"Christian Holidays"

(This isn't the most well written blog as I found myself rambling and going off on rabbit trails, no pun intended) on more than one occasion. I left it in it's simplest, unedited, form so hopefully you won't get lost in my ramblings. And it could be controversial to some, so don't read if you are easily offended or don't like to have your belief system challenged). You've been warned...now read away. :)

I've always struggled with the "Christian Holidays". I mean, Christmas and Easter mostly. What makes these days 'Christian' days? Is it because we 'celebrate' Jesus on them? I have a very dear friend who doesn't do easter baskets or eggs or anything. She says it's 'foolishness' and 'just plain silly'. To me, it's something kids enjoy. It's ok to be silly sometimes. I have another friend who several years back, decided they were no longer going to do Santa Claus in their house. Their kids were 7, 6, and 4 at the time (I believe). They sat them all down, told them 'the truth' and that was the end. They removed their Christmas tree and instead, put up a giant wooden cross. No one had the heart to tell them... HOLIDAY! They would have been better to put a manger in the corner. Anyways, for me, this never has made sense. ALL these holidays are man made holidays. Jesus never told us to celebrate His birth or to celebrate His death & resurrection. In fact, it's something we should remember every day, in my opinion, not just one day a year.

There has been much controversy over the years of when Easter & Christmas should be celebrated. Some, in the 3rd & 4th century felt it should follow the Jewish calendar. Others felt it should be totally separate, apart from the Jewish holiday (Passover). Regardless, I always find it sad that we in the "Western World" always tend to think that WE are the Christians and WE know how it's done. We think that our style of worship is the 'proper' way, despite their being Christians worldwide who would never step foot in one of our churches and worship the way we do. Back to Easter & Christmas. In Jerusalem, the crucifixion is actually reacted every year. Here in the US, that is too 'real' for most of us and we would never tolerate it. So many of us won't even watch The Passion because of the realness. We like to think of Jesus' resurrection, but we don't want to see the reality of what He went through 3 days earlier.

So, what is the point in all of this. Easter is a day. It's a day we 'celebrate' Jesus' resurrection, but it's a day, in my opinion. It's a day to celebrate family, community, and yes, Jesus gift to us. But why is it that in celebrating that, we can't also have FUN? Why do we have to make it a somber remembrance day. I was raised in a Baptist church and I remember going on Easter and seeing people who hadn't stepped foot in the church since the Easter before, Easter lillies everywhere and people decked out in the best of their best clothes. (Does Jesus notice when we dress up like that?) Then it was time to sing. Everyone stood up and sang in unison...."I serve a risen savior. He's in the world today. I know that he is with me, no matter what they say....He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today..." yet it felt like we were at a funeral! No one seemed excited that Jesus was ALIVE! It felt like everyone was going through the motions that were expected of them on this Holy Day. We now are more Charismatic (ordained pastors in our previous church as a matter of fact) and it's much more alive, but it still often feels like motions.

Ever look at what celebrations often surround Easter? We have a Jewish Holiday of Passover, we have a Pagan holiday. Think that maybe, just maybe, we as Christians felt WE needed a holiday during that time too? NO WHERE in the Bible do we find a celebration of Easter. We do, however, find many references to Passover. In fact, "EASTER" named after the Teutonic Goddess Eostre, the Goddess of Spring who gives fertility to the earth. (Note that Easter coincides with Spring in the Northern Hemisphere). Hot cross buns, that are so popular at Easter time....pagan (the saxons ate them).



The bottom line is that Easter (and Christmas) are both days that we as Christians have taken from other religions, other nations and other people & times. We have created a day for ourselves to celebrate our beliefs. And that's fine. But don't try to claim that these days are strictly to celebrate Jesus. The roots, as far back as we can trace them, are not inherently Christian. And a little Easter bunny on Easter Sunday isn't going to make your kids not believe in Jesus! Did it for you???