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!)

In a previous post you say that you do but Easter eggs for the children so it isn’t quite true that you don’t celebrate the Easter period in some way.
you may not do this in any religious way - like the majority of people tbh - but you engage in the secular side of it, as you do Christmas.

dep if it’s an individual message or they have sent it as a group message/bcc

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

Sure you do. 👀

I would find that out of place. But they may just be a bit thoughtless?

Hard to say - to me Easter has more a secular meaning nowadays, just like Christmas. For example, children often have an Easter Egg hunt at schools regardless of religion. (Personally, I have Jewish, Orthodox Christian and even Ultra Orthodox Christian background, and married into a CofE family with generations of vicars - I am quite a mix haha). It’s either them being a bit forgetful/daft even (what with your explanation). Or do you think your relationship is taking a turn and they are becoming a bit antisemitic? If the latter, obviously distance yourself.

its a shame we don't live in France where the same word, Paque, is used for Easter and Passover.

I would think someone is very thoughtless if they wished me Happy Easter. We are a very religious Jewish family, we don't eat Easter eggs or celebrate it in any way. And since Easter often coincides with Passover, it would be far more appropriate to wish me Happy Passover (as many have done).

I wouldn't be upset, but it would be weird.

Happy chametz eating day for my Jewish friends.

As a Christian I do not wish people happy Easter anyway, seems weird to do so. Nor has there ever been an Easter bunny, weird modern American tradition. Eggs yes but not brought by any mythical creature 😁

You can take it in the spirit it was intended - so joyful, inclusive, friendly - or you can choose to take offence. The choice is entirely yours.
They probably don’t know what ( if any ) greeting or wish would be appropriate at Passover. I wouldn’t either.

I think you’re being completely ridiculous (and I’m Jewish too). I am perfectly happy to be wished a happy Easter, Christmas, Diwali, Chinese New Year etc.

In any case,"Easter" may be nominally a Christian festival but it is now just a general Spring celebration to many (or else what's all the emphasis on bunnies, chicks, eggs, chocolate about?) The same is true for Christmas and winter festivals with all the stuff about Santa, gifts, reindeer, robins, snowy scenes etc.

When people wish you a happy Easter they’re talking about the few days involved, not the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. It’s an expression of kindness, and to be annoyed about it is just looking for something to be insulted about.

yet they sent a message of happy Easter. Isn't this out of place? (They even knew we just had a Passover Seder!)

The country you live in, although it welcomes diversity, it is a Christian country that celebrates Easter, it has an Easter bank Holiday, where people get a 4 day holiday, they do not work, they may even have paid holidays (for those lucky enough to have paid benefits). People are far more likely to be aware Easter is occurring, even if they don't celebrate it, they may be off work, they will have seen the adverts on TV for supermarkets etc.

So no it's not out of place to be wished Happy Easter. It is bad that they didn't wish you a Happy Passover - that's on them.

However , This country doesn't have a Passover Bank holiday (or the tv adverts making people aware something is happening). So although you may celebrate that holiday, the country itself doesn't.

Saying this not as a Christian.

Happy Passover works fine.

YABU. Easter isn’t a massively religious holiday in the UK, and they’re just being nice.

Exactly! In Spanish it's the same "Pascuas". And thank you! I finally had a beautiful bagel with salmon and cream cheese! Tired of matzah brei!

It comes across as looking to take offence.,

Do you get worked up about absolutely everything? Someone has sent something to you in a joyous spirit and you whine about it. Get over yourself.

You are meshugge in kop. Or just pretentious.

Only Jewish people who keep Passover know the joy of toast or pizza or bagels the day after. (or a late night reward for putting the passover dishes away! we had pizza at midnight)

Christmas and Easter are both Christian festivals that are also celebrated by atheists and other religions. If someone celebrated Christmas I wouldn't see anything wrong with wishing them a happy Easter. I think it would be very unreasonable for someone to be offended at being wished a happy Easter when they celebrate Christmas.

Also, some Christians keep Passover. I met a Christian buying matza before Passover.

As a brown person, I frequently get people saying Happy Eid to me (I'm not Muslim) and I always say happy eid/eid mubarak to you too back. And I got five Happy Easter text messages yesterday including from the class WhatsApp groups and I'm not Christian either. Seasonal spring eggs sounds absurd. Like a Christmas tree is not a green winter tree, it's just a Christmas tree or diyas for Diwali are just diyas, they are not 'earthern ware vessels for light'. My children are well aware we are not Christian, and I don't do the Easter bunny and are happy to scoff chocolate Easter eggs or ask for an 'advent calendar'.
In my head, the more the festivals, more feasting, the better! The world is miserable enough as it is...

We call the Christmas tree a Hanukkah bush. Although it's more like a lit up olive tree with white and blue decorations.

This I'm afraid they meant nothing by it just a nice message.

I got some messages about Eid (I’m not Muslim which they know) from a few of my neighbours and they sent around food. I’ve sent them some Easter cake and good wishes. Neither of us are offended or upset. But maybe just send back a message saying mon Jewish holiday messages are distressing to you and I imagine they’ll never do it again?!

You don't do yourself any favors by bothering yourself and being offended by the cultural/religious events in your community.
Really, there is more in the world to to take the huff about