I am not religious and I do not have kids, so Easter has little real significance in my house.
Whether I subscribe or not, I respect the religious significance of the holiday as well as Passover which slightly proceeds it and ends after. For many it is an extremely spiritual time of the year… Of course the manufactured holiday makers do not let any religious holiday go by without commercializing it as well. Christmas gets Santa and Easter has a bunny and some baby chicks. Cards and candy are sold by the 100s of millions and regardless of what the holiday means to you, the reminders to somehow celebrate it are omnipresent.
I have already written about my dislike for manufactured holidays. Using the innocence of kids to sell toys, easter baskets , candy and greeting cards is pretty low on my list, but the religious and spiritual nature of the holiday generally prevent me from going too far in on my disdain for the holiday, since it really is supposed to be so much more than what is otherwise manufactured.
What I do like about the week leading up to Easter Sunday is that people. much like Christmas, are generally so much nicer. Kids and teachers are off. Many people have lighter work loads, traffic is less heavy, and either because of their religious views or to take advantage of their younger kids having the time off of school, families vacation.
Either by design or default, it is a time many families come together. Again, it is either part of religious observances or just traditional celebrations for kids. While the commercialization behind manufactured holidays is bothersome, I am never mad at days that bring families together and closer.
As our world continues to change and the distractions offered by technology ironically often drive us apart even while marketed as devices that can easier keep us in touch, it is important to maintain traditions that keep us together and engaged. There is an easter celebration in my community and, the fun that the kids have, painting their faces searching for either eggs and having an excuse to overdose on chocolate, is endearing.
I haven’t softened my stance on manufactured holidays, and I am devoutly non-religious (but indeed spiritual). However, in part because I respect the religious viewpoints of others, it is hard to dislike a holiday that has such special meanings to so many. Passover and Easter bring out the best in many. My neighbors are extra friendly during the week and how can you ever be mad at people being extra nice… I can’t.
So in the proper spirit of what the holiday is supposed to be… I wish all a happy Easter and blessed Passover. These high holy days literally are celebrated by over a billion people worldwide (There are an estimated 15 million Jews and 1.2 Billion Catholics worldwide). The deeply spiritual nature of the holiday should be respected (as well as any of the high holy days observed by the estimated 1.6 billion Muslims, nearly 23% of the earth’s population, worldwide), instead of any demonizing rants against the easter bunny and commercialization of manufactured holidays. For today, at least, I play nice.
#Easter, #Passover, #holidays, #spirituality, #religion, #Catholics, #Jews, #Muslims, #manufactured holidays
