(Too much alliteration?)
We spent our Easter very low key. Since we weren’t traveling, I almost forgot to do anything for it – no egg dying, no chocolate bunnies. And then Jason took Jude to a public egg hunt and Jude didn’t even get one egg. The parents and bigger kids had elbowed their way through the crowd and snatched up all the eggs. Jason ended up stealing an egg just so Jude would have one. What an incredibly sad representation of what Easter is actually about (we redeemed this experience twice over, so don’t be sad about the little boy that didn’t get any eggs). Last I checked, Easter isn’t about consumerism . . . and yet . . .
Early last week I read this article about the Easter conundrum and it’s similar to the Christmas Conundrum. It’s worth a read (and makes me want to read her book even more). It made me think hard about how we focus on the holiday. . . I have quite a few memories of egg hunts, pretty new clothes and easter baskets that overshadow what Easter actually is about. I know at this point in my parenting journey I have the ability to shape how Jude views the holiday. We set the traditions. I certainly missed opportunities this year although we did read some of the Bible passages associated with Easter. Part of me really enjoys some of the traditions I grew up with. I loved dying eggs and I certainly love chocolate bunnies (although would like to get fair trade Easter treats in the future) but it’s not what I want the focus to be on.
I want Jesus to hijack my holidays. I want him to liberate the way I think about church and traditions. I don’t want to do things the way they’ve always been done to keep up with the status quo, I know there is more out there. I want our lives to push more and more to sacrifice and serving others, even if they don’t think about Jesus the same way I do. Especially then. Traditions can have extraordinary beauty to them – I see amazing value in some of the more traditional Christian practices but I also know that traditions when done thoughtlessly or without understanding become absolutely meaningless. I want to run hard from this and I’m still processing what that means for us.
What did you do for Easter and what do you think of the standard Easter activities?
Right on, Beth! I feel the same way. Luckily those in my family who are in charge of rearing our family’s little ones know how to convey the Holiday’s true meaning, and I’m happy to say our Easter weekend began and ended with worship & discussions of faith and sacrifice.
But – something about the Easter bunny makes me feel uncomfortable. I can easily draw a link between old Saint Nick and other charitable traditions associated with Christmas and the Incarnation. But the Easter Bunny. candy. the season of Spring!? It’s a challenge to use those things to teach about Christ’s death and resurrection. I understand the analogy of new life springing forth, but why use an egg when we have the perfect example of Jesus’ Resurrection?
Lately I’ve thought a lot about how I will celebrate the Holiday’s with my future children, and although I don’t think believing in an Easter bunny is evil, I’ll need to find a way to let Jesus hijack my Holidays too. I know you’ll probably figure it out before most of us all, and when you do spread the word
I don’t know how your Christian Church community in Austin celebrates Easter, but for Catholics it’s a Season. We are working our way to Pentecost on the liturgical calendar and I think a Pentecost Party should be in order. There are lots of things creative parents can do with that!
Thanks for a great blog entry.
Beth, I feel the same way! I love Jen hatmaker and her push to do things with our excess SO much. I want to get her book and actually went to a Christian bookstore but couldn’t find it. I def love egg hunts and the traditions and I thought maybe I could just make clothes this year and there would be no focus on what we wear but then I was sad when sassy wouldn’t wear hers! I want that to be the last thing I think about on the day of redemption of my savior!! Ugh. I hope blogs like hers and yours and the kind of renewed hope and joy that Christ has reminded me of will help me step out of myself and let Him in. Let me know what you think if you read it!
I didn’t even read her second one, it hits my heart even harder: http://www.jenhatmaker.com/blog/2012/04/04/the-easter-conundrum-confession-part-2
The book is very powerful, very challenging. Lance is starting to read it now, and I’m looking forward to many conversations about it.
It makes you think long and hard about many choices that we make… So good.
I ordered it yesterday so I am looking forward to reading it. And honestly, a little afraid too!
You should be a little nervous.
I had just finished reading “Kisses from Katie”, and then “Radical”, which moved to “7″. Yikes…I have felt like God has been moving me to live more intentionally – in the way of finances, food, time, etc. Now I’m committed to a missions trip this summer. I still have so far to go in life…
This is a great post, Liz. It’s interesting to me that I keep hearing that Easter is less of a retail/consumerized holiday, but when I see the incredible amounts of toys, candy, baskets, etc., that are being bought up like hotcakes, it makes me think that it’s not really that much different from Christmas, and I think it’ll only get worse.
Retailers are in the business of making money, and consumers love to buy, whether that’s because they want more things or simply want to show their love to their children by giving them gifts.
We had a quiet Easter. We took Noah out for a free event on Saturday, where we basically ate a free lunch as a family and walked around. We let him play one of the toddler-appropriate games in the children’s area, but mostly we enjoyed spending time together as a family. Yesterday morning, we enjoyed some time together at home before going out to the UA Quad for a picnic and play time with Noah. We met with our organic church group last night and those of us who could had a meal together after.
We did our own little Easter egg hunt in our backyard. After hearing your experience at a public hunt I’m glad we didn’t go that route! It was a fun little activity, one which I think we’ll keep around, but it does bring up those deeper questions, doesn’t it? How in the world do we draw the line from Easter eggs to Jesus? I’m not sure you can directly. But I think that some how you can have both fun/silly activities and worship of Jesus in a sincere way. Maybe not related, but I think you can do both. Not sure how though!
Because I never had children, I was never totally sucked into the “greeting card commercialism” of the holidays. It bothered me that Christmas decorations & music started showing up in October and that there were more eggs & bunnies than crosses for Easter. There was even a local non-denominational church that scheduled their Easter egg hunt on Good Friday. They had no service scheduled for that day – like Easter just happens without Good Friday.
I was totally unprepared for what I heard in the aisle while shopping at Target a few years ago. A very frustrated man was arguing with his wife about Easter candy when he shouted at her “Who the @$%# thought up this @$#& holiday?” Not exactly a great witnessing opportunity.
Learning about Christ’s life & sacrifice on our behalf starts at home and is reinforced by a strong Christian community. God bless you as you raise your children “in the way that they should go”.