While we are knee-deep in our Purim festivities, the Christians are getting ready for Easter.
This time of year always makes me wonder; how do you celebrate a holiday like that?
I know about Easter, what it stands for, what it means. From an outsider’s perspective, it seems like a bloody mess. Explaining Christmas to your kids must be a lot easier; a baby, animals in the stable, a twinkling star; of course, presents and pretty pageants at the church. All good things that make for warm fuzzy feelings.
But Easter? How do Christians explain to their children about somebody who was murdered by being nailed to a cross, was buried in a cave, and came back as if he was the villain in a horror movie who just won’t die?
I am not being entirely facetious; I really wonder about this. Is it the cruel nature of the story that warrants the onslaught of spring-themed decorations? Lambs, chickens, bunnies, cute little flower baskets and Easter lilies, pretty lace dresses with matching bonnets; all in a variety of pastel colors, of course, dominate the stores. Try to buy your daughter a nice dress this time of year that’s not a flowery nightmare, and you’re screwed.
I do have a fondness for the Easter lily, but that might be because of Anne Rice.
Seems to me this is turning into just another Christmas, except with slightly better weather. I’ve seen gift baskets bigger than my three-year-old. And why is there an Easter Ham? What does a ham have to do with the crucifixion? It’s all very puzzling.
And are there orthodox Christians who refuse to let the shopping frenzy interfere with their true celebration of their holiday, ignore the pressure to give ever bigger and better baskets to their kids or organize the biggest egg hunt in town? Who absolutely refuse to hand over their hard earned money for the worldly trappings, and donate to charity instead? Teach their children the value of giving over the value of that Barbie Easter basket? Just wondering.
4 responses so far ↓
mormonsoprano // March 21, 2008 at 9:48 am
Regarding your last paragraph I would say a resounding- YES.
The focus in our home has always been on the atonement and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday we visit with our grandparents, place lilies on our loved one’s graves, and attend church services. When the children were young they each received a small basket of candy on the preceding Saturday so that our sabbath would focus on Jesus. Now that they are older, we forgo the candy altogether. I am not sure where or when the Easter Bunny came about (probably from the same marketing folks who brought us Santa).
I wouldn’t go so far as some to declare the chicks, bunnies and candy “evil”. These symbols of birth, spring and renewal all fit with the Resurrection. However, I agree with you that the commercialization, giant baskets & gifting have gotten completely out of hand. They are certainly inappropriate. (I don’t know who actually buys those hideous things, but someone sure must, or they wouldn’t keep making them!!)
I suspect this may not be just an issue with Easter and Christians. Perhaps there may be a few Jewish who also go overboard with their Mishloach Manot, Feasting and Masquerade? However, I think this is particularly an American curse - to become dazzled by Consumerism.
As an aside, I lived in Israel for several months and celebrated Purim, Passover and other significant days. I have the deepest respect and love for the Jewish faith. I send you and your family my best wishes for a peaceful holiday - Shalom and God Bless
Annette // March 21, 2008 at 9:57 am
Thank you, and Happy Easter!
I appreciate you reading this the way it was intended.
as a note, my daughter’s school has done a great job focusing the children on ‘giving to the poor’ ;
they give Tzedakah regardless, but in light of Purim they have been collecting goods for a homeless institution. We live in Omaha, so the Mishloach Manot baggies don’t get too out of hand. Luckily.
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Skott Klebe // March 24, 2008 at 12:20 pm
When looking at the trappings surrounding the big-money holidays of Christmas and Easter, it’s helpful to realize that Christmas falls as if by enormous coincidence near the winter solstice, and Easter by complete happenstance near the beginning of Spring. It’s my impression that the dates for the holidays were manipulated long ago, to benefit from the cultural correspondences.
Much of the familiar commercial hoopla seems to focus on the pagan celebrations of seasonal transitions (evergreen trees in winter; flowers, eggs, chicks in spring) instead of the direct Christian mythological associations (e.g., lack of toy Easter tombs with roll-aside rocks).
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