Easter gifts

[Breakingpoint1961]

When did an Easter egg turn into Easter 'gifts'?

When I was young I'd get an Easter egg if I was lucky (I am old) but nowadays kids get gifts/money too? Why, just why??

I'm waiting to see all the (very expensive) 'gifts' my DGS has been given by my DDs in laws.

Well Easter eggs are themselves a very commercial, expensive by weight type of chocolate aren't they? Why do people bother giving them, when a bar of chocolate would do, or a boiled egg even? 'Gifts' aren't necessarily more expensive than Easter eggs. And even big gifts like trainers might be used as, you know, trainers.. so each to their own I guess.

@LawrieForShepherdsBoy thing is I can 'match' anything they give, it's not about that, more about what is of value, and I think it's about the thought not the value, but people these days seem to think 'bigger is better' not for me but each to their own..

Started this thread to see what people gave as gifts that's all.

You mentioned your DD’s in-laws in your op and talked about the gifts they gave dgc in your next post, so I don’t think it was unreasonable of me to assume that the strength of your feelings was linked to the way they celebrate Easter.

In my family since Easter was stablish in Christianity or since my family was created whichever is younger.
On Palm day kids bless a palm that is given on that Sunday or next Sunday to the Godfather and Godmother who give them gifts in return. It use to be a bay leaves palm and a basket of chicken eggs in return when the culture of consumerism wasn't a thing and money was scarce. Now a days is a fancy palm made by palm tree leaves and chocolates toys etc in return. In the absence of Godparents, Grandparents do and did the role.

Thank you. Not that I need to justify our choices but I’ll explain them here.

I don’t actually buy the eggs as I’m vegan so don’t buy them for anyone unless they’re happy with vegan ones.

Instead I buy gifts. I bought my daughter the trainers (vegan) and clothing and gave both kids cash. The reason she got them was because she’s autistic and we finally found things she was happy with. It’s hard finding things that don’t itch or cause pain.

My partner bought our son a phone and purchased the chocolate eggs. His previous phone was 5 years old and struggling with apps for university. On previous years they have received more, in others less depending on what they need. My children have no expectation for it to be something bigger than last year. My daughter is very ethical/eco minded. We share our present buying out over the year as my autistic child finds too much at one time, like Xmas, too overwhelming.

We also made an extra donation to a dog charity like we do every Easter, Xmas and Summer.

It was quite the leap by the OP and other posters to go on the attack but they’ve only embarrassed themselves.

I'm 45 and we got Easter gifts and curtains eve boxes and new clothes (several outfits) for each Christmas and Easter. We also got a brand new summer wardrobe on may the 1st . Every other Easter we got a new bike/scooter as we got more use out of them in the summer than in miserable January.

I've been blindsided by this this year (DS is 18mths) as in laws all got him big bags of presents... me and DH were bit baffled as we both thought easter was eggs for the kids and thats about it... my parents just get us/DS an egg and card so more low key and im already thinking how to explain the difference in future to DS as dont want him expecting christmas levels of presents every easter which will only come from one side of family 🙈

If you bring him up with good manners, he’ll be grateful for anything he receives. One side of our family gives much more than the other for all occasions, my children have never mentioned it.

This is new to me too. I only ever got an egg, as did DH. DC get one small egg from us, and maybe an Easter themed thing eg small teddy or Lego some years if we're trying to reduce chocolate consumption! They occasionally get an Easter egg from grandparents as well.

We consciously aim not to give too many gifts at any time of year, we don't want to encourage consumerism among our DC.

I remember back in the early 90s desperately wanting the new star trek deep space nine video release and telling mum to please get me that instead of a chocolate egg.

I got a chocolate egg 😆 I was so very disappointed.

I got my kids a couple of eggs and a packet of reeces pieces. I wouldn't do gifts, I go all out at Xmas and that's plenty.

I care because there seems to be so much social pressure on parents to buy more stuff. And big business is rubbing its hands with glee. It's sickening.

I don’t think I’ve embarrassed myself. It’s ok to disagree.

giving kids small gifts / money has been a tradition in my family for ages and I know plenty of people who do the same - I'd never thought someone would have an issue with something like this

especially if parents actually hope to reduce amount of sugar their kids eat

Is there some sort of rule book that tells us what we can and can't buy? You only received chocolate eggs ...does that mean we all have to do the same and forever?
Traditions change over time and we all pick what we want to do and what we spend our money on. I spend almost £2000 and take my kid to centre parcs at Easter, he gets easter eggs and easter presents. Yes....I've even had an easter tree! I couldn't care less what other people do or what money they can and can't spend.

Seems like your jealous of your daughter in laws parents given them more

I offer my kids eggs or money. One doesn't actually like Easter eggs.

I learned yesterday they do Easter baskets in America full of gifts? I suppose that will end up her eventually.

@Whyarepeoplesoweird it's actually 'you're' jealous..

Mine get an egg, never given gifts, just a long weekend for me, don’t always see family as they live 4hrs away and trains always down Easter weekend

I'm 70 and I got presents for Easter from my DPs

I did the same for my DC and now the same for DGC

It's just an excuse to give them something nice/needed really

You don't have to explain or draw attention to it

He just says 'Thank you' for whatever he gets to whoever gives it to him

I was a young child in the early '70's my only memories of Easter are getting the eggs that had buttons or smarties inside. I still buy them for myself, one sniff and shake and I'm 4 again, now that's magic!! I had lots of family, so I expect I got rather a lot of eggs...but I also expect my Dad 'helped' me out rather a lot. 😂. Possibly got a few small gifts from family, but it would have just been A colouring book or A packet of pencils type thing.

When I was a bit older we used to get PJ's as well, but it was one of my parents 'she needs winter PJ's we can wrap them up for Easter' 🐣 (didn't click to that until I was an adult!!😂) (we lived in NZ at that stage so heading into winter)

Some good memories of Easters which is lovely as I don't have much in the way of memories.

so Eggs & something 'useful' (like PJ's).🐣💁🏻‍♀️

As children we always had a book from parents and a t shirt from grandparents instead of a big egg, normally had a couple of crème eggs instead. Mine had an Easter egg hunt with a couple of toy cars included but no specific egg from us just what I did for the hunt. It's not a big gift buying thing but I try to cut down on too much chocolate.

I got DS a book and DD a small lego set.

PIL also got them a book instead of chocolate, and they got £10 each from my DM.

This is because my kids are weirdos who don't like chocolate!

I don't see the issue with trainers as I see those as necessities if you want to tie it into easter crack on.

On Saturday DSS got some trainers, a couple new jumpers, a couple new pairs of trousers and some new socks. This was all for the very exciting reason that he had gone though a growth spurt and needed new clothes.

Sometimes at Christmas for example we include things like socks and pyjamas in the kids stocking as they are essentials that can also tie in as presents. Trainers are more useful them a chocolate egg.

Edited to add my SIL usually gives my kids books as they have multiple allergies and she is scared of buying the wrong thing. I thinks the books are better then the 10 easter eggs DSS gets from various family members.

OH & absolutely NOTHING that requires too much thinking. Christmas & Birthdays stress me out far too much anyway.

i am hopeless at present buying!