Easter is fast approaching.
Pastel colours, plush animals, chocolate bunnies – well pretty much chocolate anything – adorn the shelves at the local grocery stores.
It’s hard to ignore, but as time goes by what’s even harder to ignore is just how commercialized Easter has become.
I know, it’s the same familiar refrain we hear about Christmas – often from the Bah Humbugs who find the Christmas season has just become too much, too long, and too materialistic.
I could argue the same thing has happened with Easter, albeit not to the same extent, but we’re still spending way too much money on things that will be eaten within a matter of days and gone forever.
According to the National Retail Federation out of the United States, Easter spending is expected to hit an all-time high this year with Americans shelling out $17.3 billion. Of that, $5.5 billion will be spent on food, $3 billion on clothing, $2.7 billion on gifts, $2.4 billion on candy and $1.2 billion on flowers.
With all of those good things at our disposal, I wonder just how many kids actually know why we really celebrate Easter.
With all of the baby chicks, rabbits, chocolate eggs, cheerful baskets and colourfully-dyed Easter eggs, we’re straying farther and farther away from what Easter really means.
I’ll admit, it surprised me a couple of weeks ago to come across a few Easter greeting cards that had a cross on the front of them.
I was impressed the companies were brave and bold enough to go that route as I’m sure those cards are not the most popular choice.
They do, however, recognize what Easter really commemorates and all that is symbolizes.
Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring either on or after the first day of spring.
Easter is arguably the most important of Christian holidays and celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the dead following his death on Good Friday.
As most holidays, it has been adapted from the pagan celebration which also coincided with the arrival of spring and light and symbolized new birth and the awakening of life.
For Christians, Easter is a time of renewal, happiness, and hope following Lent – 40 days of fasting in preparation for Easter.
It’s an important holiday in the ecclesiastical year but its true meaning has been getting lost in recent times as Easter has been moulded, shaped and formatted into something more secular.
Which, don’t get me wrong, those who are not religious should still get to enjoy the holidays and the time with family and friends that comes along with them, just so long as the true meaning is still allowed to shine through.
It’s getting increasingly more difficult to hold on to that.
As a kid, I don’t recall ever going to church on Easter Sunday morning, though my parents dutifully took us to church nearly every Sunday.
I’m guessing my parents were trying to avoid having a riot on their hands caused by three children who would have had no intentions of leaving their chocolates, Easter egg hunts and bunny-shaped pancakes to go to church.
So we didn’t go.
But last year, my husband and I decided we would give it a try.
It was completely different from regular Sunday mass. I couldn’t believe how happy everyone was.
There was a feeling of joy in that church that has stayed with me and that I still can’t describe in words, but it was something special and I’ll never forget it.
I hope that’s a feeling that all of you will be lucky enough to experience this Easter, no matter where you are, no matter what you believe in, or how or whether you celebrate.
Whether you’re on your own, with family, or with friends, take the time to enjoy the holiday, take advantage of the time off, de-stress and feel joyful.
Happy Easter, Campbell River.