Hellobee Boards

@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.

@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.

@Mrs. Tiger: I don't see them as especially religious but I am not Christian and we don't do them.
Pretty much exactly what @JoJoGirl said.

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.

@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.

@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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

With that said I'm a reform Jew and I would imagine someone who is orthodox would have much stronger opinions.

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.

I don't understand purposefully secular celebrations of religious holidays though, and in full disclosure, they rub me the wrong way.

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.

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.

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.