Is it silly to do an Easter basket?

august06mom

I was raised Jewish and am currently non-practicing. DH was raised as a Christian and is now an atheist. We have not settled on a religion that we will raise our kids (if there will be one at all). We usually celebrate the Jewish holidays with my family because my mom hosts them, and the Christian ones with his family because his family hosts most of them.

That said, DS (4.5) was crushed when he asked if he was getting an Easter basket and I said no. It had not crossed my mind to give him one because I never received one as a kid, and I know DH isn't going to make him one (he thinks it's just another excuse for crap trinkets and candy, both of which DS could go without). But I felt bad when DS told me how excited he was for Easter, and I told him that we don't celebrate it. It was like telling him that there is no Santa.

Do any non-Christian moms here do an Easter basket? I know there's nothing religious at all about the Easter bunny, but it seems strange to me to give him a gift for a holiday we won't go to church for, or even celebrate with family. (DH's family is always away this time of year.) On the other hand, I love jelly beans ...

WWTBD? (What would the bunny do?)

DevonPow

We give Easter baskets, color eggs, and do egg hunts each year, but we are not religious AT ALL. DS has no concept that there is a religious meaning behind any of it, and we don't really celebrate Easter in any other way. I just think it is fun.

Also, yesterday we colored eggs and did and egg hunt with his BFF, who is Jewish, His friend had seen "Hop" and really wanted to color eggs after seeing it - again, no religious connotation, just a fun activity

j-w

DevonPow:

We give Easter baskets, color eggs, and do egg hunts each year, but we are not religious AT ALL. DS has no concept that there is a religious meaning behind any of it, and we don't really celebrate Easter in any other way. I just think it is fun.

Ditto!

UGAbride

We do celebrate the meaning of Easter and go to church, etc...however, I don't think the Easter Bunny has anything to do with that!  Two totally separate things, that actually I struggle with how to relate them together (ie. large bunny hid some eggs for you and left you a basket with candy and presents, now let's go to church and remember that Jesus is Risen too...busy day!). 

TheNextWest

We are Christians, but I agree... the bunny/egg/basket/candy/etc part of Easter isn't related to religion at all. It's just for fun! And while it's true, none of our kids need anymore junk (candy or otherwise), I'm sure, it's just fun for everybody and nice family time!

 

My oldest DD and I had this conversation last year:

DD1-  "Easter is about Jesus dying and being alive again, right?"

Me- "Right."

DD1- "And that makes people want to wear bright colors and eat chocolate eggs?"...

Me- "Umm...Right."

DD1- "OK."

 

Ha. I mean, I don't get the connection, why try to talk my way into one for her?! lol. It's fun

joy143dh

DevonPow:

We give Easter baskets, color eggs, and do egg hunts each year, but we are not religious AT ALL. DS has no concept that there is a religious meaning behind any of it, and we don't really celebrate Easter in any other way. I just think it is fun.

exactly. We are doing a easter egg hunt that morning too and attending an Easter supper too.... but we are not religious at all. Just enjoy the festivities and the excuse to see our Florida family.

Littlejen22

Just do something small, a small Lindts Chocolate bunny, a few jelly beans, some bubbles and chalk or something similarly small.  I am Catholic and we are totally not practicing, mostly for laziness if that makes sense.  I will always do a basket but refuse to make Easter another Christmas as far as gift giving and do not understand people spending a fortune on gifts...and both my kids are December babies so if ever someone needed an excuse to buy gifts in a different month it would be me!