https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:50:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2482387 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 00:33:05 +0000 Kimberlybee 2482387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was raised Buddhist and LOVED Easter egg hunts. For me, it's like a welcome to spring and a fun way to celebrate spring and new beginnings . I was recruited by many Protestant churches growing up so I was able to attend many events organized by the church. I don't view hunting plastic filled eggs as a religious celebration if the gathering is at home or not on the church facilities. I think it would be fun for any kid of any religion to join in. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481863 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:23:14 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 2481863@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the perspectives everyone! Interesting how differently we all feel about it. Although my ILs are a religious minority, their religion does not mind participating in Christian activities because to them, Jesus was a reincarnation of Krishna :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481839 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 16:07:42 +0000 danda 2481839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish and my intent is that my children will not participate in Easter egg hunts. There is a Jewish rule that goes something along the lines of "if the non-Jews do it but it serves no rational purpose not related to the holiday, Jews shouldn't be doing it." Same as Christmas trees. I can definitely see an Orthodox family staying far away. I might permit my kids to participate if the situation is right (for example, as I did when living with a French host family during Easter), but I would in general try to avoid those situations. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481816 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:54:00 +0000 Happygal 2481816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Carrot: I consider Easter to be a deeply religious holiday, so I understand why you feel this way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481810 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:49:41 +0000 Mrs. Carrot 2481810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really struggle with this, as a hardcore agnostic. Easter feels like a very religious holiday to me, and always makes me a little uncomfortable, though when we get invited for egg hunts and stuff, we go because it's fun for kiddo. I can see getting questions about Easter baskets when she gets older, and we already incorporated and started doing Christmas traditions but Easter just doesn't feel right to me for some reason. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481768 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:26:38 +0000 Greentea 2481768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rattles: I concur. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481725 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:02:02 +0000 rattles 2481725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Of course there's nothing inherently religious about hiding eggs and eating delicious chocolate bunnies. But it's being done at/for Easter, making it at the very least religiously affiliated. </p> <p>I don't understand purposefully secular celebrations of religious holidays though, and in full disclosure, they rub me the wrong way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481606 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:57:33 +0000 tofuwad 2481606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I always find these secular celebrations vs religious celebrations discussions very enlightening because DH's family and my brother's wife are fairly religious but I'm not at all so I never know how to handle things politely! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481556 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:22:02 +0000 Miss Ariel 2481556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Being Jewish I would never specifically seek out an egg hunt. I wouldn't go over to a friends house specifically for one or put one on for my kids. Nor would I dye eggs when my in laws can hardly believe.</p> <p>But growing up, we used to have non-Jewish friends at our sedar and similar things to help us celebrate. So I could see going to a friends Easter celebration to celebrate with them and doing one.</p> <p>Although it sounds like the original question was a lunch that happened to be on Easter so an egg hunt would be included just for fun, which makes me a bit uncomfortable.</p> <p>With that said I'm a reform Jew and I would imagine someone who is orthodox would have much stronger opinions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481524 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:04:36 +0000 brownepiano 2481524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said no. We're a Christian family and actually try to avoid the secularized version of the holidays. We dyed eggs some and did hunts growing up, but DH did not. No Santa either for either one of us. DH actually really hates Santa and the Easter bunny. I'd be surprised if I could convince him to dye eggs or do a hunt.<br /> But like others said, since the bunny and eggs are so closely tied to the day, albeit a very secularized version, I can see why Jews would not want to have anything to do with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481522 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 13:04:06 +0000 Chuckles 2481522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a mostly secular Jew, and I agree with others. Just the egg hunt isn't overtly religious, but it's associated only with Easter, so I would consider it sort of religious. I would totally participate with my son, but it would be like, this is a tradition other families have for a holiday we don't celebrate. I could see how an Orthodox family wouldn't participate. For me it would be about exposing my son to other traditions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481497 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:50:59 +0000 Anagram 2481497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tofuwad: my husband and his family are Hindu. They also immigrated to the US when my husband was an adult. So they don't tend to initiate these things, because they don't know much about them (egg hunts, easter baskets), but they totally celebrate Christmas with us and gladly join in our Easter stuff. I'm not religious, so my celebrations tend to be the secular variety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481468 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:28:41 +0000 tofuwad 2481468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I haven't read all the responses but I just wanted to say that I was raised Buddhist in Malaysia by two American parents and we always celebrated secular American holidays (Easter, Christmas, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day).</p> <p>I didn't even know Easter was Christian until I was 17 and moved to the United States and I was at a friend's and their mother had bought them a chocolate cross. I was like WTH do you have a chocolate Jesus?????? He was equally incredulous that I didn't know Easter was about Christ. </p> <p>And my father was raised Buddhist in Hawaii and always knew it was Christian (he went to a Catholic school), they did an egg hunt but it was more secular than not. </p> <p>I also knew a Jewish family who did not celebrate Christmas and had never had a tree but did put up stockings. I was always too nervous to ask them why they had stockings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481447 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:21:00 +0000 Greentea 2481447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: that is another way to look at it! Things are adapted and evolve over time, I think that is just inevitable. We actually do not do santa or easter bunny, but there are ties to Christianity, even if those traditions evolved from pre-Christianity. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481404 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 12:00:33 +0000 Mama Bird 2481404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish and I'd feel weird participating. I get how it's not really religious, and how people who are (formerly Christian?) agnostics would just see it as a fun thing and not care that it's associated with Easter. But as @JoJoGirl: said, when you're of a minority religion, it's super easy to just lose your identity doing what everyone else is doing. You always feel this subtle pressure to congratulate people on holidays you don't celebrate, because it's a big deal for them and it's not nice to not acknowledge that, but most people don't even know when your holidays are so it's not a two-way street. So it may not look like a big deal to jump in and have fun, but the next thing you know the kids start to wonder why they even bother being different, why not just be like everyone and get to do alllll this awesome stuff and be "part of the club." I just don't want to go there until the kids are old enough to understand the value of their religion, and other religions, and not just see the shiny stuff and want it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481228 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 10:01:42 +0000 Happygal 2481228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>An egg hunt has no significant meaning to us as Christians, but we only do it at Easter, so I see the link to the religious holiday and understand why she wouldn't want to participate. Maybe she threw the chocolate part out b/c she was trying to be agreeable, or she really loves chocolate. :happy: </p> <p>I understand why non-Christians celebrate Christmas, but I don't get why they celebrate Easter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481204 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:44:56 +0000 JoJoGirl 2481204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms maths: Yes this exactly. EVERY year I feel weird because without fail some coworker will buy me a Christmas present, and I always forget because it's just not on my radar.. and I'm like oops, was I supposed to buy you guys something? Just random things people don't think about. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481197 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:40:34 +0000 Ms maths 2481197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: Yes! This was what I was trying to say as well. And it often feels like there is an assumption that people in the minority shouldn't be bothered by the cultural things that aren't explicitly religious. </p> <p>We live in a very liberal place with very liberal friends, most of which have no religious affiliation. No one bats an eye at the religious activities we do or don't participate in. But even after knowing my husband for years, they still forget that we don't have a Christmas tree or exchange Christmas gifts, for example. And though he tries to be jolly for the many Christmas parties get invited to and go to, I can see him getting tense throughout December as he is bombarded by the holiday cheer. Easter is a little more low-key here, so I think it's less of an issue for him. </p> <p>Others probably started more thoughtful than me :bummed: :bummed: but I definitely think I have learned a lot by watching my husband have to navigate being in a religious minority and it's definitely made me more protective of my kids. (Although they have plenty of privileges in their lives, so I'm not too worried.)</p> <p>So I feel like I've gone off on a tangent, but what I really want to say is that I am totally empathetic that this is a hard situation for your in-laws, and their decision may not be well-reasoned--because it's hard to lay out well-reasoned rules and stick to them!--but hopefully you can find something that works for all of you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481177 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:27:39 +0000 lawbee11 2481177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Greentea: It's funny you say this because the people I know who are the most religious don't do Santa or the Easter bunny or any of the secular stuff because they say it detracts from the real reason to be celebrating. Some do St. Nicholas Day instead. I would definitely think it's weird if non-religious people went to church or something like that to "celebrate," but I don't see eggs hunts and bunnies as borrowing from religious celebrations. If anything they were borrowed by the Christians. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481162 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:18:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2481162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So we treat Christmas/Easter kinda the same way... We're Christian, so we never to Santa or Easter bunny pictures b/c they just have nothing to do with the holidays to us. But I do put up Christmas tree, we do have presents, I don't mind egg hunts (maybe if we do our own I'd put religious themed goodies in the eggs), etc. But these holidays always are about Jesus first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481161 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:18:44 +0000 pastemoo 2481161@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tiger: I don't see them as especially religious but I am not Christian and we don't do them.<br /> Pretty much exactly what @JoJoGirl said.</p> <p>ETA: I am Jewish, I do not do an egg hunt. For (in laws) family, I might... but I'm also not Orthodox. I don't know of any of my Orthodox friends who would participate in an egg hunt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481107 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 09:00:01 +0000 Greentea 2481107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: @Smurfette: likewise if you are Christian, it makes sense you wouldn't understand people with a non-religious preference celebrating your religious holiday. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481099 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:58:23 +0000 ShootingStar 2481099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JoJoGirl: I can totally understand that. Technically I'm half Jewish, half Catholic but I was raised in a much more Christian culture (even though I don't identify as a Christian) so the Jewish traditions are much more foreign to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481090 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:54:41 +0000 Smurfette 2481090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: I mean I get it but to me Christmas is about the birth of Jesus first and gifts second. Easter is about the resurrection of Jesus and the eggs are just a fun addition. So while I "get it" I don't understand it cause to me they are nothing but a religious holiday.<br /> @JoJoGirl: that makes sense </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious/page/2#post-2481084 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:51:12 +0000 JoJoGirl 2481084@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ShootingStar: @Smurfette: I see it like this: a lot of Christian holidays have become ingratiated in American culture. So if you're associated with NO religion, it can feel nice/good/whatever to participate in Christmas/Easter secular traditions because everyone does! (It seems). But if you're a minority religion, they *are* inherently religious because they're associated with Christianity. I can see how the religious aspects of them would seem inconsequential to people who are agnostic/don't associate. But to someone who does associate with a different religion, they feel VERY clearly religious and alien. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious#post-2481081 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:48:42 +0000 ShootingStar 2481081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: We celebrate Easter and we're not religious. I just kind of grew up that way. Easter is about finding baskets full of candy and the Easter bunny and having a nice dinner, just like Christmas is about Santa and Christmas trees (to us). I love carrying that stuff on with DS, even if it has nothing to do with the religious side of the holiday. </p> <p>If you're religious, you probably don't really how many things in our culture are tied to Christianity and they're hard to give up and not be part of, even if we don't believe in Jesus or God. Especially when there are secular ways to celebrate - I mean why not have an Easter basket for DS to find, even if I don't believe Jesus was resurrected? It's fun, and it's something in our very Catholic area that everyone celebrates.</p> <p>ETA: this is also something I do now that I have a child. As a kid-free adult, Easter basically was an annoyance because Target's not open. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious#post-2481067 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:38:33 +0000 pwnstar 2481067@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: The celebration of Easter is pagan too. This article gives a decent background: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism" rel="nofollow">http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/apr/03/easter-pagan-symbolism</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious#post-2481056 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:31:49 +0000 Smurfette 2481056@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It isn't religious, but I do think easter egg hunts are associated with Easter. So in that respect yes it is religious. I don't understand celebrating Easter unless you are religious. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious#post-2481047 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:28:03 +0000 JoJoGirl 2481047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm Jewish and would feel weird about an easter egg hunt. No it's not "religious", but what parts of most cultural holiday traditions really are? :) I see you said they've done xmas gift exchanges with you in the past too, so I can see how you'd be confused (I'd opt out of that for the exact same reason).</p> <p>It has nothing to do with the symbolism of eggs or anything like that - that it's a Christian thing associated with a Christian holiday! It's not part of my family or culture or experience as a Jew. No christmas trees, no easter eggs, nothing related to anything Christian. It can be hard to imagine :) but it's true. To me it would be no different than inviting you to a passover seder - yes it's super fun with wine and food and family, but it's still a culturally Jewish event. You may think oh that's fun and novel! But may or may not be comfortable participating. If that makes sense. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-easter-egg-hunts-religious#post-2481038 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 08:23:10 +0000 JerricaBenton 2481038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's a tradition associated with Easter, which is an important Christian holiday. I don't think a non Christian participating in an egg hunt is wrong or weird, but I can understand why a non Christian wouldn't want to. For your situation I'd just plan another outdoor, spring like activity. </p>