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!)

And the joy of the Resurrection.

Maybe they’re just as religiously ignorant as me, I had no idea Jewish people didn’t celebrate Easter

@thisfilmisboring123 This stuns me. What do you think Easter celebrates?

I think you just have to accept you are living in a multicultural society. I am an atheist. I love Easter because we celebrate the bank holiday in a non religious way with family, Easter eggs and lovely meal.

Yes it does symbolise the cross.

But it’s also still true that many Christians don’t embrace the use of it.

Going into denominations would be a derail

Mine is into all the symbols

That’s also true and probably where it originally came from.

She wasn't overthinking, but being kind and considerate. I did the same with Seasons Greetings cards for my Muslim neighbours, who always sent us a Christmas card and gift.

I don’t think it’s inappropriate to say Happy Easter to people in general, e.g, strangers who serve you in shops. The Easter bank holiday is a national and cultural holiday, as well as a religious one. To me, it’s the same as living in an Islamic country and people saying Eid Mubarak.

However, I think it’s less appropriate to send a personal Happy Easter message to friends who actively practice another faith. Thoughtless, but presumably well meant. Though not the crime of the century.

By the looks of what I read here, the existence of chocolate bunnies and eggs.

I hope they at least had the decency to back their thoughtless sentiment up with some seasonal spring chocolate eggs for the kiddies.

We’re an orthodox Jewish family but live in a largely Christian/Catholic community. Our non Jewish friends are great - they make a huge effort to learn about our culture and celebrations and are sensitive about stuff like not bringing food to our house. Some have even gone so far as to make sure their kids’ parties aren’t on Saturdays so mine can attend. That said they all wish us happy Easter and happy Christmas. It’s not malicious, it’s just what most people around us are celebrating (most of our friends are atheist and still celebrate both in a secular way).

The only time I take it as nefarious is from messianics but that’s an entirely different issue.

Whatever, I'm just repeating what the vicar told us at my C of E primary school in the 1970s/80s 😁

mine do the same and we also exchange Christmas gifts. This year their absolute sweetheart of a little girl made me an Easter card and gave me a basket of chocolate that she had decorated. Brought a tear to my eye.

Without Jewish people we wouldn't have Easter.
Jesus was Jewish.
The crowd who called for his crucification were mostly Jewish.
Mary and the disciples Jewish.

Well Jesus dying and all that jazz.

Now when I say it aloud, then yes apologies it is pretty obvious why it’s not a Jewish festival.
Genuinely just never given it a second thought.

I think the OP should write for the Daily Mail (assuming they don't already).

That's the only time I ever read about people apparently taking offence at these things.

Meanwhile, people everywhere are just respectfully acknowledging friendly greetings from people of all religions and races.

And spreading a bit of happiness.

Echoing what others have said, but I really don’t think there was any ill will, or even thoughtlessness in your friends’ comments. I am atheist, but I think it’s nice when people share a greeting celebrating their holiday (and often some sort of tasty treat). Surely it’s a kind, community spirited thing to do?

I did nothing to mark Easter in any way whatsoever, but I did enjoy having a cheeky day off and buying myself some reduced Lindt eggs in Sainsbury’s this morning.

We don't even call Easter eggs Easter eggs at home, we call them "seasonal spring chocolate eggs" I know I’m missing the point of the thread entirely, but do you give your DC chocolate accompanied by a cheery ‘now don’t eat your seasonal spring chocolate eggs all at once children, or you’ll spoil your dinner’? What’s with the seasonal spring bit? Was chocolate eggs not specific enough? 😁

To actually answer your question, I personally wouldn’t wish a happy Easter to someone if I knew they were of a faith that wasn’t Christian. But I think the real question would be whether or not she said it in thoughtlessness or with malice. I’m assuming there’s no malice or anti semitism in them or you wouldn’t be friends. I think it’s a case of them thinking of you, wanting to wish you well and assuming that you do what the vast majority of the UK do and treat it as a non religious event that involves a bit of chocolate. Which you do, even if you have got a daft name for that chocolate.

I think you handled it in a really lovely way by replying like that and I’d try to think of it as them as thinking of Easter as a chocolate related event that they don’t associate with religion. In fact, I think I’d go as far as to say you’re being a bit of a crap friend by being annoyed with them. If they know you buy your DC eggs at Easter time, and they don’t think of it as a religious event, why would it occur to them that you’d be offended by being wished a happy Easter by someone who probably also only buys eggs? You’re marking the event in the exact same way they do.

If they aren’t messaging you to wish you a happy Passover, or any other important events in the Jewish calendar, then maybe it would be nice to tell them about your life a little bit more. Tell them that your family are celebrating Passover and what it means to you, so that they can wish you a happy x, y, or z and you can do the same when wishing them a happy x, y or z.

Also, I’m happy to be corrected but I believe that name originated from Paganism, not Christianity. I’m pretty sure that the Pagans weren’t celebrating Jesus, so getting the hump because someone wished you a happy Easter instead of a happy long weekend strikes me as being a bit silly.

I work in a hospital, the staffing on our unit is a diverse mix of cultures and religions. I worked good Friday and we all wished each other Happy Easter, have a great Easter weekend etc. I worked the night shift on Eid and the Muslim reg on shift brought in treats to share, we all wished each other happy Eid! I was raised Catholic but I'm not practicing. It was lovely and couldn't even imagine getting offended at someone wishing me a happy Eid. Enjoy it in the spirit it was meant.

I didn’t realise until Covid and I was watching a lot of Jewish box sets that the majority of Jewish people don’t believe in Jesus or celebrate his life. I don’t necessarily think it’s obvious.

The intent of the good wishes is what matters. I live in a largely Muslim neighbourhood. I receive Eid Mubarak cards and food from neighbours and I send out Christmas cards in return, we also wish each other Merry Christmas or Happy Eid in person. Nobody chooses to be offended and take the good wishes as they are meant.

It became very tongue I check when I said we don't celebrate Easter at home, and on any case of call them that. A bit like our tradition of the Hanukkah bush

We're not religious, we just enjoy the extra chocolatey goodies, roast dinner and wish everyone a Happy Easter , the same at Christmas we enjoy gifts and good food and wish people a Happy Christmas. It's spreading good cheer which is much needed these days.
Please lighten up, not every phrase is offensive .You can say happy Easter & Christmas whatever religion you choose to follow if you want to, or just don't say it if you don't want to, say nothing. Don't choose to be offended by friends or family wishing you some joy, that's a pretty and miserable way to live your life

I live and work with people from all over the world. They wish me ‘happy (insert current festival)’ and I wish them ‘happy Easter/christmas/solstice/insert current festival’. It’s usually those celebrating who do the initial ‘wishing’ and then that sentiment is returned. Eid isn’t my festival so it would seem odd for me to get in there first, but if someone celebrating wished me ‘Eid Mubarak’ I would say it back.

It doesn’t seem that complicated to me, and it’s nice to be included - and to include - others in important celebrations. Just send them a ‘happy X’ message next time you are celebrating. It’s really not that deep!

Surely the intent is the nice part. They're being kind and wishing you a happy celebration. Muslim and Hindu neighbors wish us happy Eid, Diwali etc. We don't take any offence.

Lolz at the eggs you call seasonal chocolate eggs though.