Growing up, my parents always combined the religious and secular aspects of the Christmas and Easter holidays, and I enjoyed it that way.
I remember that on Christmas Eve, my father would ring bells in the back of our house as my mom sat with me in my bedroom saying, "Listen! I think that's Santa Claus."
I used to enjoy the Easter egg hunts and neighborhood parades where I got to shake hands with the "Easter Bunny."
But my parents also told me the real reasons for these holidays and what an important role they play in our faith. And I understood it, at least on a basic level. As a small child, if someone were to ask me what Christmas is about, I would say "It's Jesus' birthday." If I was questioned about Easter, I would say, "Jesus rose from the dead."
A Christian survey Web site once conducted a poll entitled
"Should Christians participate in the Easter Bunny?" According to the results, 46 percent of Christians believe that the Easter Bunny should not be included at all in Easter celebrations. One survey taker in this category replied, "The Easter Bunny did not die for my sins or the sins of the world; only Jesus Christ, His blood and His Holy power." Others believe that the Easter bunny originated from pagan tradition and holds no place in Christianity.
Another person against the Easter bunny tradition posed this argument: "If you tell your children that there is an Easter Bunny and a Santa Claus, then they find out that they are not real and you attempt to tell them about Jesus, and they can't see Him either, they won't believe He exists." (I see where this person is coming from. I remember that in my high school religion class, one girl was seriously misled and said: "I think God is a myth, just like Santa Claus.")
Thirty-nine percent of the people surveyed believe that it's okay to include the Easter Bunny in a Christian celebration of Easter. One commenter pointed out, "A parent is responsible to share with the child the reason for the holiday and the sacrifice Jesus made, but I see no reason for our kids not to enjoy coloring and hunting for eggs." Another survey participant believes that the secular Easter traditions could be used as a means to teach about Jesus' resurrection: "I think it's fine because it is a good time for the kids and you can even teach them about Christ rising using the eggs and jelly beans."
Some respondents were unsure about this issue. Many in this category state that it should be a personal decision as to whether or not a Christian parent teaches their children about the Easter Bunny (or Santa). "Each Christian has his or her own beliefs, they have to decide for themselves,"one person commented. Another person explained that talking about a magical bunny might conflict with Christian beliefs, but there is nothing wrong with talking to your children about the analogy between Easter eggs and renewal: "Jesus would want people to have fun on the holiday. I may not talk about a magical bunny, but there are reasons a parent can give for the eggs and new life."
Do you/ would you include Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny in your family's holiday celebrations? Do you think telling your children about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny is a harmless childhood tale, or do you foresee that it could later cause children to doubt their faith?
Comments (32)
Where did the Easter bunny even come from?
Someone needs to do a post on whether Halloween and the Tooth Fairy are ok as well.
Like you mentioned, you're already teaching about God, so what's the harm in throwing in a couple more fictional characters?
Many of you have said you would continue to keep up the easter christmas practice. You see no real harm in it.
You of course have heard the story of Aaron and the golden calf. I think you skimmed over it and missed
some of it. So pay attention children.
Ex,32
2 Aaron
answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons
and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me." 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4
He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape
of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, "These are your
gods, ]="">[b] O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt."
5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, "Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD." 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. ]="">[c] Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
He tried to pacify God by adding him with it. Mixing God with pagan things makes him more angry then just being totally pagan.
You have been told plainly. Now what you do with it is up to you.
Being that Santa is based on the real St. Nicholas, my children most certainly know about him. There is never any harm in having Santa as part of Christmas. As long as the kids know that the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of Jesus' birth, all is good.
The Easter bunny is all in good fun. No harm in that, either.
It's unfortunate that some people are so uptight about children experiencing some magical fun during the holidays. We're Christian and our children very well know that Christ is the center of those holidays, but they also know about Santa being a giving person and that he's based on St. Nicholas. We have fun with Santa during Christmastime. Besides, the lie about Santa would be telling them that he's not real.
I think it's just fine to tell kids about santa and the easter bunny as long as we can explain and always emphasize who the real hero and provider is. Parents should know how to instill on their children's minds the basics of Christian faith. Expose them to environment where they will always be reminded on God's love for them.Be inspired by God!!
http://greatisthelord.net/
Christian Gifts