That saying "Happy Easter" is out of place?

[Ethicaldebacle]

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!)

They're spreading happiness. It's harmless.

If someone knows that you are Jewish, and when the main religious festivals of Judaism are, then I think they should not have sent such a message.

Passover is not unknown to many people, after all it is what determines the date of Easter.

Spreading joy, no?

My neighbours always bring around sweets for their Muslim celebrations, I'm not Muslim but we accept happily because it's a nice thing to share.

Are they proselytising Christians or just wishing you a happy holiday?

I'm an atheist and my friend is a Methodist lay preacher. She occasionally sends me an Easter card. I see it as her sharing her love for me. I think she knows that my lack of belief in God is unlikely to be changed by a piece of folded paper.

Belated chag peisach sameach

I said it on Friday to my DD’s friend’s mother who, if I think about it, is probably of the Hindu faith (if of any at all). I’m not religious; it was just meant in a “hope you enjoy the long bank holiday weekend” sort of way. I do hope I didn’t cause offence as I really didn’t mean to!

From a colleague on Thursday, I’d maybe accept it in a “enjoy the four day weekend” way.

Otherwise, very rude.

People now send and share random good wishes.
Happy mothers’ day to women who aren’t their mother. Happy Eid to people who aren’t Muslim.
It’s become a seasonal ‘have a nice day’. Many people join in with observing festivals which aren’t their own- secular observance I guess. Most people celebrating Easter aren’t Christian so it wouldn’t occur to them.

Does it really bother you? If so, I suppose replying ’sorry, we don’t celebrate’ is the option.

I think that's fair enough I'd have sent a happy holiday message instead that's less specific.

This exactly. Our neighbour does the same. We think it's lovely

It kind of does. I've never thought of Easter as being secular (unlike Xmas). I send a photo of our dog saying likewise.

We’re atheists. Some friends and family wish us happy Easter. Can’t get worked up about it.

Unless you have good reason to suspect they’re somehow trolling you, it’s ridiculous to take offence over this.

I’m embarrassingly ignorant of religions. I wouldn’t mean to cause offence to anyone, but often put “happy Easter” “have a lovely Christmas” etc at the bottom of emails. Just to be pleasant really.

im not religious at all myself and would take no offence to being wished happy Easter etc.

as someone else said, unless they are trying to push their own religious agenda on you, I wouldn’t take offence

I would say it is these days. Chocolate, chicks, bunnies etc.

Barely any of the people eating eggs have Jesus in mind!
The Easter Bunny is probably more widely recognised!

I’m Christian and my observance is religious, but I’m the exception on my street. Out of a village of 4000, I’d say 30 people came to church. The other 3,970 still had hot cross buns and chocolate though!

I think for the vast majority, it’s a secular affair of Lindt eggs and the Easter Bunny.

As a believer in Yeshua as messiah we celebrate the passover too but at Easter we reject the non religious parts and just listen to the resurrection message. I love marking the biblical feast days like God says.

They’re your friends so presumably won’t have meant to offend you. Take it in the spirit it was likely given.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

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