Hiding the Alleluia

Here's the quick version to answer some questions and give you some time to actually do this today (or maybe tomorrow). I'll add pictures later today after we do it.

 Remember those wooden mantel letters? For the Easter season, they spell "Alleluia." They are painted gold and covered with "diamond dust" glitter. On Fat Tuesday, I take out the letters and make a big deal of spelling out "Alleluia." I let the children chant, sing, and even yell "Alleluia" in order to "get the Alleluias out." Then, I solemnly put the golden letters in a purple bag and explain that the Church doesn't say "Alleluia" during Lent and that we will "hide our Alleluias" until it's Easter.I hide the purple bag with the Alleluias in it (and tell someone where I put them;-). Then, it's Lent.

And it's quiet.

(Note: for Lent, the mantel letter spell REPENT. We basically use the Advent letters, which spelled PREPARE and add an N and a T. For more on mantel letters, click here.)