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Original poster

That saying "Happy Easter" is out of place?

268 replies

Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 09:47

We're a Jewish family, and only celebrate Xmas in a secular / Santa way. We celebrate all other main Jewish holidays at home and our friends know this, yet they sent a message of happy Easter. Isn't this out of place? (They even knew we just had a Passover Seder!)

OP posts:
faerietales · 21/04/2025 10:19

Kitchensnails · 21/04/2025 10:16

The horror, how will you ever recover from this.

By sobbing into her seasonal spring chocolate eggs.

LizaRadleywasonthespectrum · 21/04/2025 10:19

This reply has been deleted

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This post nails it.

WimpoleHat · 21/04/2025 10:19

mondaytosunday · 21/04/2025 10:06

Well yes - I have Jewish friend who I send photo Christmas cards to but I write Happy Hanukkah inside - I wouldn’t send them a generic Christmas card. But take it in the way I assume they meant it, to enjoy the time off work/school.

This reminds me of the time (before the days of online shopping) when everyone on the street popped Christmas cards through the letter box. My mother went through agonies trying to decide whether or not she should send one to the very nice new neighbours who had moved in over the road and who she knew to be Jewish. Didn’t want to offend by sending one, didn’t want to exclude/offend by not doing so. In the end, she spent days trawling the shops for Christmas cards without a “Happy Christmas” message and finally came home with a packet bearing the message “Season’s Greetings” and a snow scene, which she deemed acceptable. She was carefully debating an appropriate message to write inside, when said lovely Jewish neighbours put a card through the door for us….wishing us all a very happy Christmas! (To be fair to my mum, she was trying to be thoughtful, but was clearly overthinking that one.)

Longma · 21/04/2025 10:18

Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:10

I'd rather not celebrate it at all. We only do it so the kids don't feel left out.

We don't even call Easter eggs Easter eggs at home, we call them "seasonal spring chocolate eggs".

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I doubt you do tbh

olympicsrock · 21/04/2025 10:17

It’s a secular holiday these days. They were trying to be nice

Longma · 21/04/2025 10:17

I think for most people Easter isn’t really about the religion these days. For many, including people of all and of no faith, it’s about eating chocolate, bunnies, egg hunts, spring chickens and a long weekend.

I see it as little difference to saying Happy Christmas.

Spankmeonthebottomwithawomansweekly · 21/04/2025 10:17

Don't take offence, it's not what jesus would have wanted

TeenLifeMum · 21/04/2025 10:16

Happy Easter to me means happy 4 day weekend of chocolate eating.

Kitchensnails · 21/04/2025 10:16

The horror, how will you ever recover from this.

faerietales · 21/04/2025 10:15

Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:10

I'd rather not celebrate it at all. We only do it so the kids don't feel left out.

We don't even call Easter eggs Easter eggs at home, we call them "seasonal spring chocolate eggs".

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Aye, of course you do 😂

Jeschara · 21/04/2025 10:15

ScrewedByFunding · 21/04/2025 10:13

Ok now I know this is a wind up!

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If not a wind up, you sound pretentious.

Original poster
Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:15

pizzaHeart · 21/04/2025 10:14

was it a direct message to you or just a txt to everyone on their contact list? Because it might be the latter.
I would be a bit offended if it’s direct message to you, not religion wise, but more that my friend was absolutely not paying attention to my life. You wouldn’t text a single friend on her birthday, “what did your other half get you?”
Some people do take it in a “ have a happy long weekend” way but then your friend could have messaged you : Have a nice weekend.

Nope, direct message to us.

OP posts:
Jc2001 · 21/04/2025 10:15

Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:10

I'd rather not celebrate it at all. We only do it so the kids don't feel left out.

We don't even call Easter eggs Easter eggs at home, we call them "seasonal spring chocolate eggs".

Show quote history

Obvious troll is obvious.

user1471538275 · 21/04/2025 10:14

I think this is a you problem

pizzaHeart · 21/04/2025 10:14

was it a direct message to you or just a txt to everyone on their contact list? Because it might be the latter.
I would be a bit offended if it’s direct message to you, not religion wise, but more that my friend was absolutely not paying attention to my life. You wouldn’t text a single friend on her birthday, “what did your other half get you?”
Some people do take it in a “ have a happy long weekend” way but then your friend could have messaged you : Have a nice weekend.

ScrewedByFunding · 21/04/2025 10:13

Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:10

I'd rather not celebrate it at all. We only do it so the kids don't feel left out.

We don't even call Easter eggs Easter eggs at home, we call them "seasonal spring chocolate eggs".

Show quote history

Ok now I know this is a wind up!

Original poster
Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:11

BlondiePortz · 21/04/2025 10:10

I presume you and your family willing work on the holidays days for normal pay?

Yes, I work on Christmas and boxing day, always have.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ethicaldebacle · 21/04/2025 10:10

peanutbuttertoasty · 21/04/2025 10:08

YABU

Also for Christians Christmas is not a ‘secular’ holiday. Fine for you to treat it as such but for others it isn’t.

I'd rather not celebrate it at all. We only do it so the kids don't feel left out.

We don't even call Easter eggs Easter eggs at home, we call them "seasonal spring chocolate eggs".

OP posts:
BlondiePortz · 21/04/2025 10:10

I presume you and your family willing work on the holidays days for normal pay?

Smozzleberry · 21/04/2025 10:09

This reply has been deleted

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MoistVonL · 21/04/2025 10:08

I think you’re being awfully precious about it. I know a smattering of people who observe Easter as a religious holiday.

All the rest of us (Jewish, Atheist, Jain, Muslim, Hindu, Agnostic) celebrate a four day weekend and an excuse to eat chocolate. We still say Happy Easter.

We sometimes say Happy 4th of July, Happy Anzac Day, Happy Bastille Day, Happy Solstice etc etc - just a casual acknowledgement of a date when we’re chatting

peanutbuttertoasty · 21/04/2025 10:08

YABU

Also for Christians Christmas is not a ‘secular’ holiday. Fine for you to treat it as such but for others it isn’t.

mondaytosunday · 21/04/2025 10:06

Well yes - I have Jewish friend who I send photo Christmas cards to but I write Happy Hanukkah inside - I wouldn’t send them a generic Christmas card. But take it in the way I assume they meant it, to enjoy the time off work/school.

HollieHock · 21/04/2025 10:06

You are being over sensitive. I'm an atheist and people are always wishing me happy xmas at xmas time.

Used to work in Malaysia where all the religions just got on with each other. They all looked forward to all the religious holidays as it meant days off. Just go with the flow.

mustytrusty · 21/04/2025 10:06

This is the route to nobody interacting in a friendly or simple way at all. I think a good rule of thumb is that if someone starts a greeting with the word 'Happy X Y or Z' you should not overthink it and assume that they wish you happiness. To start analysing or being offended is madness and only hurts you.