I've a 3 1/2 year old. Being a single mother and due to my financial situation I live with my super religious parents. I've already given in to allowing my mom to take her for "Sunday School" most because I thought she could meet other children there. With the upcoming Easter holidays I'm begining to wonder how I can explain to my daughter what Easter is without bringing religion in to it. I'm sure she will get a religious explanation in church but I'd like to counter that with a non-religious one. Mostly, I just want her to think for herself and ask questions. I live in a small city in India and other than my brother I have yet to meet another atheist. I've met a lot of people who say "I don't believe in god" simply because they are angry at god because things didn't go as planned not because they really question his existence.
Any suggestions would be more than welcome!
I don't see any more issues in explaining the falsity of the Easter bunny, Santa Claus, or God to my child as they are all fictional beings that we tell our kids about to make them feel better.
My kid isn’t into Easter. She doesn’t believe in the Easter Bunny and thinks it’s silly to look for eggs(though she does like coloring them). Plus, she doesn’t like chocolate so we just decorate a small tree with eggs and bunnies and call it a day.
@DelilahJones33 that's awesome. Kind of like a hello Spring Festival.
It is an older Pagan holiday called Eostre.
Seriously. The Christian plagiarists did not even try when they stole this one.
It is about Spring and everything growing again.
I heard that Constantine started the replacement of pagan holidays with christian themes. Part of pacifying his failing empire. Pretty much all pagan systems have a vernal equinox holiday. All were wrapped in a thin candy coating and enforced at sword point. Also nearly all have a winter solstice holiday, guess what that became.
Easter means candy. It's training for the kids, hey you get cool stuff for going to Church. For the adults, it's ponder your suspension of disbelief season. . It's interesting Easter falls on April Fool's Day, this year.
Interesting, but perfectly appropriate.
The Christ is risen! April Fools!
Yeah, I'm driving my mom crazy telling her Easter is on April Fool's Day...just love it!
I agree with others on here. Explain the true of origin of Easter. And that it's been represented in many ways over time and in different cultures. At this current time, our time, it is represented as a Christian event. In the past, it wasn't. In the future, it most likely won't be. Some cultures celebrate it, some don't.
I don't know what the true origin of Easter. A quick search on Google resulted in this: [allaboutjesuschrist.org]
Easter started as a spring fertility ritual. Rabbits and eggs have nothing to do with christianity.
Just tell her it was a celebration of spring. The original resurrection was life returning to the world. Plants began to sprout, trees began to bud, animals that were gone all winter came out of hibernation, and birds returned.
@Redcupcoffee ...with a 3 year old?
I would just teach her both sides. This is what you’ll learn at church and this is what others believe. These are the origins. & such. But I agree, 3 is a little young to worry about that. Maybe when she starts asking questions about it, then talk about it
[nobeliefs.com]
You can tell her the truth. Religion coopted this holiday like it does most everything else.
I would not try to explain at this point. Go heavy with the plastic grass and the colored eggs, there will be time enough to give your own explaination.
You could say that he came out of his tomb and saw his shadow, indicating 6 more weeks of basketball
Esotre the celebration of spring solstice. Christians stole it for easy conversion. The rabbit was the symbol. I don’t know where the egg came from. Maybe the breeding season.
I taughter my daughter Eostre.... The bringing of new life... Plants, animals, a new beginning of life.
Celebration of welcoming spring and a cool way to get presents and candy until you're like 12 or 13. Haha