write the numbers large enough for your children to read easily.
- Fill each egg with the corresponding item from the journey below. Place each item in its numbered egg and close it up.
- Store the filled eggs in your egg carton or zip bag until you're ready to begin.
- Start 12 days before Easter Sunday so that Egg #12 — the empty egg — is opened on Easter morning itself. Count backwards from Easter to find your start date. (In 2025, Easter is April 20, so you'd begin on Wednesday, April 9. In 2026, Easter is April 5, so you'd begin on Monday, March 25.)
- Each day, open one egg together. Look at the object inside, read the Scripture passage aloud, and talk through the summary. Adjust the depth of your discussion based on your children's ages — there's no wrong way to do this.
Don't worry if you get a late start. Jump in wherever you are. Even a few days of this activity is worth doing.
What Does Each Resurrection Egg Represent? The 12-Day Journey
Egg 1 — Palm Leaf or Grass
Read: Matthew 21:1–11
Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds praised him, shouting "Hosanna!" and waving palm branches.
Egg 2 — Cotton Ball
Read: John 12:2–8
Mary poured expensive perfume on Jesus' feet as an act of deep love and worship.
Egg 3 — Cracker
Read: Mark 14:12–17
Jesus shared the Last Supper — his final meal — with his disciples.
Egg 4 — Silver Coins
Read: Matthew 27:3 and Luke 22:1–6
Judas betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders for 30 pieces of silver.
Egg 5 — Knotted String
Read: Mark 15:15
Pilate ordered Jesus to be flogged to satisfy the crowd.
Egg 6 — Purple Cloth
Read: John 19:2–3, Mark 15:17–20, and Luke 23:11
Soldiers placed a purple robe on Jesus — the color of kings — to mock him.
Egg 7 — Small Cross
Read: John 19:16–18
Jesus carried his cross through the city on the way to his crucifixion.
Egg 8 — Nail
Read: John 19:18, 37, and John 20:25–29
Jesus was nailed to the cross. Later, the risen Jesus showed Thomas the nail marks in his hands.
Egg 9 — Piece of Sponge
Read: Matthew 27:34, 48; Luke 23:36–37; and John 19:28–30
As Jesus hung on the cross, he said he was thirsty. Soldiers offered him vinegar on a sponge.
Egg 10 — Spices
Read: John 19:39–42
After Jesus died, spices were used to prepare his body for burial, according to Jewish custom.
Egg 11 — Rock
Read: Matthew 27:59–60, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:50–53
A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to Jesus' tomb to seal it.
Egg 12 — Empty
Read: Matthew 28:6, Luke 24:6, and John 20:11–18
The tomb is empty. Jesus has risen from the dead! This is the whole reason we celebrate Easter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resurrection Eggs
What are resurrection eggs?
Resurrection eggs are a set of 12 numbered plastic Easter eggs, each containing a small object that represents a moment in the Easter story from Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his resurrection on Easter Sunday. Families open one egg per day for 12 days leading up to Easter, reading the corresponding Scripture and discussing the story together.
When do you start resurrection eggs?
Start 12 days before Easter Sunday so that the final egg (the empty one) is opened on Easter morning. In 2026, Easter falls on April 5, so the start date is March 25. Even if you get a late start, just jump in. Any portion of the activity is meaningful.
What goes in resurrection eggs?
The 12 eggs contain: a leaf or grass, a cotton ball, a cracker, silver coins, knotted string, purple cloth, a small cross, a nail, a piece of sponge, spices, a small rock, and nothing (the empty egg represents the empty tomb).
Can you buy resurrection eggs instead of making them?
Yes. Pre-made resurrection egg sets are widely available at Christian bookstores and online. Making your own, however, is a great activity in itself and costs very little using items you likely already have at home.
What age are resurrection eggs good for?
Resurrection eggs work well for a wide range of ages, but they're especially effective with young children (roughly ages 3–10) who benefit from tactile, hands-on learning. The objects make the story concrete and memorable. Older children and adults can go deeper with the Scripture passages themselves.
What is Easter Advent?
Easter Advent refers to the season of preparation before Easter, most commonly known as Lent. Just as Advent prepares hearts for Christmas, Lent is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday. Resurrection eggs are a family-friendly way to engage with this season intentionally.
How do you use resurrection eggs with toddlers?
With toddlers, keep it simple: let them open the egg, hold the object, and hear a one-sentence explanation of what it means. You don't need to read the full Scripture passage. The tactile experience of touching each object is what makes the story memorable for young children. Focus on a few key eggs like the cross, the nail, and the empty egg.
What does the empty egg in resurrection eggs mean?
The empty egg represents the empty tomb: the moment at the heart of Easter. When Mary Magdalene and the disciples arrived at Jesus' tomb on the third day after his crucifixion, they found it empty. Jesus had risen from the dead. Egg #12 is left empty to symbolize that moment and is opened on Easter morning itself.
This activity has a way of making the Easter story stick. Long after Easter morning, kids remember the nail, the empty egg, the rock—and what each one means. That's the whole point.
Happy Easter!
Celebrating Easter at Chase Oaks? We'd love to have your family join us. Find Easter service times and locations at Chase Oaks Church.