So, someone asked if non-Christians celebrate Easter and why (I guess considering Easter is about the death and resurrection of Christ).

This got me thinking. If you're a Christian and you celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ - do you also give your kids Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies or bilbies?

Easter eggs and bunnies were appropriated from the pagan celebration of Ostara, the celebration of spring and fertility - you know, because rabbits and chickens are very fertile! How do you feel they entwined in the Christian celebration of Christ's death and resurrection?

Yep, same way we still 'do' santa as well. It's a fun, exciting time for the kids, and us. Doesn't mean we put any less focus on the religious aspects.

Because I LIKE chocolate!!

No, seriously, we take a fairly relaxed approach. For us Easter is a time for especially reflecting on what Christ has done for us.

Hot Cross Buns bear crosses to remind us of Jesus' death on the cross.
Hollow chocolate eggs remind us that the tomb was empty and Jesus rose again. There's also the new life reflection that comes with the egg and chicken thing.
And we have a special roast lamb dinner because it ties our faith with its origins by reminding us of the Passover.

But at the same time, we also discuss how hot cross buns were "invented" because yummy fruit buns were being enjoyed at this time of year to celebrate pagan festivals, and so the Christians of the time bunged a cross on top and joined the fun!
And similarly with Easter eggs - they were already part of a pagan celebration, so the Christians added their own touch and took those on as well.
And we do, of course, talk about the significance of the Passover.

I used to be fairly strict about no bunnies or bilbies, only eggs, but have loosened up a bit now. I'm more in the "Meh" camp now - it's chocolate. It's in the shape of the rabbit. If I truly believe I am celebrating the resurrection of my God in human form, then I doubt the presence of a chocolate rabbit on my table is going to have much of an impact on my faith or how we celebrate the day!

So this year- we have buns, eggs ...and BUNNIES!!!
(But we never ever ever eat HCB before Good Friday, or eggs before Easter Sunday!)

ETA we absolutely do not do the "Easter Bunny" though. Such a croc!!
You can imagine my *surprise* when, on the last day this term at our small, private, church-run school, there were these giant big white footprints all over the school, and someone dressed as the Easter Bunny delivered eggs to the classes!!!!

Thanks for this info! My Korean friend was asking me why we have chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs when bunnies don't lay eggs, and I had no idea why. This explains it all

As a christian, I observe certain spiritual practices during Lent and Easter that are directly related christianity. I participate in the Lent Event which is a program that raises money for very poor communities by sacrificing some little luxury and donating the cost to the program. Lent, and especially Palm Sunday is a time of heightened personal reflection on one's relationship to God, the community and on social justice issues.

I attend three religious services at Easter; a Tennerbrae service on the eve of Good Friday, the very sombre Good Friday service and the joyful Easter Sunday service.

None of the above prohibits me from participating in the common Australian customs associated with the Easter period. I give chocolate Easter eggs to children, including my Sunday school class. They know that the eggs have nothing to do with christianity but we all enjoy the joy of Easter Sunday and the taste of chocolate. What good is a festival with out some feasting?

After the Sunday service we have a wonderful family dinner with heaps of extended family. More feasting and more joy. All very appropriate.

The eggs and the rabbit (originally a hare) may have pagan roots but they are not incompatible with christianity as I understand it.

As per PP - because the chocolate festival does not detract from the Easteryness of the Saviour's ressurection.

And it's chocolate.

I really don't see the need for further clarification

(And yes, I know Easter has pagan roots but it's used for the Christian celebration of the resurection as well)

Seriously. I love and adroe Easter for the Easter message of the Resurection, and the 4 day weekend and the chocolate. The 4 day weekend hasn't got anything to do with teh Saviour either but I particiapte joyously!

We have a few little Easter eggs and no Easter bunny - but I see no problem in using elements of any tradition, from whatever background, to influence the way we worship God. Yep, pretty much all Easter traditions come from pagan origins - but adopting some of them to use in our own way of worshiping God isn't something I see as a big issue.

Same with Christmas, which again is of pagan origin. Even the date.

I don't think there's much "Eastery" about the Saviour's resurrection - in the sense of our current Easter traditions .... but it's a great opportunity to have it talked about a bit more and be more open about it, and share with others. But reality is, we could celebrate Jesus any time really.

I feel social pressure to give eggs, and I also receive eggs or bunnies or whatever. I eat what I'm given (as PPs have said - it's chocolate!) but to me it's strictly peripheral, and I'd be really happy without the social pressure and without all the irrelevant (to me) trimmings.

If you are atheist why do concern yourself with the beliefs and practices of others? Why would you give gifts at Christmas and eat chocolate eggs at Easter? Does it bother you or make you curious when Hindus put up a Christmas tree and plan an egg hunt with their Christian friends?


I hate narrow minded questions. Especially ones that insinuate that one culture / religion has no grip on history and don't really understand the origins of what they are doing.

We dont do Easter in a big way, in the chocolate giving aspect. We might do a little bit of chocolate giving but it takes a huge back seat to the Christ aspect because that is more important to us. That and the fact that Easter chocolate is stupidly overpriced!!!

This. Although I do know of some very strict christian religions that do not do chocolate eggs.

I think this is a bit harsh. The OP said she asked because someone else asked why would an atheist celebrate this holiday, on the flip side why would a Christian celebrate the Pagan side? It's a relevant question and indeed some Christians don't celebrate it with Eggs and Bunnies because of it's Pagan roots.

OP I imagine it's because it's fun and traditional of this time of year- maybe not necessarily for their religion but historically and probably within their past generations of family.

I am Pagan but it doesn't bother me at all that religions take some traditions from other religions. I think it makes it feel like even more of a celebration and like we are all coming together despite our different faiths if that makes sense

Also, eggs symbolise new life which is the message of the Christian Easter season.

I asked my aunt this the other day and she said that when she was a child the eggs were boiled and you rolled them down a hill to smash them adn this was the rolling away of the stone so jesus could rise again or something. I liked the story. for bunnies she drew a blank lol.

We do the religious side and seperate to that is the egg/chocolate side. In NSW they call it the Easter Show even though in other States it just their show day at a different time of the year.We only have HCB on Good Friday but I know heaps of people that eat them as soon as they appear. We hand out chocolate eggs as part of they family celebration on Easter Sunday. We attend church services to celebrate our belief. My children understand the difference and they know the difference between religious belief and family/tradition celebration. Actually our priest often explains in the sermons how these traditions came about - often through either Pagan or Greek and of course Jewish celebrations. I have friends that are Atheist and I have always assumed that the reason they celebrate Christmas is because it is a perfect time to celebrate with their family etc not because they feel they are celebrating the birth of Christ. Not and never have been big on the Easter bunny - but to each their own -having said that my kids love an Easter Egg hunt - and now that they are in her teens they love it even more (They want to keep this particular tradition forever!!)

this!

and because i like chocolate (did i say that already?)

The eggs symbolising new life originate from the pagan festival rather than Christianity. Christians have attached this 'meaning' to them later on....

I use the hollow Easter egg as an illustration of the empty tomb when Jesus was resurrected when I'm teaching kids about Jesus at this time of year ... but I don't really think Easter eggs themselves have any major Christian significance. You can pretty much find a way to make anything a symbol if you really want.

I know some Christians who have a real problem with Christians adopting pagan traditions and turning them into Christian ones, feeling it is not biblical or pleasing to God to adopt traditions that were once used to worship other gods.... I'm not completely decided on that one, but it's an interesting discussion.

We do. Because it is an excuse to eat lots of chocolate.

My kids are very aware of the meaning of Easter.

i know what you mean.. and i do not like hearing those kinds of narrow-minded discussions from fellow Christians even if it does make for a conversation that can get your blood pumping..

i agree with PP's that if we all just look at it like a celebration then their would be no need to discriminate and we can all just have fun with it together..

but to answer the original post..

everyone in my family loves chocolate.. so hence chocolate for easter (the only day everyone can indulge in it) don't know when the traditional pagan symbols of the rabbit and egg became chocolate but still enjoy eating them regardless...

its always been a tradition in our house to give easter gifts so we get easter sets (ie bowls and spoons with eggs ) and easter religious books and dvds( ie veggie tales) etc. we roll the eggs as a symbol of the rolling away of the stone. i also give to the family as a symbol to my kids that its better to give than recieve as jesus did.
i didnt know it was so pagan till i saw it on a christian tv show... i was a bit shocked but now thinking about it we use our own family tradtions as well and i dont want to make my kids live in a christian bubble ie we dont do eggs because ti has pagan roots. plus its a good excuse for chocolate and family lunches

What a lovely post!