when did Easter become a gift-based holiday?

[dougsmom98]

I like to think that whatever you are comfortable with for a tradition is fine. We put gifts in our baskets, but lots of people don't. We started with gifts because when my children were younger they didn't care to eat candy (weird, I know). I still have one child who hates chocolate. A lot of my friends don't give gifts in their baskets, but they give their children an allowance, buy them toys when they go shopping, go out for meals, go to the movies on a regular basis, pay for cells phones and cell phone service for their children. I buy most things generic, never buy my kids presents unless it is at a yard sale or the Goodwill, and I purchase all their clothes at Wal Mart. I don't even have a real cell phone for myself, never mind my children. Some people choose to put only candy in their basket, I choose to put some gifts in their too. We all make different choices about how we use our money on a daily basis. To each his own.

 

[laneyandmacsmom]

We celebrate everything big too, but its usually more about the activities than the stuff. We use the same baskets every year, and they get a chocolate bunny (a couple of other little candies, anymore would get tossed) and some spring stuff, chalk, pinwheels, bubbles, an easter book. My kids are way more into the baking and dying easter eggs. We do an easter egg hunt every year too, but we use the eggs we dye.. they just have fun seeing who can find the most.

 

[ilovejack02]

ITA with OP. What I'd also like to know since when did giving candy become a bad thing? Easter is the one time of year we have chocolate for breakfast & enjoy our bunnies & peanut butter eggs thoughout the week.

It is a issue of how much candy with me.
He will have a party at school, will come home with a bag full on that day. Both of his Godmothers give him a basket and it is full of candy. My mom will usually give him a big bunny and his Godmother and Godfather divorced last year and the G.F. bought him a big basket too.

This is why I dont put but one chocolate bunny in the basket. He just finished the Valentine candy this week.

 

[Mallow]

We actually have a family policy of throwing out leftover Halloween candy QUOTE]

Blaspheme! Please feel free to send any left overs to my house.

 

[powellrj]

When everything became about giving gifts.

We never got welcome baskets when we went on vacation, our vacation was welcome enough. The same with holidays. A basket with a few chocolate eggs and a bunny and that was it. We hunted plastic eggs with quarters in them and we were set.

We have just overdone the whole gift giving thing. DS was in show choir and they had to give a secret pal gift before every competition to their secret pal. How many 18 year old boys really care about a secret pal??????

 

[bonybroad]

Mine are getting Peeps (gotta have those) chocolate backhoes (seriously), a colorwonder set, and an outfit.
Probably some jelly beans if I don't eat them first.

 

[dogluva]

Hi - My kids get a few things of candy and a couple small 'eastery' things. Got most of it last year at 75% off - stuffed bunny, little bunny shaped bubble thing.

And I totally get why OP is asking the question and making the comment. IMO (and I'm sure it's due to this AND a multitude of other things not SOLELY on getting Easter gifts), this is just another example of why kids EXPECT so much these days. There was just an article in USAToday about kids getting spa treatments, designer jeans and so on...even before they're teenagers. And its not wrong to necessarily do nice things, but yet, it IS wrong to expect things and to feel 'entitled' to them. And don't tell me about your kid who is so grateful for all the things and isn't like that - I am certain it isn't all kids. But you must admit that society's younger people today do expect things (no way would I have thought my mom would buy me a $100 pair of shoes or jeans, even in dollars those days it would have been $50 - but many of today's kids do). Not sure if it'll help - but even though we can afford more, I intentionally keep Easter very minor on 'stuff' (big on Church and family time) and Christmas pretty small (at least comparitively, it is still more than I got - but keep it to about 4 - 6 gifts per kid with most of them very small) and for birthdays - only one gift usuallY (maybe two if they 'go' together) - and I hope that this will help them be truly grateful for what they do get and also to not expect hundreds of dollars spent on them as they get older.

I don't get it either. I has gotten worse since my oldest son was little. It is sad, kids will have nothing to look forward to when they get older.

K

 

[Tiffany_PartyOf7]

My entire life I have always woken up to a big basket full of candy, toys, and a little bit of money. We just continued it with our kids.

 

[mirandag819]

My 3 year old DD is obsessed with dresses...... she needs spring and summer clothes anyways, but instead of just giving them to her I am putting a bunch in her Easter basket..... she thinks she is getting a great present, but really it is just the new clothes she needs anyways since she is in a new size this spring. Other then that it is just a little candy...... we do an egg hunt with the cousins with some candy and a little money to get the older kids interested, but I don't really buy "gifts".

 

[coolbeans]

she needs spring and summer clothes anyways, but instead of just giving them to her I am putting a bunch in her Easter basket..... she thinks she is getting a great present, but really it is just the new clothes she needs anyways

I kinda do this too.. DD needs some new summer tops and flip flops, plus her gym bag is trashed! and DS could use some underwear and flip flops too so why not make it fun.. My b-day is on Easter this year and I asked DH to make sure the Bunny got me a new serving bowl from Crate and Barrel (to use as the basket of course!), a new bummy Carolina Tarheel outfit and Peeps!! (lotsa peeps!!) I will be so happy if between he and the kids they cover half of it! DH is getting bicycle stuff and misc candy in his basket and Grama is getting sugar free candies and a new housecoat.

DD and DS just had birthdays in March and Feb so we don't really need to do fluffy Easter baskets I just like to!!

 

[Misty89]

My entire life I have always woken up to a big basket full of candy, toys, and a little bit of money. We just continued it with our kids.

Ditto
the Easter bunny leaves a basket full of candy for Mom & Dad also ( i would not get any chocolate )
our girls are 17 & 9 they get a lots of candy, and a few dollars.
like many families, we have some Holidays we go all out on, and some that we do not. Easter is one that we do
we do put a limit on spending, usally spend about 60$ to fill 4 baskets ( reuse Easter grass and baskets each year)


Tina

 

[~Kristina~]

My kids get very little candy for Easter, but they get spring toys from the dollar store. Jump rope, chalk, bubbles, etc.

 

[bentleygirl22]

I'm just curious. Growing up, we never got Easter gifts. We got a basket with some candy in it, maybe an Easter plush.
My mind is boggling with the things that are being pushed as Easter gifts. And the budgets people have for Easter Baskets!
I just don't get it. Did I miss the memo?

Growing up i always got one toy in my easter basket with candy all around it ..

So thats what i do for my kids..