What does the Easter bunny bring at your house

[mommasita]

I guess the best way to explain for me, is that Easter has never been advertised or marketed as a gift giving holiday. Again, not religious, but you don't make a big gift giving occasion out of the day Aunt Betty dies. Christmas HAS been marketed and turned into a specific day of gift giving, that's what it's known for and has been for a long time. I don't hold it against anyone who does make a big do about it, I just don't get it. Why not a St. Patrick's Day Basket, or a tax day one too?

In my opinion ONLY, it is because those days aren't for kids..

Birthdays, Xmas, Easter, these were always biggies for us as kids.. I remember the hot/cold games my parents did, as we searched for eggs all over the house.. It brings up such warm memories now, I have tears in my eyes.. My kids are 16, and 19, and they still LOVE it..LOL. One year I had to work early at the airport, and I hid the eggs in the basement and my kids knew they were NOT allowed down until I got back.. These are the memories (to me at least)..


And as a side note, and coming for quite the IRish family, we didn't do baskets for St. Pat's but Mum always did the traditional day, and we ALWAYS got new Shirts and HAD to wear them to school with our pins.. Now here come more tears.

 

[Hikergirl]

Like I said, I'm not religious, so I don't know why I think it's sacrilegious. I thought that Easter was the biggest day to Christians and it seems weird to me to celebrate it by giving someone socks or earbuds (not picking on anyone, just pulling examples).

I know what you mean, I think it's weird to celebrate it by pretending a big rabbit sneaks in to your house and leaves candy. I come from a very religious family, the Easter Bunny always came to my house when I was a kid, even then I thought it was weird.
My kids weren't raised with religion so the EB just brings a little candy and a GC to a local ice cream place.

 

[RedAngie]

Easter was never a gift giving holiday for us. Not as a kid growing up, not for my kids growing up either. Just candy. Chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, little coconut crème eggs, etc.

Please somebody tell me that there is no such thing as a "Bunny on a Shelf" that one moves around or puts in different poses daily. Thank you.

 

[L&Lfan]

Easter was never a gift giving holiday for us. Not as a kid growing up, not for my kids growing up either. Just candy. Chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, little coconut crème eggs, etc.

Please somebody tell me that there is no such thing as a "Bunny on a Shelf" that one moves around or puts in different poses daily. Thank you.

What about PEEPS, for goodness sake! !!

I agree. I was raised with Easter candy and eggs. No toys or non edible gifts, etc.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I guess the best way to explain for me, is that Easter has never been advertised or marketed as a gift giving holiday. Again, not religious, but you don't make a big gift giving occasion out of the day Aunt Betty dies. Christmas HAS been marketed and turned into a specific day of gift giving, that's what it's known for and has been for a long time. I don't hold it against anyone who does make a big do about it, I just don't get it. Why not a St. Patrick's Day Basket, or a tax day one too?

I doubt many people would feel like giving or receiving gifts when Aunt Betty dies. We do usually do scratch offs for St. Patrick's Day and when they were younger a leprechaun would scatter little toys around the room for them to find. It was fun.

Tax day - not celebrated in our house.

 

[DiannaVM]

I grew up getting at least one "big" toy for Easter, along with candy and little inexpensive Easter-themed trinkets. I can see by the post that we were the minority though. Then again, in hindsight, my sister and I were kind of spoiled

I thought about this the other day and, as a Christian it made me realize that getting big ticket items on a holiday like this seems off. I wonder how that tradition began? Either way, I am probably going to do for my kids the same my parents did for me though.

 

[JaxDad]

I guess the best way to explain for me, is that Easter has never been advertised or marketed as a gift giving holiday. Again, not religious, but you don't make a big gift giving occasion out of the day Aunt Betty dies. Christmas HAS been marketed and turned into a specific day of gift giving, that's what it's known for and has been for a long time. I don't hold it against anyone who does make a big do about it, I just don't get it. Why not a St. Patrick's Day Basket, or a tax day one too?

We celebrate Christmas and Easter first and foremost for religious reasons. They both have associated traditions of gift-giving--one includes a fat dude in a sleigh pulled by reindeer that leaves presents and stocking fillers and the other includes a bunny that gives a basket of candy and maybe small presents. Other people ignore the religious reasons and just do the fat dude and bunny bit. To me, that is a little odder than doing gifts on Easter even though it hasn't been advertised and marketed that way. But hey, it's all good to me.

I am curious though...the Target store near me has an Easter section loaded with candy AND gifts (stuffed animals, toys, DVDs, etc). Amazon has Easter gifts. Pinterest has Easter gifts. It seems like a fairly well advertised and marketed gift giving holiday to me.

I don't understand your reference to Aunt Betty, St. Patrick's Day, and Tax Day. It just seemed snarky to me.

 

[kimblebee]

I doubt many people would feel like giving or receiving gifts when Aunt Betty dies. We do usually do scratch offs for St. Patrick's Day and when they were younger a leprechaun would scatter little toys around the room for them to find. It was fun.

Tax day - not celebrated in our house.

That's the thing though, your turning The death of Jesus into a gift going occasion. Ugh, I don't want to get this thread closed because I really don't care what other people do. It doesn't affect me, and I really am a live and let live type..I just don't get it.

 

[kimblebee]

We celebrate Christmas and Easter first and foremost for religious reasons. They both have associated traditions of gift-giving--one includes a fat dude in a sleigh pulled by reindeer that leaves presents and stocking fillers and the other includes a bunny that gives a basket of candy and maybe small presents. Other people ignore the religious reasons and just do the fat dude and bunny bit. To me, that is a little odder than doing gifts on Easter even though it hasn't been advertised and marketed that way. But hey, it's all good to me.

I am curious though...the Target store near me has an Easter section loaded with candy AND gifts (stuffed animals, toys, DVDs, etc). Amazon has Easter gifts. Pinterest has Easter gifts. It seems like a fairly well advertised and marketed gift giving holiday to me.

I don't understand your reference to Aunt Betty, St. Patrick's Day, and Tax Day. It just seemed snarky to me.

I didn't pay attention years ago but I wonder if Target, Walmart, et al advertised Easter gifts or if they're changing because it's now a 'thing'?

I promise I mean no snark with my answers. I just thought that Easter was the most special day to Chriatians and therefore don't get why it needs to turn into a gift grab for some.

 

[JaxDad]

That's the thing though, your turning The death of Jesus into a gift going occasion. Ugh, I don't want to get this thread closed because I really don't care what other people do. It doesn't affect me, and I really am a live and let live type..I just don't get it.

I think you have a very basic misunderstanding of the holiday for Christians. It does not celebrate the death of Jesus; it celebrates His resurrection. It is a joyful day. It is a good day to give presents!

 

[SnowWhite85]

For my 4 year old DD she will get an Easter basket with some candy and stuffed animals in it. As for my DD that was born last July she will also get a basket with more practical things that she needs and a small stuffed toy as well.

 

[kimblebee]

I think you have a very basic misunderstanding of the holiday for Christians. It does not celebrate the death of Jesus; it celebrates His resurrection. It is a joyful day. It is a good day to give presents!

I know it's not celebrating the death..that would just be morbid. I guess when it all boils down I'll just say not every occasion needs to be about gifts and excess. Can we agree on that?

 

[JaxDad]

I know it's not celebrating the death..that would just be morbid. I guess when it all boils down I'll just say not every occasion needs to be about gifts and excess. Can we agree on that?

I can agree to that. I don't think anyone was saying it!

 

[SnowWhite85]

I know it's not celebrating the death..that would just be morbid. I guess when it all boils down I'll just say not every occasion needs to be about gifts and excess. Can we agree on that?

I agree with you, but for my little ones I let them get exposure to both sides of the holiday. They will get an Easter Basket as well as attend Mass that morning.

 

[Liberty Belle]

That's the thing though, your turning The death of Jesus into a gift going occasion. Ugh, I don't want to get this thread closed because I really don't care what other people do. It doesn't affect me, and I really am a live and let live type..I just don't get it.

No, his resurrection (Easter) is a cause for celebration (gift giving), imo. Again, on Good Friday, it's a very somber day.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...Please somebody tell me that there is no such thing as a "Bunny on a Shelf" that one moves around or puts in different poses daily. Thank you.

Not that I know of - though I'm surprised someone isn't making a mint off Leprechauns this month!

 

[SnowWhite85]

Easter was never a gift giving holiday for us. Not as a kid growing up, not for my kids growing up either. Just candy. Chocolate bunnies, jelly beans, little coconut crème eggs, etc.

Please somebody tell me that there is no such thing as a "Bunny on a Shelf" that one moves around or puts in different poses daily. Thank you.

I'm surprised someone hasn't made a mint off of that idea yet.

 

[nugov2]

I know it's not celebrating the death..that would just be morbid. I guess when it all boils down I'll just say not every occasion needs to be about gifts and excess. Can we agree on that?

I agree with that too. In my house it is birthdays, christmas, easter and usually a board game or a book on valentine's day. My kids don't get gifts for anything else. If they want it they buy it with their money.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I didn't pay attention years ago but I wonder if Target, Walmart, et al advertised Easter gifts or if they're changing because it's now a 'thing'?

I promise I mean no snark with my answers. I just thought that Easter was the most special day to Chriatians and therefore don't get why it needs to turn into a gift grab for some.

You and I live in the city. Almost 30 years ago I worked as a cashier at Woolco. Wednesday and Thursday before Good Friday was always almost like working Christmas Eve with the toys and clothes coming through the check out. I was surprised at it due to the fact that my siblings and I only ever got a chocolate bunny and maybe a small stuffed animal ourselves.
So yes it was a "thing" in Winnipeg years ago.

For those who are not church goers Christmas and Easter are more winter/spring festivals. Easter celebrates new life, a new beginning, a celebration even without the religious aspects.

Good Friday is a sombre day and many church goers do go to a church service that is very sombre.

 

[ELSA711]

That's the thing though, your turning The death of Jesus into a gift going occasion. Ugh, I don't want to get this thread closed because I really don't care what other people do. It doesn't affect me, and I really am a live and let live type..I just don't get it.

Easter is not about Jesus's death, it's that he is risen and that is celebration beyond any celebration.
But as a Christian and a mother, I can separate the two and let my kids be kids and believe in the Easter bunny and Santa. I have a right to be both a mother and a Christian and the mother in me wants my kids to have the fantasy to before they become more jaded like the rest of us adults!