I've been having a discussion with Grandma Shirley about Easter traditions. We understand that eggs and rabbits are pagan symbols of fertility, but how did it come to be that they were connected? Rabbits don't hatch from or lay eggs, so why do they bring eggs?
The best I can tell from wikipedia.com is that Easter Bunnies traditionally come at spring time bearing eggs as symbols of spring and fertility.
None of this is new or special. I probably could have figured all this out on my own, but it's got me thinking. Thinking about what we / I worship and how self-serving my idols are. What could be more self-serving and more me-based theology (I just made that up) than worshipping our own fertility? I don't really buy into the whole Easter Bunny thing, but what else do I worship that only focuses on me? Why do I keep looking inward instead of upward? How can I change my focus?
And that, I guess, is the difference between me and a "pagan." I'm not perfect--I have plenty of idols, but I try to seek God in an effort not to celebrate them. I don't think the Easter Bunny will come to our house when we have kids. I don't think Santa will visit either, now that I think about it. Why encourage self / idol-worship to a child that will have the same propensity for idolitry that I struggle with as an adult? If I intend to teach my children that Jesus Christ is their savior, I can't confuse them with pagan symbols of fertility, right?
Somebody back me up, here. I feel like I'm talking myself into a corner.
10 comments:
Erin, Jared and I have had very similar discussions and have come to the exact same conclusions. No Santa, no Easter Bunny, no Tooth Fairy, etc. These are all wordly replacements for the "God holidays" so people can avoid thinking about God on these sacred days. Really, Easter is the most sacred and special holiday for Christians, as it is when the entire course of history changed forever-- for everyone who ever lives. Why distract our children from this most special of days so that instead of reflecting on what Christ endured for us, they can be gluttunous and stuff their faces with candy? We will still give them some Easter candy, but it will be from Mom and Dad, and the focus of our day will be celebration of Christ's resurrection. Love you kiddo. Glad you are thinking about all this.
Totally agree with the no santa, bunny, fairy thing. We know who they are and thats where it ends. No doubt they won't need ANY help having idols, why shove more at them?
I will put my 4 cents in. We do Santa and the Tooth Fairy, but only because they know it's Mom and Dad who do it. We have fun. We know Christmas and Easter are about Jesus. On Halloween we dress up and go around the neighborhood. We don't worship Satan because we trick or treat.
I thought I would never have a toy gun in the house either.....
I'm with Carla! We do the Santa, Easter Bunny and, just recently, the Tooth Fairy. All of which Isaiah knows the truth, it's Mama and Papa. In fact Isaiah helps buy presents for Papa's and Anna's "St.Nick" stocking. He goes out with Matthew to buy stuff for my stocking, too. It's a great time for him to find the joy in giving as it's such a surprise to open our stockings on Christmas morning. Isaiah still knows the real reason for all the seasons and we are sure to make those the most important and obvious reasons for the celebration. We end up tying the pagan symbols into the Christian celebration anyhow. We talk about how butterflies and eggs remind us of New Life and how when Jesus died and rose from the dead we get to have a New Life in Him. HaHa, so take that American commercialism!! We talk about how St.Nick/Santa gave gifts to a family in need and how we give presents to family and friends because God gave us the greatest gift of Jesus. We end up making the commercial secular stuff work to our advantage and it seems to work really well for Isaiah. He also has more reminders for the celebration because when he sees all the bunny, chicken and butterfly posters hanging from Target's ceiling he's reminded about our salvation. Kids need more tangible stuff to understand certain concepts and, like I mentioned, we use the secular images to our advantage.
ps we go trick-or-treating too and that's pretty much just for the candy. :)
The problem with NOT doing Santa and the Easter Bunny is that then the kids wonder why Santa and the Easter Bunny hate them.
Even if you explain that they're not real and it's actually the neighbor kids' parents who bring the toys on Christmas and the candy on Easter, they're going to feel left out.
As for how bunnies and eggs and Easter got all mixed up...the spring Pagan festival was a fertility festival. The pagans were understandably hesitant when the Christians tried to take their festival away (wouldn't you be pissed if someone tried to steal Easter and convert you to their holiday and their beliefs?) and so they merged the two holidays. (This is also why we have trees on Christmas.)
The easter bunny is selfish, yes. But he makes Easter more fun for the kiddies, too. It's bad to place ALL the emphasis on the candy/toys/bunny, but it's not awful to mix Jesus with fun, as long as you remind kids where the real emphasis lays.
Since Santa and the Easter Bunny are made up, fititious characters why would my children believe they hate them? They have also never felt "left out". Why? My children are given gifts from their parents because we love them!! I will take the credit for buying treats. Why should a dumb bunny and some fat,jolly old man get all the credit??
Thanks, everyone. I never meant to imply that Jesus and fun can't be one and the same. I also didn't mean to imply that I and fun can't be one and the same. I guess I just don't see how a fake bunny is "fun."
I like Carla's tale on everything--have fun, but remember the truth.
Also, I never once thought, "Santa hates me." I thought, "Santa's not real." Call me crazy.
*Carla's TAKE.
I agree with Carla, why should some big hairy guy get the credit for my hard work!!! I don't think my children feel bad. They get presents and candy, but its just from us. They also seem to enjoy helping with the planning. Mikkena had a blast hiding eggs for me to find.
Ok, I'll put my two cents in this bag.
We have always told our cherubs that Santa and the EB aren't real--ditto for the tooth fairy. However, we have done stockings, easter baskets and hiding teeth. My advice is if you do decide to tell your children the truth, that they don't tell all their classmates. Makes for some sad children and mad mothers. Have fun!
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