Call me crazy, cynical or old-fashioned, but I just don't get the reasoning behind buying children presents for Easter. I was under the impression that we just finished buying Christmas gifts. Think about it. Just one month ago, we were spending our money on Valentine's Day gifts. Now this? The over-spending nature of consumers today is outrageous. And what's even more appalling is the number of people that are not only OK with it, but encourage others as well. Why do we as Americans feel the need to spend money on gifts for every minor holiday there is? I've even heard of people daring enough to spend frivolously on St. Patty's Day gifts. My biggest question — where does the consumerism end?
Hear me out. I'm aware we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic and not all parents want their kids scarfing down a 1-pound Reese's egg every year, along with all the other candy found in colorfully decorated eggs. And I'm certainly not knocking the people who want an alternative to the overused and all too abundant candy in eggs. However, why does the alternative to giving too much candy have to be a full-sized present and not something as small as Easter stickers, little figurine toys/fake tattoos or pennies in an egg?
To further validate my point, I would also like to reiterate how much children usually receive the rest of the year during holidays besides Easter. When I was younger, I was lucky if we even had an Easter egg hunt. I've seen some of the huge pre-made Easter basket assortments they sell nowadays, and honestly, kids in 2016 should be happy they are getting anything. Most, if not all, kids today do not even know why Easter came to be or the reason behind the creation of said holiday. If they don't understand the meaning behind the holiday where they are getting such elaborate gifts, they will not question that, and it will foster the "take, take, take" (spoiled, for lack of a better term) mentality of holiday gifts and not the one where giving back is the main objective of the holiday.
Holidays like this usually end up inspiring consumers to buy whatever big box stores are selling. On the other hand, the worst thing is what they aren't selling. I've also heard of situations where people purchase little baby chicks or pet bunnies as a gift on Easter morning, neglecting the fact that a bunny or chick is just as much a responsibility and commitment as any other pet would be.
The problem is people just need to think and not always impulse shop or feel pressure by what others are getting for their kids/grandkids when they shop for gifts. Holidays are stressful, and some just seem to take what's supposed to be simple and fun and take it to the extreme. Easter is, besides the eggs and the cute bunnies and chicks you see advertised, about being with family, eating a sit-down meal with them and just spending some good, quality time together. You can't ever buy any one of those things in a store, but I promise it's the best investment you'll ever make during the holidays.
Happy Easter!
