Commercialized Easter

Today is Easter and although its origins lie in Christianity and the rebirth of Jesus it has been commercialized. It has taken a lighter more commercialized twist. When little kids think of Easter they don’t think of Jesus, angels and crosses. Instead, they think of bunnies, eggs, candy, and chocolate. Easter, like many other religious holidays have lost many of its deep religious ties and is more often celebrated as a day of fun. It is often seen as a day filled with dying Easter eggs and Easter egg hunts. Little kids wake up early in the morning to search the house to look and see if the Easter bunny left them some treats and presents. Also in preparation for Easter at the malls “the Easter bunny” sits on a big chair while little kids are forced to sit on its lap to take a picture. It’s almost like Christmas in the sense that the Easter Bunny is like Santa Clause. I mean sure they are fun and lighter symbols of these holidays, but I really don’t see the connection. How does the Easter bunny relate to the rebirth of Christ? I’m not saying that we should not have the Easter bunny or make Easter into a fun holiday, but by doing so the real meaning gets lost. It seems like on the outside it has just become a commercial holiday. It is an excuse for companies like many candy companies to make a huge profit.

I am a prime example of a kid experiencing the commercialized Easter holiday. Ever since I was young I would wake up early in the morning and run outside to look to see if the Easter bunny left me a treat. Sometimes I would get a stuffed bunny rabbit, and sometimes I would get an Easter basket filled with candy shaped in various Easter shapes (rabbits, eggs, flowers etc). Next, I would wake my sister up and we would dye our Easter eggs. We always competed to see who could dye the prettiest, most creative egg. I would always dye my first egg all pink. Then I would color multi colored eggs and I would even write my name on one. After I finished coloring my share of hard boiled eggs I picked out my least favorite eggs, cracked them and made egg salad sandwiches with it. After lunch, my sister and I would stay in the house while my mom and dad would hide plastic Easter eggs filled with prizes. We would then have our Easter egg hunt. These many activities are prime examples of the commercialized Easter. We all look forward to holidays like Easter but do we look forward to the candy and Easter egg hunts or do we look forward to celebrating the true Christian roots of Easter? Personally I really enjoy the commercialized activities of Easter but I can’t help but think of how these activities detract from the true reasons for Easter.