Easter is a holiday that means a lot of things to a lot of different people. For religious Christians, it is the day that Jesus Christ is believed to have Risen from the dead and gained Eternal Life for our sins. For some, it is a holiday that means free candy and egg hunts. For others, it’s a holiday where you dress in your “Sunday best” and head off to a relative’s house for family time and tradition you may or may not believe in. For some others, it is just another Sunday that people make a big deal about for no reason at all. Easter can be any combination of these or maybe even none of them. For me, Easter is a holiday that reminds me of family, faith, and my own identity.
Easter, like Christmas, is a religious holiday that became easily commercialized in our secularized world. A day rooted in deep Christian tradition is now more commonly marketed to our consumer culture as a hallmark of spring. Cards are printed in pastel colors, bunnies bound across our television screens in ads, and community activities center around Easter egg hunts that give children a chance to run around in warm weather and receive candy, toys, or money. All of this is great. It’s a lot of fun to watch kids enjoy the first real holiday of spring, and I don’t know what I would do without my seasonal supply of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Eggs; however, I think it is important that we not lose sight of the deeper meaning that Easter holds for many people.
I’m not saying that if you are not a religious or Christian person you can’t celebrate Easter. It’s a holiday like any other and everyone should get to enjoy it in the way he or she wishes. People should realize, however, that Easter is the most important holiday in Christian tradition, and it therefore carries a lot of weight in the faith lives of many people. Even if you don’t believe in the religious connotation of what Easter symbolizes, it is important to respect the beliefs and traditions of others. If you don’t want to go to Church with your family or pray at the family gathering, you don’t have to, but be courteous and remember that the holiday means a lot. If you don’t understand what the holiday means, I’ve never met a person that won’t answer a question about their faith. People like to be asked about what they believe in and what they are passionate about.
For me, Easter is a time of faith and a time spent with family. My family is religious and actively practice our faith, and Easter is a great time of year to not only gather to celebrate our beliefs but also to spend time as a family. We go to church together and share a family meal. Nothing too fancy, but just good quality time spent together before everyone runs their separate ways to prepare for finals and summer vacation. This family time and this holiday remind me why I still choose to practice and believe in the faith I was raised in as well as my personal values.