[kirklancaster]

Easter is a Christian festival. The celebration is - not of Christ's death on the cross - but of his resurrection, and it does not matter how many times someone denies this or naively maintain that 'times change' it remains incontrovertible FACT.

The giving of eggs at Easter is a celebration of new life and represents the 'Death and Rebirth' element of the Resurrection.

The fact that - like Christmas - Easter has been abducted by materialistic non-believers and its simple pure message corrupted, does not mean that the original meaning is lost to a great many people around the world -- despite what some atheists claim to the contrary.

As Kaz has said; change is not always for the best, and we are now teaching our children to value materialism more than truth, and instead of instilling in them hope, we are creating massive problems for them which will trouble them throughout their lives; namely, false aspiration and expectation of materialistic possessions which only a very few of them will ever achieve, and which the majority of them, therefore are destined to eventually and inevitably feel like frustrated failures and 'worthless'.

Just like the subliminal effects of glossy advertising, reality TV shows and other media influences which 'condition' our kids to aspire to false and superficial 'ideals' based on materialistic possessions and 'designer' lifestyles, this 'hijacking' of Easter and Christmas and the conversion of their simple messages into ones of materialistic desire and greed, is a recipe for disaster.

Of course, some of you younger, brighter, more sophisticated people will disagree, but, hey; "C'est la vie".

[Pete.]

Easter should be Easter eggs imo. Toys and presents are a bit too far

[Natalie.]

I used to get a few Easter eggs off family and my parents and a new outfit.

[arista]

Josy


There is No God

[lily.]

Originally Posted by smudgie

Now when I think about it, when we were kids (way back in the dark age) we always got our first summer outfit for Easter, new white socks, white cardigan and a summery dress...we thought we had done well, crafty parents got brownie points for buying us clothes I guess, anyhow, I always done the same with my two, apart from buying our son the dress. Used to hopefor good weather at Easter so they could wear their Easter best.

I thought you were a guy until this sentence..

[Kizzy]

Happy Ostara

[Suze]

It is getting ridiculous, and just pushes some stupid parents trying to outdo each other, further into debt. What next, the tooth fairy leaving an X Box under the pillow?

[Coldwinter]

I really don't like how secular Easter and Christmas have become (especially Easter). It's like people only focus on the Easter Bunny rather than Jesus's Resurrection.

[GypsyGoth]

Originally Posted by MTVN

It is much more important for it is the day that Jesus rose from the dead and showed himself as the saviour for all of us

Originally Posted by Niamh.

He emerged from a giant chocolate egg

[Ross.]

Originally Posted by Suze

It is getting ridiculous, and just pushes some stupid parents trying to outdo each other, further into debt. What next, the tooth fairy leaving an X Box under the pillow?

Wouldn't surprise me tbh

[LukeB]

Originally Posted by Suze

It is getting ridiculous, and just pushes some stupid parents trying to outdo each other, further into debt. What next, the tooth fairy leaving an X Box under the pillow?

I think kids will not have any teeth left

[Ninastar]

Its because people are copying what the Americans do. In the states, the easter bunny doesn't bring eggs, he brings presents

to each their own, i say

[Josy]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Easter is a Christian festival. The celebration is - not of Christ's death on the cross - but of his resurrection, and it does not matter how many times someone denies this or naively maintain that 'times change' it remains incontrovertible FACT.

The giving of eggs at Easter is a celebration of new life and represents the 'Death and Rebirth' element of the Resurrection.

The fact that - like Christmas - Easter has been abducted by materialistic non-believers and its simple pure message corrupted, does not mean that the original meaning is lost to a great many people around the world -- despite what some atheists claim to the contrary.

As Kaz has said; change is not always for the best, and we are now teaching our children to value materialism more than truth, and instead of instilling in them hope, we are creating massive problems for them which will trouble them throughout their lives; namely, false aspiration and expectation of materialistic possessions which only a very few of them will ever achieve, and which the majority of them, therefore are destined to eventually and inevitably feel like frustrated failures and 'worthless'.

Just like the subliminal effects of glossy advertising, reality TV shows and other media influences which 'condition' our kids to aspire to false and superficial 'ideals' based on materialistic possessions and 'designer' lifestyles, this 'hijacking' of Easter and Christmas and the conversion of their simple messages into ones of materialistic desire and greed, is a recipe for disaster.

Of course, some of you younger, brighter, more sophisticated people will disagree, but, hey; "C'est la vie".

Isn't Easter another holiday taken from the pagans and the eggs actually symbolise 'eggs' from the godess of fertility, or something along those lines?

[LukeB]

If they have 1 tiny present and loads of eggs i think it's okay like i use to get a game/dvd/album(one of them) and loads of eggs when i was younger but i think a game console is a bit ott

[Marsh.]

It is bizarre.

My cousin was asking for money for Easter the other week and I thought "What instead of a £1 egg?"

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by lily.

I thought you were a guy until this sentence..

Awwwww, the cat is out of the bag now

[Livia]

Originally Posted by kirklancaster

Easter is a Christian festival. The celebration is - not of Christ's death on the cross - but of his resurrection, and it does not matter how many times someone denies this or naively maintain that 'times change' it remains incontrovertible FACT.

The giving of eggs at Easter is a celebration of new life and represents the 'Death and Rebirth' element of the Resurrection.

The fact that - like Christmas - Easter has been abducted by materialistic non-believers and its simple pure message corrupted, does not mean that the original meaning is lost to a great many people around the world -- despite what some atheists claim to the contrary.

As Kaz has said; change is not always for the best, and we are now teaching our children to value materialism more than truth, and instead of instilling in them hope, we are creating massive problems for them which will trouble them throughout their lives; namely, false aspiration and expectation of materialistic possessions which only a very few of them will ever achieve, and which the majority of them, therefore are destined to eventually and inevitably feel like frustrated failures and 'worthless'.

Just like the subliminal effects of glossy advertising, reality TV shows and other media influences which 'condition' our kids to aspire to false and superficial 'ideals' based on materialistic possessions and 'designer' lifestyles, this 'hijacking' of Easter and Christmas and the conversion of their simple messages into ones of materialistic desire and greed, is a recipe for disaster.

Of course, some of you younger, brighter, more sophisticated people will disagree, but, hey; "C'est la vie".

Sorry Kirk, I can't let you have this one.

Easter has been hijacked by non-believers but it was hijacked initially by Christians. Even the name 'Easter' refers to the Pagan fertility goddess Oestre, who's feast day is the Spring Equinox, March 21. The female hormone oestrogen is named for her and one of her symbols is, unsurprisingly, an egg. She was also associated with the hare... which became the Easter Bunny.

It does surprise me a little that non-believers would want to celebrate a religious holiday but these holidays have become a time for people to get together with loved ones and that can't be a bad thing.

[MB.]

Happy Boxing Day everyone.

[DemolitionRed]

I was mainly raised in France where Easter for the kids is about hunting out a handful of mini eggs in the garden. I had never seen a large chocolate egg until I spent Easter in the UK. For the adults its always been about a large family meal, lots of wine and good conversation. For some its about going to church but even in France that's less and less. Christmas, apart from the food and wine is also still a humble affair in France.

I'm not sure why so many of us Brits feel we have to shower our children with an expensive abundance of gifts for these two festivals. We are such a consumer driven society who create unreasonable expectations in our children. So many parents seem to be under this false illusion that expensive gifts represent their love for that child.

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by Livia

Sorry Kirk, I can't let you have this one.

Easter has been hijacked by non-believers but it was hijacked initially by Christians. Even the name 'Easter' refers to the Pagan fertility goddess Oestre, who's feast day is the Spring Equinox, March 21. The female hormone oestrogen is named for her and one of her symbols is, unsurprisingly, an egg. She was also associated with the hare... which became the Easter Bunny.

It does surprise me a little that non-believers would want to celebrate a religious holiday but these holidays have become a time for people to get together with loved ones and that can't be a bad thing.

I was avoiding answering Josy because it meant a (fairly ) long detailed post and now you have compelled me.

But later. (and I forgive you. )

[kirklancaster]

Originally Posted by DemolitionRed

I was mainly raised in France where Easter for the kids is about hunting out a handful of mini eggs in the garden. I had never seen a large chocolate egg until I spent Easter in the UK. For the adults its always been about a large family meal, lots of wine and good conversation. For some its about going to church but even in France that's less and less. Christmas, apart from the food and wine is also still a humble affair in France.

I'm not sure why so many of us Brits feel we have to shower our children with an expensive abundance of gifts for these two festivals. We are such a consumer driven society who create unreasonable expectations in our children. So many parents seem to be under this false illusion that expensive gifts represent their love for that child.

You echo my sentiments Red.

[Christmas Dynasnow]

my lot get eggs and that is it, never heard of gifts at easter. The 2 wee ones painted eggs and rolled them doon a brae.

[Jessica.]

I got one of my nieces a set of clothes, a card and an egg, but that is because I am her godmother. I just got all of the other kids eggs. I wouldn't really give more than clothes and chocolate.

In Portugal it's like a second Christmas, they give gifts to the kids and adults have family dinners etc..

[Shaun]

As a child I was just given eggs and my mum would take us to town to buy some clothes - something smart though for church

The idea that people buy consoles, toys and games is a bit depressing and just needlessly commercial tbh, and I'm with you on the objecting to the whole "post a picture of all of the presents on Facebook to one - up your friends" thing.

[Kizzy]

I don't see this as a religious festival, a spring festival maybe based on the cycles of death and rebirth of the earth, that is what has and is celebrated by many for thousands of years.