My mom and I did a shop together for our Easter dinner that we will share tonight. She was almost apologetic in justifying this ‘ritual’ as she is probably more ‘atheist’ than I am. “I don’t know why I feel the need to do these things.” She said. “Tradition” I replied. We do it because we did it before…..no matter what we believed now or then. We do Easter dinner because it was part of our world when we lived in Scotland. But it was never a BIG holiday..not even for those more religious than we were. But I remember the school ‘service’ where we sang hymns and I loved getting a big chocolate egg.
I admit to being slightly aghast at the not only secularism of Easter but the way the so-called bunny has become a spring version of Santa to fill up baskets with toys. Toys? What do toys have to do with Easter? Even a grumpy non believer like me finds this tasteless. The bunny is no santa IMO. I was very reluctant to bring the bunny into our children’s world. We are happy to buy eggs and do a bit of a hunt for them. We colour eggs that no one eats and I remember rolling my own coloured eggs down a hill when I was a child in Scotland. This was fun but also represented the door of the tomb of Jesus being opened. There was a connection….a reason for Easter being Easter.
For sure we can celebrate the more ‘pagan’ aspects of the holiday. It is Spring after all….but again..what do baskets of plastic toys have to do with birth and renewal?
So we did our hunt, we will eat our dinner. The Ten Commandments is on TV…..I suppose that is Easter enough for us. I try to teach my kids a little of whys of Easter and Passover. So they understand a little bit of the symbols of the season. I also love how through the wonders of Facebook and Twitter, I get a glimpse inside the homes of my fellow social media fanatics and get a chance to see how they celebrate these ‘days.’ It is great to see what Passover, Easter and a four day weekend look like to all of those who I have made connections with. The more we share our traditions and what makes them special to us, the better we understand each other….connect….we are all the same….we all have things that are important to us. This time of year should be a time where we all learn to judge a little less perhaps…..if you can get through the chocolate coma that is.
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