Author Topic: Children and Easter (Read 2009 times)

PenitentWoman · « **on:** March 26, 2013, 05:14:48 PM »

For those of you with children, did/do you allow them to participate in secular holiday activities such as Easter egg hunts, baskets from the bunny etc. ?

The children I care for through my job have been painting eggs and doing other holiday crafts, and they have been telling my daughter all about visiting the Easter Bunny and how they will get treats. She is still very little, but seems fascinated.

Assuming she is taught an age appropriate religious understanding of Easter, is it bad to allow the secular (pagan?) elements that come with the season?

I'm sorry if this is a silly question. I just never know if I'm over or under thinking things.

Thank you.

Matthew · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2013, 05:24:53 PM »

We would never consider having our childrens' "picture taken with the Easter Bunny".

In fact, we don't even do "the Easter Bunny" around here.

That having been said, we do color hard-boiled eggs on Holy Saturday, do an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, and each child gets a (re-used) Easter basket filled with various candy, plastic eggs, and small toys/books (we don't buy the pre-made ones; ours are put together by hand)

And of course we have a big party with the family on Easter Sunday (after Mass).

In general, we try to extract the GOOD things that "everyone does at Easter" -- the things that are compatible with the True Meaning of Easter.

No one can say we're not celebrating Easter; yet we completely ignore the Easter Bunny.

Our celebration of Christmas is similar: lots of songs (mostly religious ones), Christmas Tree, presents for each child, parties and food with relatives -- but no Santa.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2013, 05:25:16 PM »

I strongly recommend that you don't let your daughter buy into "Santa" or "The Easter Bunny".

"Santa Claus" and "the Easter Bunny" are inventions of the secular world, and their purpose is to distract from the true meaning of Christmas and Easter.

Parents who tell their children that they are real also must lie to their children repeatedly, and lying is a sin.

I'd be quick to tell her that they aren't real and to get her to focus on the true, religious aspects of Christmas and Easter.

There's nothing wrong with Easter egg hunts, though. I wouldn't object to that.

Matto · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2013, 05:38:15 PM »

I agree with SSS that we shouldn't lie to our children by telling them that the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus and also the Tooth Fairy are real.

Mithrandylan · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2013, 06:18:29 PM »

Quote from: ServusSpiritusSancti

I strongly recommend that you don't let your daughter buy into "Santa" or "The Easter Bunny".

"Santa Claus" and "the Easter Bunny" are inventions of the secular world, and their purpose is to distract from the true meaning of Christmas and Easter.

Parents who tell their children that they are real also must lie to their children repeatedly, and lying is a sin.

I'd be quick to tell her that they aren't real and to get her to focus on the true, religious aspects of Christmas and Easter.

There's nothing wrong with Easter egg hunts, though. I wouldn't object to that.

Not to mention that these secular customs rival the actual meaning of these feasts. No parent is doing themselves a favor by allowing their child to adopt a myth only to have to deconstruct it later down the road.

momofmany · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2013, 06:38:07 PM »

Our children get Easter baskets but they are not from the Easter Bunny. They are from mom and dad and as a celebration of Christ's resurrection just like gifts at Christmas are in celebration of His birth.
The older children watch The Passion with their dad on Good Friday night after Stations and a simple, simple dinner. We color eggs on Sat and prep for Easter dinner. After Mass on Easter Sunday we come home, Daddy hides plastic eggs and cascarones (confetti eggs) all over the yard. All the children hunt for them includig the big kids. This will be our first Easter without my oldest as she is in Rome. The children then crushing the cascarones over each others heads. No one is immune from daddy to baby.
It is a simple, yet fun celebration. This is what we have been doing for many years and will continue for many more.

It isn't the extravagance, expense or number of traditions that is important. Something simple that you do year after year develops meaning and wonderful memories. Family traditions help keep your children wanting to come home and stick close to family because X,Y,Z wouldn't be the same without 1,2,3.

Sigismund · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2013, 08:34:20 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

We would never consider having our childrens' "picture taken with the Easter Bunny".

In fact, we don't even do "the Easter Bunny" around here.

That having been said, we do color hard-boiled eggs on Holy Saturday, do an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, and each child gets a (re-used) Easter basket filled with various candy, plastic eggs, and small toys/books (we don't buy the pre-made ones; ours are put together by hand)

And of course we have a big party with the family on Easter Sunday (after Mass).

In general, we try to extract the GOOD things that "everyone does at Easter" -- the things that are compatible with the True Meaning of Easter.

No one can say we're not celebrating Easter; yet we completely ignore the Easter Bunny.

Our celebration of Christmas is similar: lots of songs (mostly religious ones), Christmas Tree, presents for each child, parties and food with relatives -- but no Santa.

That is pretty much what my wife and I did when our children were growing up, and what my children do with their children now.

PenitentWoman · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2013, 03:31:11 PM »

Thank you everyone.

The amount of trust God gives when he sends the blessing of a new life is quite amazing, because they truly do look to you for everything.

This year it seems best to just distract/downplay the bunny, because the division between reality and make believe is still beyond the grasp of a 1 year old. Next year will be hard. My mom pushes Santa big time and talked about him coming down the fireplace etc. Now, even the K of C has bunny appearances at their Friday fish fry dinner events. The secular stuff is everywhere.

momofmany, I really enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing. :)

I've also heard that the Byzantine rite has a special Easter basket blessing ritual.

Zeitun · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2013, 05:39:06 PM »

I give chocolates in the shape of a cross rather than a bunny and egg-shaped candies. No baskets this year and no Easter bunny. We color our eggs on Holy Saturday.

We will have hot-cross buns on Easter morning and a feast later on in the day

Matthew · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2013, 06:45:23 PM »

I remember we always had (homemade) Hot Cross Buns at the Seminary on Good Friday. We also had lamb every Holy Thursday.

Those were the good old days...

Sigismund · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:29:21 PM »

Why lamb on Holy Thursday?

Pelly · « **Reply #11 on:** March 28, 2013, 03:52:30 AM »

Hot Cross Buns? I'm going to make them today!

CathMomof7 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 28, 2013, 09:45:25 PM »

Quote from: Matthew

We would never consider having our childrens' "picture taken with the Easter Bunny".

In fact, we don't even do "the Easter Bunny" around here.

That having been said, we do color hard-boiled eggs on Holy Saturday, do an Easter egg hunt on Sunday, and each child gets a (re-used) Easter basket filled with various candy, plastic eggs, and small toys/books (we don't buy the pre-made ones; ours are put together by hand)

And of course we have a big party with the family on Easter Sunday (after Mass).

In general, we try to extract the GOOD things that "everyone does at Easter" -- the things that are compatible with the True Meaning of Easter.

No one can say we're not celebrating Easter; yet we completely ignore the Easter Bunny.

Our celebration of Christmas is similar: lots of songs (mostly religious ones), Christmas Tree, presents for each child, parties and food with relatives -- but no Santa.

This is exactly what we do, right down to the recycled baskets.

My Protestant step-mother once invited us out to her house after Mass on Easter. If I can find the picture, I will show you my boys faces when they saw this big, giant Easter Bunny!

Matthew · « **Reply #13 on:** March 28, 2013, 11:46:25 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

Why lamb on Holy Thursday?

It commemorates the Passover meal -- at least the main course.

There was nothing liturgical about it -- I think it was just Bishop Williamson's sense of humor.

Telesphorus · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2013, 11:47:59 PM »

I wish I'd had lamb tonight.

cheese metts with mustard and kraut :|