Monday, April 13, 2009

The Jesus Bunny



You know I'm new to all of this. All of this holiday stuff. This past Christmas was the first year Daphne was old enough to anticipate Christmas, ask questions, remember what we told her, and establish traditions that she would come to expect in the future. So I wanted to make sure I did things "right" so that I wouldn't have to undo anything next year or explain why Santa's behavior had drastically changed, etc.


Well, I found the same thing true of Easter this year. She talked about the Easter bunny for over a month before Easter. Although, she actually couldn't remember the Easter part or the bunny party, only that there was candy involved. Every few days after I told her about Easter, she would crook her index finger over and bounce her hand and say "Mommy, what's that animal?" I would look at her like she was smoking crack and say, "What's what animal? What are you talking about??" Because I honestly had no idea what she was talking about. And then she would say something about candy, and I would finally realize she was asking about the Easter Bunny.


So when it finally got close to Easter this year, I had the same dilemma that came to mind about Christmas. How do I differentiate between the religious and commercial parts of the holiday? How do I explain about Jesus and still fit in the Easter bunny? I had explained to Daphne about Jesus dying and coming back alive several times. But when I quizzed her on Easter morning about it why we have Easter, she said, "So the Easter Bunny can bring me chocolate!" And when I reminded her about Jesus, she said, "Is Jesus the Easter Bunny?" No. "Does He live with the Easter Bunny?" No. "Well, does He make the candy?" No. Well, not directly. Anyway, she seemed confused. And there lies the problem.


So, any advice on how to clear this issue up?




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12 comments:

Kristina P. said...

No advice, but chocolate is delicious.

Anonymous said...

Not so sure, but I'll come back for the options! ;)

Chelsea said...

You can't really blame her - it is confusing because the Easter bunny has exactly zero to do with Jesus. Maybe explain that in order to appease both Christians and pagans two holidays were blended? :D

I know people who do the Easter bunny on Saturday so that Sunday can be all about Jesus. Don't know if I'll do that but I thought it was an interesting idea.

As an aside, I wish we Mormons would celebrate more of the liturgical calendar that other Christians do. Like really recognize Palm Sunday and Good Friday and all of that Holy Week stuff. Observing my evangelical/Anglican friends that seems to help put the focus back where it belongs.

Koreena said...

We do baskets on Saturday (except this year) so that we can keep the two a little more separate. The way I explained it to Matty is that the Easter Bunny is like Santa. Santa likes to bring presents to us because he's trying to be like Jesus who gave us the best present of all, us being a family forever. The Easter Bunny is trying to be like Jesus, too, and wants to do nice things for us. We told Matty he brings eggs because it's like Jesus' tomb that was full and then empty when he was resurrected. Some of this went over Matty's head, but he got enough of it that I think we'll have some kind of foundation for next year. Don't know if that helped you at all.

Just SO said...

I too know people that have the Easter Bunny come on Saturday and have Sunday be more spiritual. We just explain both The Easter bunny comes on Sunday but we talk about how even though the Easter Bunny comes it's not about the Bunny it's about Jesus and what he did for us. When they are little it's harder for them to understand but if you keep talking to them it will come.

mCat said...

We started at the very first having the Easter Bunny come Saturday morning and do all the super fun bunny stuff that day, and then used Sunday for the religious aspect.

And the chocolate cross freaks me out still

Sara said...

Yep, just adding to the whole Easter bunny on Saturday thing, It has worked out pretty well for us.

Jeanette said...

When John's girls were younger and they kept harping on us about what we were getting them for Easter, like it was another Christmas,we made them write us papers about what the real meaning of Easter is. They didn't get their baskets until we got the papers. Kids will eventually get it. We always try to remind our children the true meaning and the past couple of years the older ones know the answers to the questions. They still enjoy the hunt and the chocolate. Who doesn't though?

Mia said...

I don't do Easter bunny stuff at all... but my mother in law sends them a basket each year. So, we give them the basket and hardly mention the Easter Bunny. They know the gifts and candy are from Grandma. We go over the Easter story a couple of times during the month, but this is the first time I think my daughter (5) really gets it.

tiburon said...

We just lump it all together on Sunday morning.

So far so good.

Anonymous said...

Might not get cleared up until she's older. Mason knows that the Jesus part of the holiday isn't as interesting because He didn't give out Wii games like the Easter Bunny.

CaraDee said...

I know this is forever old (I was busy) but remind me to tell you what cameron said. It was like this post should hvae been on my blog.