Athiests/ Pagans- how do you celebrate Easter?

[atthestrokeoftwelve]

Just a question for anyone celebrating Easter this year but in a secular or otherwise way- what do you do with your family?

we don't celebrate Easter. The kids get chocolate all year round and I won't pay extra for fancy packaging. Hot cross buns have been in the shops since Xmas so there's nothing to anticipate there. We always have a Sunday lunch for extended family so, again, nothing special

But the cross is such a ubiquitous symbol used in ancient Greece, Celtic Mythology that I don't think christians can solely lay claim to it.
Archeological remains of hot cross buns have been found in ancient Greece- before the time of Jesus's birth.

I spend the day reverently reading the collected works of the prophet Hitch whilst drinking copious amounts of whisky. Then I recite His Holy Mantra "that which is asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence". Amen.

Doctortwo - you don't celebrate christmas either then?

doctortwo

I found a reference to two loaves of bread, found in Herculaneum, which had crosses in the top - these have been linked by some people to Hot Cross buns, though it seems rather a tenuous link to me - after all, we put crosses on the top of loaves to help the shape stay uniform when they rise, not because the cross is a symbol of anything.

Alternatively, you could try reading the story in the gospels; it's actually very moving

Oh yes, it's delightful. Universe creating entity decides to have himself sacrificed to himself by being beaten in the most gory way possible before being hung on a cross to slowly suffocate under the weight of his own lungs. So moving because this horrible thing was the greatest sacrifice anyone has ever made - dying for our sins, amazing. Although he didn't actually die because he was up and walking three days later, so as sacrifices go, this was a bit feeble really.

The most moving bit for me, though, is hearing about what happened to Judas - the great hero of the story, without whom "the great sacrifice that never was" would not have happened - something about hanging himself from a tree and/or spilling out his entrails all over a field.

Ah, the magic of the Easter story

OP - no, we don't celebrate it at all. Nice having time off work and all that, but we don't really eat chocolate and we don"t like hot cross buns, so it sort of bypasses us completely.

I celebrate Christmas by commemorating the birth of Dawkins, who, let's face it, is not fit to lace Hitch's drinks.

I didn't know that was an annual festival.

So you don't have christmas trees, stockings etc?

is not fit to lace Hitch's drinks.

Christmas tree - German tradition. Dates to pre-Christian festivals of light, which every seasonal culture has held in midwinter.

Gifts in stockings - Unrelated to any religion.

Santa Claus - Part of ancient Nordic traditions; has changed shape & purpose a lot since then. Fat man with beard & red coat was invented by Coca-Cola.

Idol worship - Christian. I do not have a crib scene.

Easter bunnies - Symbol of Spring everywhere, nothing to do with religion. Same for early flowers, etc.

Easter eggs - Old tradition in many cultures, nothing to do with christianity.

Chocolate - Nothing to do with religion, unless you were an Aztec.

Idol worship - Christian. I do not celebrate the violent deaths of a preacher and some other vagabonds.

HTH

Hey Garlic, I would be really interested to find out more about the origins of the traditions you have mentioned there. Obviously I can just google, but is there anything in particular that you know of that you can recommend?

Part of the Santa thing is from Dutch tradition- Sinterklass. This is where the red and white comes from, not from Coca Cola although they don't go out of their way to correct the urban myth.

Thanks, msr, but it looks as if you should follow EauRouge's information!

Why would you need to celebrate it? It is a very important Christian festival,(admittedly pasted on to pagan festivals) but if you don't believe why bother? Alternatively you could try reading the story in the Gospels; it's actually very moving.

That's a really peculiar post.

I am a devout atheist and most cultural holidays (including Easter) I use to celebrate my family and we make an effort to connect and spend time together. I bother because I believe that the world will be a better place if humans take responsibility for the world around them and make more good decisions than bad. Part of that is nurturing your friend and family relationships by making an effort to spend time with them.

I have read the gospels didn't find it moving though it has some nice moral stories which are nearly as good as Buddha's teachings in places. But didn't find it at all moving. Little Women on the other hand makes me weep like a baby.

Which saviour's resurrection are these ancient Babylonians celebrating OP?

The one that discovered bread yeast, Courtney, allowing them to bake hot-cross buns a few thousand years ahead of schedule.

I made a Mumsnetter laugh! Hurrah!

I am working this Easter, all through. We don't celebrate, but give my seven year old chocolate eggs.