New Traditions, Same Spirit: Collective Members Celebrate Easter in Diaspora
For millions of Christians around the world, Easter is a time of renewal and joyous celebration. It marks not only the rebirth of Jesus Christ, but a spiritual and emotional rebirth that comes after a season of fasting, prayer, and preparation during Lent. From midnight mass, to sunrise services and egg hunts, to shared meals and gatherings, Easter is observed in beautifully diverse ways - especially across immigrant and refugee communities in the United States.
For Refugee Storytellers Collective members and those who have been displaced or resettled, Easter can be both comforting and bittersweet. Many immigrants and refugees recreate the holiday traditions they grew up with - baking breads from scratch, attending special church services, dyeing eggs in vibrant, symbolic colors, while blending in new customs that reflect their current lives in the U.S. They carry their past inside while continuously creating their present.
Kendra Frith, a Jamaican community organizer living in Virginia, shares: “In the U.S., I don’t always have access to the same foods or church spaces that feel familiar, but I’ve started creating new ways to celebrate. I now share Easter with my chosen family who understand what it means to long for home around the holidays. We’ll cook together, share memories, and sometimes even hunt down Caribbean stores to find bun and cheese – or make our own if we’re feeling brave! Easter has become a blend of honoring where I come from and embracing who I’ve become, as a Jamaican lesbian woman building community in a new place.”
In Wisconsin, Kateryna Bikir from Ukraine finds joy in adapting Easter traditions. She shared, “In the U.S., Easter is celebrated with a mix of religious and secular customs, including egg hunts and the Easter Bunny. It definitely adds a playful aspect and excitement to the holiday. Easter in Ukraine is a more religious and sacred holiday. My three children love an Easter egg hunt. We do it in our backyard. We also decorate our house for Easter and give sweets to our friends and neighbors.”
For many who have experienced loss and uncertain transitions, faith traditions like Easter provide a deep sense of continuity. The act of gathering - whether in homes, churches, or community centers - offers solace. Small rituals, like lighting candles or preparing meals with loved ones, become more than just routines. They are expressions of resilience and belonging.
When asked about specific foods that are especially significant to Easter, Kendra exclaims: “In Jamaica, we don’t cook a big meal until Easter Sunday. The days leading up to it - especially Good Friday - are more solemn. We focus on going to church, spending quiet time with family, and keeping meals simple, often with fish and no meat. But Easter Sunday is the moment we pull out all the stops - rice and peas, curry goat, fried plantains, callaloo. It’s a feast and a celebration of life and resurrection, and it's full of joy.”
Easter is more than a single Sunday, it’s a spiritual season that centers healing and togetherness. At its core, it is a celebration of hope - a reminder that even after loss or separation, revival is possible. For displaced communities, this hope often arrives in simple, profound ways: the scent of a familiar dish, a shared prayer, a day off from work. For many Christians, faith serves not just as a source of relief, but as a motivator for justice and collective care, guided by the ultimate value of caring for one another.
Noor Almusahwi, a Muslim with a Christian foster family, reminds us that, “Whether it's Jewish, Muslim, or Christian holidays, the importance of holidays is to come together and renew our shared beliefs - renew our commitment to peace, our friendships… every holiday, people can come together and break bread.”
In his Easter morning blessing, Pope Francis shared, “On this day, I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas! For all of us are children of God!”
“The light of Easter impels us to break down the barriers that create division and are fraught with grave political and economic consequences,” he continued. “It impels us to care for one another, to increase our mutual solidarity, and to work for the integral development of each human person.”
Pope Francis passed away on Sunday, April 20th, shortly after sharing this message. In his life and ministry, he championed the dignity of migrants, the poor, and the marginalized. His unwavering call to “welcome, protect, promote, and integrate” displaced people echoed the heart of the Gospel. As Collective members honor the spirit of Easter, we also remember Pope Francis - a shepherd who reminded the world that compassion is not optional, but essential.
Even in unfamiliar places, Easter serves as a powerful reminder of people’s strength, their heritage, and the power of community. For those forging new lives, the spirit of resurrection is not just symbolic - it is a daily lived experience. It is reflected in the courage to begin again, the steadfastness of holding onto cultural identity, and the belief that safety and belonging can be rebuilt - one day at a time.