Easter vs. Christmas

[Corki]

While out driving today, I noticed something very strange. In the next town over, both of the schools I passed had prominent notices on their marquees reminding parents of the dates the school is closed for the Easter Holidays. The city park’s two marguees proclaimed “Happy Easter”. And next to city hall is a big inflatable Easter Bunny.

This is the same town which goes to the extreme to make sure that the word or notion of Christmas is purged from all things civil. The schools have “winter” concerts and “snow” festivals. Parents are sent notes reminding them to make sure that when sending treats to school in December they refrain from any packaging or paper goods (plates, napkins, cupcake wrappers) that are green or red.

So, what gives? If you are or know anyone that is on the side of removing all mention of Christmas from the public schools, public square and public grouds, why is Christmas so bad but Easter is fine? Granted the Easter Bunny is pretty secular but no more so than a decorated evergreen tree.

 

[Publisher]

My own thoughts on the subject are that Easter…Ostara…Eostre…a spring celebration with it’s roots in Pagan Europe and uses many pagan symbols such as the Easter Bunny, Easter Eggs, colored decorated baskets for gathering is more benign in that one no mention of Christ or the resurrection need be made when the focus is on the coming of spring and the focus is on bunnies, candy, eggs, plants and flowers.

Not too many songs outside of church services ever reference the resurrection…“Here comes Peter Cotton Tail, hoppin’ down the bunny trail…hipity hopity Easter’s on it’s way.”…is far different than “Away in a manger no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head…”…or “O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant…”

The focus off of any religious connotation is deeply ingrained into our culture…Christmas is still the birth of Jesus…whether there’s Santa or decorated trees…it’s still “Christ Mass”.

I would bet if Western Christianity called it “Pascha” or “Resurrection Sunday”…you’d see a far different scenario brewing.

 

[Mattapoisett64]

I agree with the others - it’s a lot easier for chocolate bunnies and marshmallow Peeps to overwhelm Easter. There’s no getting past “Christ” in Christmas.

 

[Loboto-Me]

Merry Xmas

Have a Holy, Joyful Easter peoples

 

[puzzleannie]

While out driving today, I noticed something very strange. In the next town over, both of the schools I passed had prominent notices on their marquees reminding parents of the dates the school is closed for the Easter Holidays. The city park’s two marguees proclaimed “Happy Easter”. And next to city hall is a big inflatable Easter Bunny.

well as any fundamentalist will tell you Easter is really a pagan holiday, and certainly the bunny as a fertility symbol has pagan origins, so gubmints are perfectly happy to promote pagan festivities, just not Christian. Now if they put up a display of a cross with a white drape or a “He is Risen” billboard, I would be concerned, or if they start calling it Pascua or Pascha.

for the same reason they have easter egg hunts on the white house lawn, but you don’t see them doing a posada at Christmas, or living stations in Lent.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

How this for Irony? Ceasar issued a census of the people during the birth period of Jesus Christ, and today Ceasar issues a census of the people during the passion, death, resurrection of Jesus during the easter season.

 

[Dale_M]

…of the dates the school is closed for the Easter Holidays.

The fact that they identify holidays in the plural shows recognition not only of Easter, but also of Good Friday (I’m guessing the kids got Good Friday off. Am I wrong?) I think this weakens the argument that Easter is tolerated because it is seen as a pagan holiday.

I dunno… it seems strange. But I know many Christians who believe that Christmas is a more important religious holiday than Easter (seriously!) , so maybe there is something to the idea that secular people see Easter is seen as less religious, and thus less troublesome, than Christmas.

 

[Corki]

The fact that they identify holidays in the plural shows recognition not only of Easter, but also of Good Friday (I’m guessing the kids got Good Friday off. Am I wrong?) I think this weakens the argument that Easter is tolerated because it is seen as a pagan holiday.

I dunno… it seems strange. But I know many Christians who believe that Christmas is a more important religious holiday than Easter (seriously!) , so maybe there is something to the idea that secular people see Easter is seen as less religious, and thus less troublesome, than Christmas.

Yes, in that particular district the kids are off Good Friday and Easter Monday. In some of the nearby districts, kids are off or get early dismissal on Holy Thursday as well.