Why do we not celebrate Easter in the same way that we celebrate Christmas?

[fourpeasinapod]

I know that Easter is about the death and resurrection of Jesus whereas Christmas is about the birth and nativity of Jesus which is probably something that you’d celebrate more than a death!

You don’t really have to be religious to celebrate either, I wouldn’t describe myself as particularly religious, but I still like to take part in the celebrations for both because I think it’s nice and something to look forward to every year. More so Christmas!

Anyway, I know we have Easter eggs and all that, but we don’t have Easter music, Easter lights/trees/decorations and the list goes on.

Christmas seems to be more of an event because we have music, decorations and lights and we have a big Christmas dinner.

Why is this?

I celebrate both with a feast, token gifts and family time. I'm an atheist.

Some people have Easter trees. People buy daffodils for their homes and plant flowers to celebrate Spring after the cold dark winter. Children paint eggs and make chocolate nests. There's less of the plastic crap, which is a good thing. No need for lights as the days are longer.

In some ways I quite like the 'low key' nature of Easter in the UK. Compared to the craziness of Christmas where many people go way over the top and there's constant pressure to buy presents, and spend huge sums of money and go to loads of different social events; Easter feels comparatively relaxed and pressure-free.

Because Easter is primarily a serious religious celebration that takes place just as the weather is getting better. Non religious people can celebrate it as the beginning of Spring but tend to do it by enjoying the weather, going out etc.
Whereas way before Christianity there was a winter festival to cheer people up in the long winter months. So the lights, food, indoor lights etc are all indoor activities to brighten up winter.

I agree, in the way I do Easter I think if Christmas was celebrated in a similar way with far less consumerism it could only be a good thing

Just getting together with family to enjoy a celebratory meal and share in some fun to mark the new season.

Because in an agricultural society there is a glut of food in December that will need to be eaten before it goes off. Also there is very little work to be done. Therefore: a great time for feasting.

By the time you reach March/April there is very little food left over from the winter, and this year's crops are only just starting to grow. Yes, it is a time of rebirth, but it is also the hungry months, not much to eat and lots of work to do if you want to eat next winter. Far too busy a time for feasting.

I love Easter as it's a lovely fresh start to spring We have a nice meal and a quiet relaxing time but I don't celebrate Christmas as it's far to commercialised with tat , Easter you can somehow avoid or ignore the commercialism in shops easier

I always thought That Easter eggs symbolised the stone that was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb

Easter is the most important holiday in the Christain calendar. It's not that Jesus died , it is why.
It is a solemn time marked by contemplation and prayer over several days. Though it is quite a commercial holiday now, thank goodness it is not on the scale of Christmas. Many places don't even have it as a holiday - I grew up in the US and there was no time off work or school, unless it coincided with the April spring break.

I know a couple of families who celebrate Easter like Christmas. Hundreds of pounds worth of presents for their children. Mine get a couple of £1 chocolate eggs.

I'm a Christian and I'm quite relieved that Easter is more low key than Christmas. I find our Good Friday and Easter Sunday services very moving and uplifting.

I know that chicks and eggs have nothing directly to do with the death and resurrection of Jesus but I do find Spring time an appropriate time to celebrate resurrection and the hope of eternal life. If you are of a Christian mindset it still all links together and gives you many things to feel thankful for.

In Catholic countries Easter is a very important festival.
As to why one has been more commercialised than the other in the UK, I dont know, but xmas is closely tied up with saturnalia feasting and debauchery, and easter is more about rebirth and spring. I dont think it ever had the potential to be as consumerist

Speak for yourself. My mum goes all out for Easter, big Easter meal family from everywhere invited. We didn't really get presents but we got a video (from Woolworths lol). Then we have a wee shindig into the night.

We decorate

Nice lunch and tea, play games and watch HOP

I think if you are religious - and I count being "culturally" religious in that - then it might be as big a deal to you as Christmas. But certainly as a country it is less of a big deal.

As a family we have plenty of rituals around Easter, just as we do around Christmas, but there is a bit less commercialisation, so you are bombarded with it less.

At Christmas, we have stockings, at Easter the dc find mini eggs in an Easter basket.
At Christmas we have presents around the tree, at Easter we all set each other elaborate treasure hunts to find a big chocolate egg.
At Christmas we have roast turkey and all the trimmings. At Easter we have roast lamb, and boiled eggs in the evening - my Easter menu is probably more bound by nostalgia and tradition than Christmas.
At Christmas we make mince pies and Christmas cake. At Easter we make Easter nests and simnel cake.
At Christmas we go to church and sing carols. At Easter we go to church and sing Easter hymns.
Before Christmas we have advent, before Easter we have Lent. We try to make time to see family for both.

I normally do a bit more at easter

But ds1 isnt here and shopping is obviously more difficult so its not quite as full on

Because retailers have yet to persuade us to go overboard with easter and spend all our money on yet more crappy presents.

advertising....

We do. Tree, decorations, symbolic stuff, special meal, festive treats. We just don't have presents (apart from chocolate eggs). I just love Spring.

Easter is slowly becoming a "mini Christmas"

just look at all the tat in the shops now - Christmas Easter Trees, Christmas Easter Decorations, Christmas Easter cards, Christmas Easter Presents, Father Christmas The Easter Bunny
Along with Easter Eggs and Easter Egg hunts etc.

It will become a mini Christmas

Hallowe'en will be next ....

Lol op no the eggs are just eggs > new life
Rabbits about babies
It's a religious festival plastered on top of the spring festivals that came before

Xmas is religious festival plastered on top of midwinter feast. Poss a bigger thing as it's grimmer in the winter and people need more cheering up!

I've had egg hunts and Easter bunny visits since I was born so it's not a new thing. My children make Easter cards like I did when I was young.
I bought an Easter tree about 5 years ago along with some cheap decorations and we make the rest.
I refuse to choke down the joy we get from it as a family just because some begrudge that others find happiness in marking occasions in small ways.

@BeetrootRocks at least I’ve learnt something new today! Silly me! lol

I’m glad too that Easter isn’t as big as Christmas. It would be too much.

I absolutely love Christmas - although I do agree it is far too commercialised at times but I love the run up to Christmas more than the actual day itself.

Love the dark nights in December cosied up beside the fire and the TV and all the hot drinks, the food, the music and everybody putting their lights up and most of all I just love the vibe of it in general, so for me, I’d have Christmas over Easter any day

Because Easter is important to those who are actually religious whereas Christmas is mainly a commercially-driven greedfest celebrated by most of us?