https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 05:27:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2510954 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 21:33:15 +0000 Mommy Finger 2510954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I said it's worse than Halloween! We didn't get a lot of stuff but we got TONS of candy. Seriously. Ridiculous amounts </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2509325 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 10:38:33 +0000 daniellemybelle 2509325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe I'm mean, but LO gets one Easter basket from the Easter bunny... and I am the designated Easter bunny assistant. :silly: My MIL sent a small basket and I didn't use it. I did incorporate most of what she sent into LO's basket.</p> <p>I did feel like she had a lot more in her basket than she really needed but it at least all fit in one basket! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2509079 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:37:57 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2509079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember growing up and doing a gift hunt with my grandparents. So we would get our baskets (mostly filled with small necessities) and then do an egg hunt and hunt for presents around the yard. Mostly they were things we needed like clothes or summer necessities. But still, looking back, it was a lot of gifts. Maybe it was the way that my parents did the baskets and my grandparents did the gifts? </p> <p>Anyways, my point being, some of it may just be family traditions versus commercialization. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2509074 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 07:31:59 +0000 honeybear 2509074@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: In the case of TJ's, was it just people buying food for their Easter lunch or dinner? Because in that respect, we definitely do it up like Christmas. I think that a proper celebration is important! Easter lunch is something I plan out weeks in advance, go to the (3-hour!) vigil Mass the night before so we can work on it early the next day, and spend hours preparing (all by choice, because I think cooking is fun :happy: ). It's just like, if not bigger than Christmas in the food/booze arena, although instead of cookies, there is Easter candy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2509023 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 06:05:25 +0000 ValentineMommy 2509023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dunno....I tend to think that social media makes it seem like it's become bigger and that might not be the case. I'm sure there's always been people who've had bigger Easters than others, and it just wasn't photographed and blogged and fb-ed for the world to see.</p> <p>That being said, I used to get an American Girl doll for Easter, plus an outfit or two, and a piece of their furniture. So.....my son's Easter is much smaller than mine were. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508933 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 22:02:24 +0000 youboots 2508933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We opted to go to Vegas for Easter. We brought her a Llama Llama book and bought her a small toy. My mom got her a jellycat stuffed bunny and MIL did an Easter basket- not sure what's in it- last year it was some nice stuff like HA jams. Absolutely less than Christmas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508922 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:43:19 +0000 LovelyPlum 2508922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@deerylou: well put :) Also, for Catholics, which we are, Easter is supposed to be more important than Christmas. I like making it important, so long as the "stuff" doesn't take over! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508921 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:41:24 +0000 LovelyPlum 2508921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: I think you hit the nail on the head. Staying away from candy leads to stuff leads to more and bigger things. The answer is clearly to eat more candy. ;)</p> <p>For what it's worth, I thought your baskets sound fun! And yes to the seasonal books. Eventually, that will lessen, because we will have them already. But for now, giving them as a gift helps build our collection. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508919 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 21:38:25 +0000 LovelyPlum 2508919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Eh? I don't know. Easter is a celebration, but I wasn't trying to go all out, even if our basket looked ridiculous on IG :wink: As long as the material stuff isn't the focus, I'm not fussed.</p> <p>She did get a bunch of art supplies and some fun spring things, like a watering can, sidewalk chalk, a swimsuit, and bubbles. Most of that came from her aunts and grandparents. My mom also got her a bunch of pouches. We got her two dolls and some books, mostly as a way to break up her birthday presents so she doesn't get overwhelmed. </p> <p>Now the candy, on the other hand, took over completely. We had a basket of candy for the adults and a whole bucket of candy-filled eggs. But I am not complaining about that!! :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508894 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:54:29 +0000 PinkElephant 2508894@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it stems from parents trying to stay away from candy/sweets...which tend to get replaced with an abundance of cheap plastic junk, which is fun for a few days but you end up wanting to toss out within a week. So then it creeps into bigger and pricier "gifts".</p> <p>We try not to do anything out of control - they each got a stuffed bunny basket (to use for egg hunting) with a pair of pjs they needed and two eggs with a couple of bunny shaped marshmallows in them from us. The bunny brought them their "real" baskets, which I thought were modest and contained: 2 plastic frozen figures each, sunglasses, a pair of barrettes, a Koosh for Dd2/jump rope for DD1, a mosaic sticker craft, and a chocolate bunny. The bunny eggs had easter erasers, jellybeans, plastic jelly bracelets, and some hair bows. They did get a bunch of Easter-themed books, stickers, craft stuff, and a stuffed animal apiece from relatives, but I expect that to stop when they get a bit bigger. I don't mind that type of stuff because it gets tucked away with our Easter things and used year after year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508858 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:07:49 +0000 IRunForFun 2508858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes I was just talking about this with my husband yesterday, how insanely overboard it seemed people went based on IG and FB. I saw a woman post that the "Easter bunny" brought her a Michael Kors purse. What the heck? </p> <p>We always got little gifts in our baskets - a book, nail polish, lip balm, whatever. We did egg hunts and just had little pieces of candy, joke eggs with things like dog treats or something, and "money" eggs that would have a few pennies. </p> <p>My parents actually still do Easter bags/baskets for us which is nice, a $10 sbux card, Lindt chocolates, etc, but nothing super expensive. They got the grandkids each one small gift that fit in a basket plus an egg hunt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508855 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 20:05:38 +0000 SweetCaroline 2508855@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hm. We gave DD a modest basket: Easter book, toy cars, play set of eggs, 101 Dalmations, and a small beach bucket with a shovel, sifter, etc. inside it.</p> <p>One set of grandparents gave Goldfish, a book, 3 outfits, and a box of cookies.</p> <p>Looking back, I think both gifts were appropriate. DD's grandparents don't get to see her super often and love shopping for deals on clothes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508845 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:59:22 +0000 deerylou 2508845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think any and all holidays can become an excuse to gift and be gifted extravagantly, if that's your thing. Growing up, finding clues leading to a basket of small goodies was part of the egg hunt, and we've kept that tradition going. We don't go balls to the wall or opt for any big ticket items. Luckily, our family doesn't go especially crazy, either. The treats are a fun addition to the day, but not the emphasis. Should you choose, I think you can still celebrate the deep, religious meaning of Easter (and we do) and get some chocolate, on the side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508831 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:47:35 +0000 JerricaBenton 2508831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Meh - my brother and I always had overflowing baskets from our parents (still did as adults until we had kids!) and we still celebrated the real meaning of Easter and were active in our church and now we're the same with lo. I'm sure we do more than some families but we're happy to be able to do holidays up big. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508824 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:37:08 +0000 jh524 2508824@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well I think if your not celebrating the purpose of Easter then yes it could be seen as just another holiday to give gifts, candy, the Easter bunny, egg hunts and gift baskets, no different then Christmas if your not religious. We can forget the whole reason of why it's Easter but it's hard to not partake in all the nonsense when you have kids </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508822 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:35:59 +0000 Mae 2508822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not really for my family I don't think? I mean, LO did get easter baskets from both my parents and also my FIL and MIL but 1) they look for any excuse to buy her stuff and 2) none of it was big. We got LO an easter basket but it had basically 1 toy and then some art supplies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508819 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:31:15 +0000 sarac 2508819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, that all sounds nuts. This hasn't really pervaded my social sphere, and I'm glad. I don't know anyone who does a big thing for Easter. Is this more of a midwestern thing? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508799 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 19:22:49 +0000 FannyMae 2508799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: I'm Orthodox too, so the time that will pass before our Easter is here means less chance of chocolates.</p> <p>Some of these Easter gifts sound really overboard to me, we just give an Easter bread (tsoureki), some red dyed eggs and Easter biscuits (koulourakia). If our Easter is close in dates to "chocolate" Easter, we will have an egg/bunny, but not toy gifts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508739 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:41:33 +0000 YouGotMe 2508739@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO only received one plush bunny from MIL because MIL knew we wouldn't let her gift chocolate this year. </p> <p>I sso however notice this on Facebook this morning when my friends started to post their kids "baskets" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508726 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:35:59 +0000 travelgirl1 2508726@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee:<br /> I much prefer the US way of doing it with baskets of stuff. In England it is ALL about the chocolate. I don't know anyone who gives their kids anything else, other than maybe a stuffed animal or book. And all the parents whine about how much chocolate their kid has been given (typically parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and even friends buy big Easter eggs) but they are as bad buying them for other kids :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas/page/2#post-2508718 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:29:11 +0000 winniebee 2508718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah. It's far too much for my liking. Grandparents do the baskets (2 each) and my aunt brings them gifts. They got tons of candy but also 3 books each, swimsuit and rash guard/hat, sunglasses, water shoes, an outfit each, 2 sets of pajamas, several smaller toys (like kickball, art supplies, matchbox cars, bubbles, action Heroes, and a stuffed animal each. Not to mention over 20$ in egg hunt spoils. It's way too much and my husband and eye just sort of eye roll. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508717 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:28:46 +0000 BSB 2508717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: Well, I'm glad this isn't just a US problem. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508706 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:22:48 +0000 travelgirl1 2508706@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not the new Christmas but goodness gracious they got a lot of chocolate! It was our first Easter back in England and my three-year-old got nine big chocolate eggs with assorted candies, plus a huge basket of chocolate figures, chocolate eggs and small eggs absolutely stuffed with sweets. My eight-month-old was gifted five big eggs with candies, a stick of marshmallow characters and a chocolate bunny. Wtf is he supposed to do with all that? Everyone suggested my daughter eat her brother's too, on top of her own stash. And I got major eye roll when my family asked if the baby could eat regular chocolate or just white and I said neither.<br /> I was honestly shocked at the amount of chocolate given to each kid. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508705 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 18:21:39 +0000 Kemma 2508705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I think Easter has been waaaay over-commercialised and turned into an all out gift grab. Our kids got a few eggs from an egg hunt, a character egg each from DH's parents and we got a bag a of marshmallow eggs from parents. We won't be doing Easter baskets, now or in the future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508666 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:56:04 +0000 misolee 2508666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We celebrate the meaning of Easter so nothing from us. She's 3 and even when she gets older I will not be doing gifts. She had egg hunts at her preschool and church and got little toys and small candy in them and called it a day. </p> <p>I'm surprised and saddened at how commercialized Easter has become. I grew up dying eggs and that was about it. I also might be in the minority but getting 'necessary or small' stuff in their basket is still getting a gift. And as they get older and year after year, they're going to expect gift baskets and it will fuel the commercialism part of it more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508647 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:33:38 +0000 hotpink 2508647@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! I could't believe my social media feed yesterday. Kids were getting huge spreads of toys, clothes, summer beach going stuff, and tons of candy.<br /> The Easter bunny gave my kids a book in their book baskets and an egg hunt. The grandparents sent a little basket of candy. And that seemed like enough for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508645 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:32:30 +0000 Grace 2508645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was surprised to see kids getting gifts for Easter. We dyed eggs for the Easter egg hunt, and bought some chocolate for it. My parents gave her some chocolate eggs. And that's it. No toys or books or clothes. I'd never heard of such a thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508640 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 17:26:29 +0000 birdofafeather 2508640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we celebrate easter as a christian holiday and i got her a couple things, but nothing crazy at all: sprinkle playhoh, annie's bunny snacks (buy these already!) a thomas the train blind bag and a couple of $2 bills my mom already gave to her stuffed back into an egg! ha. my SIL went all out though! ETA: like she gave her way more stuff than she gave for christmas!</p> <p>i didn't mind, but i'll probably gift her those things before the actual day because i don't really want her associating easter with gifts! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508560 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:02:41 +0000 HLK208 2508560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm kind of guilty of going overboard...but I also don't buy toys throughout the year except for Christmas, Easter and their birthday. I also put stuff they need in their Easter baskets like summer shoes and books!</p> <p>We asked the grandparents to scale back so they only got baskets from us this year. And eggs never have money in them. Just stickers and m&amp;ms mostly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/has-easter-become-the-new-christmas#post-2508547 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 15:51:52 +0000 JenGirl 2508547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope not. We didn't get anything for the baby on either holiday (he's only 6 months now!). For Christmas lots of family got him way too much stuff. But, luckily, my parents just got him a small stuffed animal for Easter, I hope it doesn't get too crazy as he gets older. </p>