When I was a little girl, I would arise very early each Easter Sunday for the purpose of crouching and crawling my way through the house in search of multi-colored hardboiled eggs smashed between sofa cushions, thrust into the fireplace, and rolled under beds. It was not just a privilege but a duty to collect each one of them, lest a forgotten egg turn bad and began to stink up the entire house in the rising springtime temperatures. Following this toil came a far more pleasant trip, wearing a new and bright-colored dress, my hair combed and bobby socks straigtened, to church – where I would learn about and celebrate the true meaning of this holiday.
What about nowadays? The wind whispers that this Sunday is Easter. Aside from the religious aspect of this holiday, though, it is just another day for me anymore. Of course, this is largely because I don’t have little children to send scampering for smelly eggs. But aside from the egg thing, it seems to me Easter is of less public import than years ago. I know on this holiday churches will swell with temporary congregations, stores will spend the day with closed doors costing them money, and kids will still go running off after those hidden eggs. It seems, though, that in my part of the world, this holiday is more muted than it once was, no longer carrying a cachet of importance as it did in yesteryear. Or…perhaps I’m just out of touch due to lack of kids and no television.
What about in your part of the world? Whether Westerners are dominant in your country or almost non-existent, is anyone where you live celebrating Easter? If so, how? Or are people not recognizing this holiday to the extent they did in years gone by?
Thumbnail Easter eggs photo by Care_SMC
I’ve said it a lot over the recent years but without kids around for Christmas or Easter, they are just another day. Christmas I just drink an eat to much. Easter finds me eating more chocolate than normal and a lot of fish.
Here in Australia shops are closed for Good Friday and Easter Sunday. You’ll find the local petrol station open but that’s about it. I love it, go for a drive and its peaceful. I hope it never changes.
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:41
It’s interesting that shops in Australia are closed for Good Friday as well as Easter. I think throughout my life nothing has been closed for Good Friday. And today stores are open even on Easter, but with abbreviated hours.
[Reply]
Easter pretty much passes over the heads of the majority of Londoners these days. Apart from the major chains, the shops here don’t even close at Christmas, never mind at this time of year. I’d dare say most of them think Easter is some kind of celebration of chocolate.
The rest of us are just glad of a long weekend really.
To be honest, though. I don’t really ever remember a big fuss being made of Easter, even growing up in the North.
.-= Brendan´s last blog ..Lessons learned on the road #1 =-.
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:42
Thanks for commenting, Brendan. Not even closed for Christmas? I guess that’s probably the direction we’re heading too.
[Reply]
Easter is a big deal up here – not because of religion (Scandinavians are extremely secular), but because it means vacation, usually 10 days – full of skiing, eating oranges and reading mysteries .
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:43
Ten more days of vacation? I’ve always envied Europeans their vacation time. I’m sure everyone does.
[Reply]
Reading through these replies saddens me. Jesus Christ sacrificed himself on the cross and died for our sins so that we may have eternal life. One day He will return. This is a cause for celebration. Who among your friends or family would be willing to give their life for yours; not many I bet. Wake up people!
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 3rd, 2010 at 14:14
I am with you, Susan!!! This was part of my point, although I didn’t make it obvious. People are moving away from God and church. And you’re right. It is very sad.
But I hope you and your family have a blessed Easter.
[Reply]
Over here… Hey…is it April and Easter, already?
Well, over here the American communinty will have churck services and chocolate bunnies, I guess.
Nothing out in town as far as I’ve seen. It just dawned on me; Okinawans do alot of the Xmas, Valentines, even Halloween stuff they’ve picked-up from the military presence on the island, over the years. But, I haven’t noticed the commercial aspects of Easter being pushed in the stores.
Heading to a flea market to look for some camera lenses in the rain today. I’ll check and see if any chocolate bunnies are marked down in the stores on the populated end of the island.
It is kinda odd how people take something that’s supposed to be sacred and turn it into free-for-all-commercialism/consumerism.
You ought to open-up a Forum here, somewhere; I could ramble on it !
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:46
Interesting that Easter isn’t pushed in the stores. Perhaps colorful bunny things aren’t as appealing over there. And taking something sacred and turning it into a free-for-all, yeah, it’s at least odd.
[Reply]
Happy Easter! Yes, from we’re I am, people are celebrating Easter… going to Church early morning, being with families, others I have to agree, are on vacation! Tomorrow, I’m spending Easter with family (the usual) and since we have little kids in our fam, we are going to have a little egg hunt. sounds fun? yep! Have a blessed Easter!
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:46
That’s great, Janz! I hope you had a wonderful Easter!
[Reply]
Hello Sabina … I happened to pop in here through Mike’s repost of your blog in facebook. I have just replied on his wall and here it is reproduced again : ” Mike … here’s another bit of news about life in the Middle East for you … today, i.e., Easter Day is a normal working day
! And, I am busy at work !! Can you even imagine that ?!?!”.
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:47
Ahhh, life in the Middle East. It is too bad you had to work all day, though!
[Reply]
When I was growing up, we didn’t celebrate Easter at all. No eggs,no bunnies,no church. We were proud to be the part of the USSR. We didn’t have God thus had no reason to celebrate. After the fall of Lenin-Stalin Empire people found themselves in dire need of hope and that’s why the country I’m from originally ( Ukraine )became the number one in accepting Christ. Easter holiday is bigger than ever there today. In the States though ( where I presenly live ) it seems to me that the meaning behind it is getting lost,probably,due to the fact that we all believe there’s God,but it’s just too inconvenient for us to follow Him. We just can’t seem to find enough time to fit His will into our busy schedule. Add the popular notion about free will and just mere “Im too tired and frankly too lazy to go to church and pretend when for God’s sake I’ve been working so hard this week, so can’t I catch a break” idea that leaves a lot of people at home watching Christ pay His price on TV. Even though it all sounds a bit gloomy coming from me, I still think that a fair amount of people continue to aknowledge this great and VERY important holiday that gives people the ticket to eternal life.
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:53
This is fascinating, Lana! Your country turning from atheism to Christianity makes sense, since the years immediately following the Cold War were so hard. It’s wonderful that a lot of people turned toward God instead of further away.
[Reply]
No Easter in Turkey either. But definitely Easter weather, warm and sunny. Will you visit me on planet eye traveler, please?
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 4th, 2010 at 20:53
That is exactly the day we had here. I hope you’re having a great time in Turkey!
[Reply]
When I moved to California almost 20 years ago, I was shocked that Good Friday wasn’t considered a holiday. Growing up in the midwest, few businesses were open that day.
There wasn’t a lot in the way of celebration for Easter Sunday around here, but I did see some Easter brunches throughout the day.
.-= Joel´s last blog ..Come Sale Away =-.
[Reply]
Sabina Lohr Reply:
April 5th, 2010 at 08:22
Hey, I’m from the Mid West too! Missouri. It’s a lot more conservative than where I’m living now – and where you’re living too, of course.
[Reply]