Entering the last days of Lent has many of us reflecting on the Passion of our Lord, as well as making preparations for our Easter celebration. After spending the Lenten season growing with Christ and detaching ourselves from this world, we are all eager to celebrate Christianity's most important feast day. But celebrating these days follows a less Christ-centered celebration and is more focused on the myths, make-believe, pastel packages, and materials gifts that commercialism so attractively markets.
When did Easter become a second Christmas? When did Easter become about a fluffy bunny delivering baskets full of treats, toys, and candy to children? In other words, the Easter Bunny is the Santa of Spring. But what does a bunny delivering baskets and eggs have to do with the Resurrection of Christ? Quite frankly, nothing. While both Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny are seen as symbols of giving, we need to be careful to not let those symbols take away from the true meaning of the day. Another point to bear in mind is their origins. The Easter Bunny comes from a mythical figure brought over by German immigrants in the late 1800s known as the “Ostcher Hare.” Santa Clause originates from a Catholic Bishop in Turkey who would bring gifts to children. While Saint Nick is associated with Christmas, it is much easier to tie this figure to the celebration of Christmas and do so in a way that keeps Christ's birth as the focal point whereas a cute bunny has no real logic when it comes to the Resurrection.
If you take a look at history you will find that eggs have always been seen as a symbol of new life. That makes sense. Through the Resurrection, mankind received new life, a new eternal life through our Saviour’s sacrifice in obtaining Heaven for us. So, that is why we see Easter eggs everywhere as their symbolism is tied to the new life that was gained for us, and countless other symbolism that is tied to the death and resurrection of our Lord. Now that I got my rant out of the way, how can one celebrate the most important day of the liturgical calendar without bringing in modern commercialism into the picture?
The answer is one I have been exploring in the past few years as my own little family grows and my husband and I have wanted to make Easter feel as special, and even more festive than Christmas, while not going down the materialistic or secular route. Slowly we have started to build up our own traditions that allow Easter Sunday to be a time that is spent in true celebration of the Resurrection. Like most, attending mass on Sunday is part of that tradition, but we have focused on that being the focal point of the day so we make it the first thing we do on the day of. We make the effort to dress for the occasion not for the attention of others but to be properly dressed to celebrate in the most grand way the sacrifice of the mass and the Resurrection of Christ. Afterwards, the day is spent in feasting and rejoicing as a family. We wanted to make the whole day one that is filled with constant celebratory moments rather than focusing on one big feast. The day is broken up into smaller moments that bring us together as a family and allow us to celebrate in a unified way while constantly building up the excitement and joy.
After attending mass, we enjoy a formal brunch with a nicely set table. We want to make this moment one that feels like a banquet, much like the feeling of a wedding banquet. We usually remain in our church clothes and enjoy a sit down brunch with all the trimmings like linen napkins, our best china, and some of our favorite dishes. This is the time to celebrate as a family the reason for the day, and making it feel special through visual components such as a nice tablescape can add that sense of grandness. It is also a great way to elevate the day to set it apart from other Sunday’s.
The early part of the afternoon is reserved for a delicious tea time. This is where we celebrate with the dessert that needed to wait until after feasting on a delicious brunch. It is also a beautiful way to once again bring the family together to celebrate as one. It is a more relaxed setting where the idea is for all to unwind, rest, and savor the beauty of the day while cherishing and making the most of that quiet time together. Tea time also gives everyone the opportunity to converse and spend time growing in unity and intimacy. The later part of the afternoon is one that is filled with nature, games, and yes, more feasting. Every major celebration needs to end the day with a bang, and an Easter picnic is just the way to do that. Easter picnics are actually a historical custom that dates back many centuries in Europe. Traditionally, a family would fill their basket with many of the foods that were often abstained during Lent and that basket would be blessed at the Easter Vigil or Easter Sunday Mass. The family would then enjoy the many treats and goodies during a picnic on Easter Sunday.
With new life budding all around, spending some time in nature is just a simple way to pay homage to the significance of the new life Christ brought us through his Resurrection. Taking the Easter picnic tradition and putting your own twist on it can make it that more special. During our picnic we enjoy not just some more of our favorites, but particularly spending time outside together as a family and taking part in many games. Playing a game of badminton, a horseshoe tournament, letting the kids race, and bringing out the croquet set are just some of the many ways to elevate the picnic and make it more festive. We don’t do the Easter Bunny in our house but an egg hunt is a great treat for the kids, and is really seen as more of a game than a mythical moment. The great thing about a picnic is that it can be planned to fit your family’s taste and style. Make it as grand or as simple as you like, at the end of the day all you need is a blanket, a basket full of goodies, and your loved ones to share in the beauty that surrounds you. I couldn’t think of a more perfect way to end the most important day of the year.
We have found that it’s the moments together that help make a holiday special and are the things we remember most, not the candy or presents. We’ve stayed away from much of the commercialism of today's age and have found that we have focused more on Christ and his Resurrection than materialism. Not only has it taken the pressure off of “consuming more” because it is another major holiday, but we have felt it is a much more enjoyable day because of it. Not to mention feeling that we aren’t taking away from the reason for celebrating. As you prepare and plan your Easter celebration this year, take a moment to reflect on ways that can make the day special for everyone while not taking the attention or focus away from the significance of the day. Plan moments that are filled with joy and festive cheer that keep the attention on the greatest celebration in history.
Comments