Another attack on Christianity, or are they right this time?
My hubby was watching the news today and told me they were reporting on a movement to change the "Easter Bunny" to the "Springtime Bunny." He said they were reporting that this is yet another attack on Christianity and Christian holidays, similar to the "Merry Christmas" and "Christmas tree" incedents of recent years. I think he was surprised to hear me disagree and admit that I could get on board with that.
With a Christmas tree, you have an tradition of a Christian holiday that aids in promoting a fundamental idea of the holiday...giving gifts to remind us of the gift God gave us in His Son. The tree has nothing to do with the rest of the holidays that are celebrated that time of year. Everyone has them in time for Christmas morning, with the purpose of putting presents under them. Then, they take them down after Christmas. It is, in all reality, a Christmas tree.
The Easter Bunny, however, is an entirely different story. Every year I find myself questioning what on earth bunnies and eggs and candy has to do with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. The truth is absolutly nothing! I looked into it! The "springtime hare" that developed into the Easter bunny and left baskets of goodies for children began as a celebration of springtime and a wish for fertility and abundance of crops for the coming season. How it got to be associated with Easter itself is kind of a mystery. (Seriously, if you know, please inform me!)
Now, I have nothing against bunnies or eggs or candy, but I also have nothing against moving "Easter," as it is commonly celebrated today, to March 21 and acknowledged as a celebration of spring. I don't know why Christians would be offended by this. The word "easter" even supposedly has pagan origins. The crucifixion and resurrection is what makes Christianity unique to all other religions. Many others will acknowledge Jesus existed, even that He was a great prophet. But it is Christians' recognition of His divinity, that is validated for us by the resurrection, that fundamentally distinguishes them. Easter should be our most holy and sacred of holidays. I think we should be offended that the rememberance of the crucifixion and resurrection has been reduced to chocolate bunnies, painted eggs, and peeps. I am all for the separation of these two holidays!
posted by BekABoo | 8:17 PM
6 Comments:
This is quite an interesting post you've got here...you've really raised a lot valid questions...well you can try visiting my blog on Easter Fun and maybe you'll find just what you're looking for!!!
I don't think I'd mind if they separated the two...Having a Resurrection Day would be very nice...I'm sure it wouldn't take long for it to either get overshadowed completely by the commercialism of the Welcome Spring holiday or else a whole new batch of materialistic goodies would appear to commerate it too...its just the American way...:) Very thoughtful post Bek
I see what your saying. It is a shame that Easter has been reduced to a commercial holiday. Another way to make money. How sad. The birth and resurrection of Jesus is what needs to be celebrated, not just on Easter and Christmas, but the whole year through!
The problem is, "Easter" is actually always set by the Christian calendar. The Orthodox celebrate it a different day than Catholics and Protestants, usually. (It happens to fall on the same day this year, though.) I guess I really don't have a problem with them coming on the same day, though. Many people "only" go to church on Easter and Christmas. My hope is that those who find themselves in a church on Easter will at least hear the message of Christ's resurrection...and maybe it will take root deep in their heart.
However, I do prefer to call it Resurrection Day, myself.
Interesting thoughts on the bunny thing. I know it does stem back to ancient fertility rites.
I enjoy all the Easter (and Christmas) hoopla, especially now that I have kids.
I totally agree though that the true meanings of Easter and Christmas have been lost (for the most part)!
Deborah
Since you asked, "Easter" does indeed have pagan origins and is a derivative of "Ashterah" the goddess of fertility - hence the bunnies and eggs. Constantine sought to bring political stability back to his kingdom as the spread of Christianity was upsetting the balance. So he legalized Christianity (as a political move), but married it with the pagan holidays so as not to upset the pagans too much. A lot of Christians celebrate the legalization of Christianity through Constantine, but many also see it as a time when Christianity became muddled because of pagan mixture, and the church went into decline (in terms of miracles and the apostolic and that sort of thing) because it became so compromised.
Post a Comment
<< Home