This year I am realizing that I need to figure out how to address some cross-cultural complications like the Easter bunny and Santa Claus. When I say cross-cultural, I'm not talking about the difference between my American culture and my husband's Nigerian culture. Rather, I'm talking about the difference between my American culture and my Christian counter-culture.
When I was a kid, we did absolutely nothing with the Easter bunny and next to nothing with Santa Claus. They weren't forbidden or anything, but I don't remember a time when they figured into our celebrations. As far back as I can remember, we knew that our Christmas presents were from our parents and other relations. And I don't have a single memory of the Easter bunny at all.
Don't get me wrong. we still celebrated American aspects of Christmas and Easter. Every Easter when I was little, we decorated Easter eggs, and we had egg hunts. Mom would put little treats in the eggs, but usually fun or healthy things like sugar-free gum and whistles.
But we were at the mall yesterday, and Timothy saw that there was a display set up for having your photo taken with the Easter bunny. And I'm just not sure if I should go there.
So I guess I am wondering what some of you, my friends, do to balance the American celebration of Easter and the Christian celebration of the resurrection. Do you celebrate them as two separate entities? Do you nix "Easter" altogether and just celebrate the resurrection? Do you do both and just explain how they fit together? Or do you figure Easter is just a fun little holiday for kids and let them enjoy chocolate and bunnies? I am super curious how you all do it. Please comment!
