In the days before Easter, bunnies, eggs and chicks pop up on lawns around the area.

But there is probably only one residence where you’ll find three crosses and a door blocked by a stone.

At the Kupres Farm in West Penn Township, Thomas Kupres has been decorating to commemorate Good Friday for several years. It’s his way of reminding those who pass by about the real reason for the Easter holiday.

“Everybody decorates for Christmas and for the Easter bunny. That’s all important to children, because they’re young and their growing, but not to forget this particular day, which really did happen,” he said.

Good Friday has its own set of traditions which are still closely observed by the faithful.

Kupres remembers Calvary on his own hill, erecting three crosses, the center one draped with a purple cloth to celebrate royalty. On Good Friday, it’s replaced by a black cloth, and Kupres rolls a stone in front of his barn door to signify the tomb. On Sunday, the stone is rolled back as a symbol of the resurrection.

The observance of Good Friday follows Maundy Thursday, when churches remember the Last Supper. On Maundy Thursday, the churches strip off the purple cloths which are traditional for Holy Week, and replace them with black cloths to solemnly mark the crucifixion.

“Everyone walks out of the church in silence. Nobody says anything to anybody,” he said. “It’s just a nice feeling.”

On Good Friday itself, Kupres will walk to a quiet spot on his property and pray at 3 p.m., the time when it is believed that Jesus died on the cross. He’ll also observe by fasting and just quietly reflecting during the day.

Kupres says he doesn’t care what denomination someone is, it’s important to mark Good Friday.

“Everybody has their own belief, the right to do what they want. It’s just that particular day is when he died on the cross for everybody, no matter what you are,” he said.

As a child who was raised Catholic, Kupres would go with his mother and his brother from church to church on the day, observing the cross at each.

Before he’s accused of being anti-Santa or Easter Bunny, Kupres believes that the Easter Bunny and Santa are important because young children aren’t quite ready to grasp the meaning of the holiday.

“It creates family values, things the child will have all their life, the value of the family being together.

He hopes that families take the time this Easter to think about the real reason for the holiday. People are quick to rush off on a Sunday morning for a football game, but may not be as likely to do so for a church service.

“People just don’t have time for church. They can get up at 5 a.m. to get to a game, but Sunday morning they’re sleeping,” he said.