Any other Christians annoyed at what society has turned Easter into?

[Opol]

I’m resigned that the same has been done to Christmas. But for me that is “only” the birth of Christ.

As a Roman Catholic, Easter is of far more importance to me. For me, God’s love for humanity meant he sacrificed his only son. Jesus’ resurrection is literally the embodiment of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil etc.

I don’t wish to gate keep but seeing it reduced to Easter baskets and chocolate rabbits is unpleasant to witness. I’m more annoyed at society making everything hollow and superficial via consumerism and over consumption.

Hang on though, the ancient peoples celebrated the coming of spring, new life, the Equinox and the warmer months coming long before Christianity was a thing.

Nobody's stopping you going to church or doing whatever else you feel is appropriate to mark a day which is religiously significant to you. But you cannot demand that other people stop gorging themselves on eggs or think easter is about a big slap up lunch with the family. Or just two days off work.

Yeah, no, I actually really enjoy that almost all of the "secular" aspects of Easter are actually more traditional than the Christian appropriation of the festival. Eggs, lambs, bunnies and flowers are all symbols of the pagan goddess Eastre/Eostre/Ostara, and even the hot cross bun may predate Christianity with the cross representing the four seasons. Yes, it's commercialised, but all festivals are these days- I just appreciate that we still celebrate one of our most traditional holidays in honour of the coming of spring.

(I appreciate I'm biased, here, because I don't like the Christian narrative and find it has nothing to do with Easter, at least for Christmas they changed the name so we can still celebrate Yule with some sense of separation. Not sure what else they should call it, but it's strange to celebrate the name of a pagan goddess when Christians historically were so determined to rid the country of our ancient religions.)

Yes and no. I'm quite sure that they'd virtually disappear without the commercialism. Gift giving, in and of itself, isn't necessarily commercial for example, but it keeps Christmas ticking over quite nicely. Same with Easter. So while there is a perfunctory 'it's not commercial ' at mass, if it all stopped in the morning, I'm sure they'd notice and it wouldn't be in their favour.

I’ve just written this on another thread but Easter is not Christian - it’s Pagan. Whether it predates Paganism we don’t know. It’s a celebration of Ēostre, to celebrate spring, the coming of better weather and all that nature provides.

It was eroded by Christians as part of their campaign to destroy Pagansim (which was successful, as it has been with most other religions).

Celebrate Easter in your way but don’t get annoyed about other people not celebrating God. Easter, like Christmas and Harvest, were never about God. Other religions lost their festivals and feelings to you, you have to accept that you may lose some of yours to new ideas.

Happy Easter and have a nice day.

Pretty sure the pagans were pissed off first.

No they aren’t at all. How about the Native Americans, Aboriginals and Native Canadians whom Christianity have wrecked? How about the tribes minding their own businesses who have to deal with Christian nuts turning up and trying to convert them? How about the practicing Pagans and Asatros?

Christianity has been destroying people for hundreds of years with no remorse. It is NOT the most persecuted religion.

I’m not anti-Christian, worship who you want, but religion is for you and you only.

Anybody who has been to the Vatican City and the amount of horrible tat on sale there knows the strong link between religion and consumerism.

Just another kerching festival for capitalism.

Cadbury’s doesn’t give thanks, it gives less chocolate for more money.

You like Jesus. I like chocolate eggs and bunnies. It’s a great day for both of us, OP!

Like Christmas, Easter was piggybacked on to an existing pagan festival celebrating spring. It's even calculated using a delightfully pagan formula.

So no -celebrate it your way and let the rest of us enjoy the chocolate and Easter bunnies. We've had all our festivals hijacked by the Christians, so it's great to see them being reclaimed.

Syncretically, that’s a good word. New to me. 🐣

I am more annoyed about how a simple spring celebration of Easter eggs bought and given by friends and family has been hijacked by that bloody EasterBunny. I can take Father Christmas, but the EB gives me road rage.

Of course your feelings are valid, op. I’m a Christian and I feel that Jesus dying for our sins breathtaking, everyday, as I am sure you do.
I love Easter and all the celebrations, whether it’s spring and Easter egg hunts, hot cross buns etc. For me, I love that it is acceptable to say Happy Easter to everyone, of every faith or none. I loved watching Holy Week Malaga, where they take it very seriously and turn into a spectacle, yet at the same time, their shops are full of Easter eggs, as are ours.

I read recently (been trying to find where but I can’t) that some Jews write Xtian rather than Christian because of the commandment about not worshipping false idols, some feel that writing the name Christ is idolatry.

My flatmate bought me back a shot glass from the Vatican. Hand wrapped by a nun 🤣

I am agnostic and I get it - YANBU

At the same time Easter and Christmas have shifted to mean something else culturally. I believe that’s a very common phenomenon in society over years and years. Aren’t a lot of pagan derived traditions rooted in modern society also? (Genuine question)

Everything in our lives is over commercialised don’t see why Easter and. Christmas should be any different. Whether we like it or not, livelihoods depend on it.

OP, you are free to observe Easter in the way that is important to you.

As an atheist I celebrate Easter because it is deep in my ‘cultural calendar’, a Spring time to get together, celebrate new growth, note the religious significance for those who observe, and the origins, Christian and Pagan.

I also object to the consumerism, the massively over packaged over priced low grade chocolate etc. But that’s true of so many things, not just Easter, and I like to think that those with and without faith can work together to establish what is important, sustainable and constructive in our society.

@DanielGault if you drink ten shots from it are you are guaranteed a place in heaven!

I think it's good. This is not a de facto Christian country any more and the victorious atheist side should salvage the good bits (Easter, Christmas) while we jettison the bad.

It must be very difficult living in your brain.

All Christian festivals were deliberately timed when Pagan or other (ie Roman) religious festivals happened. So Christmas, Easter, Harvest, St Valentines etc. It was done so that you would be too busy thinking about Jesus to be celebrating your old religion.

Christians also built their churches on Pagan religious spaces, like temples. That’s why they have ancient yew trees and things like emnhora in their churchyards.

It was a well conducted and deliberate campaign which was insanely successful.

Nobody is forcing anyone to do anything. If someone, as a devout Christian, finds all this capitalism offensive, they are entirely free to ignore it. And go to mass. Which is apparently all they want in the first place. What others choose to do is none of their concern.

1st Commandment, I am the Lord thy God, thou shall not worship false gods* before me. Or something.
*It meant money, individualism etc.

Easter eggs & baskets aren’t Christian symbolism. Pagan celebrations of spring and fertility are way older than Christianity