Easter is one of Nigeria’s four major religious holidays, alongside Christmas, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Eid-ul-Kabir. While Christmas tends to stretch into a week-long celebration and merge with New Year festivities, Easter offers a packed four-day weekend, enjoying Good Friday and Easter Monday, plus the weekend in-between.
Whether you’re observing the season from a place of deep faith or simply enjoying a well-deserved break, Easter is both a sacred time and a chance to reconnect with yourself, your loved ones, and your community.
So, how can you make the most of the Easter holiday in Nigeria? Here are 8 thoughtful, fun, and purposeful ways to enjoy the Good Friday and Easter Monday holidays:
1. Reconnect Spiritually
At its heart, Easter is a time to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christians, this sacred season invites introspection, prayer, and spiritual renewal. You can deepen your connection to your faith by attending church services throughout the weekend, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. Many churches also hold Passion Plays, vigils, or retreats you can participate in.
Even if you can’t attend physically, virtual services and online devotionals offer great alternatives. Use this time for personal worship, read your Bible, listen to gospel music, journal your reflections, or watch soul-lifting sermons.
For Muslims, if Ramadan aligns closely with Easter, this is a great opportunity to prepare mentally and spiritually for the holy month. If Ramadan follows Easter, the break offers a peaceful moment for self-reflection, prayer, and planning for a fulfilling fasting season.
Easter is also an ideal time to serve others. Volunteer at a local charity, help out in your religious community, or donate to a cause close to your heart. Giving back not only reflects the essence of Easter but it also fills your heart in return.
2. Stay Home, Relax, and Enjoy Some Me-Time
Not every holiday needs to be about traveling or grand plans. Sometimes, the best way to celebrate is by staying in and unwinding. Easter is the perfect excuse to slow down and enjoy your personal space.
Spend time reading a good book, binge-watching your favorite movies, cooking your best dish, or diving into your favorite hobby, be it painting, sewing, journaling, or baking. If you’re with family, plan a movie marathon, play board games, or host a small indoor picnic.
In a world that rarely slows down, rest is revolutionary. Taking this time to simply breathe and enjoy life can do wonders for your mental and emotional well-being.
3. Attend Social Events or Host One
Easter holidays are perfect for weddings, family reunions, and social gatherings.
Weddings during this time are easier to attend than regular weekends, and they’re a great chance to reconnect with loved ones while downing that party jollof rice.
Meetings/Reunions offer powerful moments to share updates and provide emotional or financial support. School reunions help expand networks and celebrate milestones. Family meetings allow you to resolve misunderstandings and discuss plans.
Easter fairs and exhibitions are also excellent opportunities for small businesses to showcase products, attract customers, and boost sales
If you’re staying close to home this Easter, attending a neighborhood fair, trying out a new restaurant, or visiting a cultural center can be fun ways to celebrate.
If big events aren’t in the cards, host a casual get-together like a barbecue or potluck to make lasting memories and strengthen your bonds.
4. Reassess Your Life Goals and Intentions
With Easter landing at the end of the first quarter of the year, it’s a natural point for milestone reflection and a personal reset.
Ask yourself: Am I still on track with my goals? What do I want the rest of this year to look like?
Use journals, goal trackers, or apps like Notion or Finch to organize your thoughts. Books like Atomic Habits by James Clear or The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho can inspire fresh motivation.
You might decide to revise your budget, rekindle a passion project, or simply commit to being more present with your loved ones. Whatever it is, take stock, realign, and move forward with clarity.
5. Clean, Declutter, and Refresh Your Home
Easter is a great time for physical and symbolic renewal, and what better place to start than your home?
Use this break to deep-clean dusty corners, sort through clutter, and reorganize your living space. Cleaning improves both physical health (by reducing allergens and bacteria) and mental clarity. A tidy space can increase focus, reduce anxiety, and even boost creativity, according to a research by research by the Princeton Neuroscience Institute,
Don’t forget to sort your wardrobe, clean your kitchen thoroughly, or declutter that overcrowded store. It’s not just spring cleaning, it’s Easter cleansing.
6. Get Ready for the Rainy Season
Easter usually marks the tail end of the dry Harmattan season and the beginning of the rains in many parts of Nigeria. It’s a good time to prepare your surroundings and maybe even start a small garden.
You can plant early crops like maize, okra, pepper, and tomatoes. Even if you don’t have land, start small with buckets or grow bags. Gardening is therapeutic and can help cut down on food costs over time.
During Easter, farmers and gardeners can prepare for the rainy season by clearing land, organizing tools and seeds, starting nurseries, and setting up drainage and water systems.
Need help getting started? Explore gardening blogs or YouTube channels like Veggie Victory Nigeria. You can also buy basic tools at local markets or online stores.
7. Stay Cool, Go Green, and Create Awareness
The hot season can be brutal in Nigeria, and Easter often falls right in the thick of it. Staying hydrated, wearing breathable fabrics, and avoiding hot outdoor activities during peak heat hours is key.
But beyond self-care, why not contribute to cooling the earth, too? Get involved in tree-planting initiatives during easter, organize a green awareness campaign at your place of worship, or encourage children to learn about recycling and waste management.
Join or support local NGOs working on environmental projects, or even start a mini garden at home. These little actions create lasting impacts for generations to come.
8. Explore Local Outdoor Recreation
Don’t underestimate the value of fun! This break is also your chance to relax and explore nature. Plan a picnic under a cool shade or visit scenic areas with natural elements like trees, rocks, and water bodies to connect with nature.
Additionally, a stroll in the park or a swim can be incredibly refreshing. Whether you’re dancing to your favorite playlist, snapping aesthetic pictures, or simply enjoying fresh air with friends, these experiences enrich your memories.
Wait, there is More!
Easter is more than just a religious celebration, it’s an opportunity to pause, reflect, reconnect, and reset. Whether you’re planting seeds (literally or metaphorically), reassessing your goals, or simply spending time with people who matter, this holiday can be your turning point.
Choose to live this Easter weekend intentionally. And carry its lessons of renewal, rest, and reflection into the months ahead.
