Easter As Non-Christians
I’m going to go a bit out of my comfort zone here for a while and talk about something that I normally keep to myself because that’s exactly how I think it should be. Religion. This tends to be one of those topics that almost seems taboo in certain arenas but I’d like to dabble a bit if I may. Mostly because I can be an antagonist sometimes but you’ll learn that soon enough. 
Easter is coming up this Sunday and my wife and I will dye eggs, eat chocolate bunnies and hunt for eggs just like many other families. But we do it for a different reason. We do it out of the tradition that we grew up with and we want our kids to have as much fun as we did. There is no sunrise service, no praying, nothing involving any sort of religion at all. It’s more of a celebration of the equinox and chocolate bunnies and colorful eggs. We celebrate Easter just like we do Christmas, we’ve always enjoyed it when we were kids and we want our kids to enjoy it too.
Sometimes I wonder if we really shouldn’t celebrate any religious holidays since we are not at all a religious family. It would certainly make things a lot simpler but at the same time quite boring. Or, better yet, should we celebrate ALL of the religious holidays? Then we never miss out on any sort of fun. However, it would get pretty pricey pretty fast.
Personally I don’t really have a problem with the way things are. Celebrate what we have always known and let our kids have some fun along the way. I figure that it’s pretty much how religious traditions are passed along, it’s all due to where and when you were born. We will have our traditions without religion.
Anyone else celebrate holidays that don’t necessarily line up with your religion or personal spiritual beliefs?
b
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about 3 years ago
I have sat and tried to write a thoughtful post on this, but I keep hitting a block as to how to express my thought as I was baptized into Catholicism and my wife was raised a christian. She believes that Christianity is the way to everlasting life so for her Christmas and Easter are a big deal. I, on the other hand, categorize myself as borderline agnostic. I believe and question it at the same time. Which drives my wife completely bonkers. She puts a heavy emphasis of Christ, believing in him, and his teachings. I am fine with that because his theology was perfect. There wasn’t death and destruction, it was love, selflessness and respect for others. That I am ok with.
We celebrate the Easter Bunny and Jesus. There is a Santa Clause (at least for now) and Jesus. As the kids get older they can decide, celebrate what they want, and have their own traditions.
about 3 years ago
I don’t see any reason why someone shouldn’t celebrate religious holidays even though they are not religious. It all comes down to spending time with your family – whether that involves a bunny, Santa Claus, or whathaveyou doesn’t make a difference. Just make it your own and have fun with it!
We are a religious family…so our holidays celebrations reflect that, but to a point. There is no way I’m writing on my daughter’s Christmas presents “To: Peanut, From: Jesus.” LOL
about 3 years ago
Why Not?…
Jesus has been tossed out of the schools ..public stores ( that use HIS birthday to sell …”STUFF”..and can’t even allow their employees to say Merry Christ…Mas..and rarely see advertised CHRISTMAS shopping…it’s Holday shopping… However …when Christmas is over they advertise
” AFTER CHRISTMAS SALE “…
So…..why not keep HIM in the home…with maybe ONE little gift from HIM ?…The rest can be credited to Santa….
about 3 years ago
We celebrate easter but not heavily the religious aspect. However he will know what the day means in the catholic religion
about 3 years ago
Right there with you. What do eggs and candy have to do with religion, anyway? It’s totally a cultural thing.
about 3 years ago
i’m like you. i celebrate christmas w no religion involved. my girls are usually with their dad during easter time, so sometime they do easter stuff w/o religion especially since he got w his current gf. she is muslim, he’s atheist. oy vey! lol i really hate thanksgiving. if the girls are w me we might cook thanksgiving dinner. if they’re not here, it’s like any other day. i have my reasons for not celebrating thanksgiving, but i’ll keep those to myself lol
about 3 years ago
We do, though I was raised Catholic. We haven’t decided on what to do for Easter. Christmas is easy, as my husband celebrated it in his non-religious upbringing, but Easter is more difficult, as, for me, it was a day of church more than eggs and chocolate. I like the idea of celebrating the natural events and keeping traditions for your kids. Traditions are such a big part of my happy memories.
about 3 years ago
When I was in college I had a friend who is Jewish and I’m Catholic, by baptism only anymore, we thought it would be fun to combine the 12 days of Christmas and the 8 days of Hanukkah and just take the whole month of December off. We couldn’t convince any of our professors that our new religion granted us these awesome powers. Oh well!
about 3 years ago
“We will have our traditions without religion.” Well said.
about 3 years ago
I had a longer response, but my browser crashed and ate it, so this will have to do.
Many religious holy days and festivals coincide with natural events, be they seasonal or celestial. Sometimes dates are chosen for symbolism, other times the symbolism is worked out after the date is chosen for another reason.
Easter is an extension of Passover, and both commemorate events (the crucifixion/resurrection of Christ and the exodus from Egypt, respectively) that occurred at a certain time, irrespective of season. However, spring’s revival of nature after the cold, dead winter is apt symbolism for the eternal life won for mankind by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this case, then, the natural symbols were applied post hoc. However, long before the Jews or Christians celebrated holy days at this time, various groups of pagans celebrated the return of warmth, color, and fertility brought by spring. In other words, feel free to celebrate seasonal holidays a non-believer; you’re in good company, both historical and contemporary.
As for me and my family, we’ll be commemorating the salvific sacrifice of Christ, paschal Lamb of God. We’ll save a pew for you in case you decide to join us some day.
about 3 years ago
Thank you for the kind words and understanding. If only everyone were that flexible. Take care and have a wonderful weekend.
about 3 years ago
Absolutely, I’m right there with you. My wife is a lapsed Catholic and I’m agnostic. We do Christmas but no church. When he’s old enough we’ll do Easter Egg hunts but without the crucifixes and rising from the dead. Just the bunnies and colored eggs. I think that’s the best way.
about 3 years ago
We celebrate Christmas and Easter for the fun and tradition not the religious factor. Nice Post and great blog!!
Happy FF! Check out my FF Friday post at: http://www.pbandsmellysdad.com/2009/04/what-not-to-say.html