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We aren't religious but do easter basket and will do an egg hunt. I haven't thought about it, but now that DD1 is 3 I should. I like the idea of a celebration of spring!

Yep, it's a celebration of Spring which includes the births of baby animals, which is why eggs, bunnies, and chicks are so prevalent.

I've said that it is the day Jesus joined his Father in Heaven. I didn't get any questions after that, so I called it done...anyone have any better way to phrase it?

We don't go into that much detail. Easter is when the Easter Bunny comes and brings a basket of stuff and there are Easter eggs. He's only 2.5 so he doesn't really question things yet.

Just like Christmas is a day we celebrate giving to others and Santa brings presents. The end.

I think it's great for children to understand others' perspectives and have a cultural knowledge of things, so I would explain something like @looch: said (and that is actually why we celebrate in my family).

I would think about why you want to do these things and tell her just that. If it's a celebration of spring, then tell her that. If it's a "just for fun" activity, then roll with that!

I've been thinking on this too, @Mrs. Carrot! Thanks for all of these great ideas, friends! I like the celebration of spring, and, as my kiddo gets older and understands the concept of religion, contextualizing what is also being celebrated by Christians, as well as information about Passover.

Easter is a religious holiday. If you're uncomfortable talking about it with her, perhaps participating even in the more secular components just isn't the right choice for your family. I don't think opting out of a few egg hunts or whatever would socially stigmatize your LO. I might broaden the celebration of spring - visit a farm, plant a garden, learn about Passover and Easter - without participating in the holidays if they just don't fit with your beliefs.

@honeybear: Yes, I realize that, but I didn't know what to say about that to my 5 year old...do you have any suggestions?

@rattles: I agree that Easter is traditionally a religious holiday, but many of the traditions surrounding Easter (egg hunts, Easter baskets and coloring eggs) no longer have religious connotations (even the ones that once did). I don't think its necessary to refrain from participating in those activities simply because one does not believe in/support the meaning behind the original holiday. It's kind of taken on a secular/commercial life of its own!

@Adira: @tlcbaby: OP has noted on a couple of threads some discomfort with celebrating or explaining Easter. My point was that I don't think she needs to celebrate it if she has reservations about its clearly religious origin or overtones. There are other fun things to do to celebrate the spring!

And honestly, I don't have a problem with anyone participating in secular celebrations, but I don't appreciate rewriting the holiday itself as primarily about spring or baby animals.

@rattles: Well, to be fair the timing of Easter and a lot of the traditions are actually rooted in the Pagan festival Eostre, which Christians "rewrote" and co-opted to advance the adoption of Christianity.

@honeybear: I struggle with explaining resurrection in a child appropriate way.

@honeybear: @rattles: Other people can attend something like an Easter egg hunt without having to talk about Jesus. Egg hunts have nothing to do with the resurrection. Your own Christian faith has nothing to do with this. The OP asked for advice from secular families which you apparently are not.

@Finfan: I did not say that anyone has to talk about Jesus if they choose to attend an egg hunt. It is perfectly fine with me if an adult chooses not to say a word about Easter/God/Jesus/Christianity if and when they accompany their child(ren) to look for candy and stickers in plastic eggs.

But...

The question posed was: "How do you explain what Easter is?" Therefore, I think that it's ridiculous to say that the Christian faith has nothing to do with it. And I will reiterate that it's offensive to say "it's a celebration of spring." Because Easter cannot honestly be reduced to that. If you want to put a finer point on it, substitute “Eid al-Fitr” (when it falls in the spring) or “Passover” for “Easter” and ask yourself if you’d honestly be okay reducing either of those holidays to "a celebration of spring" in front of your child.

Look, I get that the issue here is not really about not knowing how to explain Easter. Based on what she has written, I have confidence that @Mrs. Carrots: is able to explain it in a totally accurate and probably also very deeply meaningful way (I mean this as a compliment to her, in case the tone doesn't transmit across the internet). My point is simply that discomfort with explaining something accurately and honestly (even if you use disclaimers like “I don’t believe this, but…”) is not an excuse for being dishonest to children and offensive to others. There are plenty of other honest and inoffensive ways to deal with this situation.

Could you just say the reason why kids are getting presents and looking for eggs is because the Easter Bunny left them?

We're Jewish and explain Christmas like, "Christmas is a holiday that a lot of people celebrate. We don't because we're Jewish, but we can look at the pretty lights and trees." Maybe something similar for Easter? Though LO once said his favorite holiday was Christmas so maybe that backfired...

@Mrs. Carrot: Yes, that is my issue as well. My son is a bit older and understands the difference between being alive or dead, but I struggle with ressurection. It's not like I can draw a parallel to it with something that has happened in his life. Christmas is easier, because he understands what it means to have a birthday (again, I know it's not the fullest description, but for now it works). That's why I've simplified having died, risen and ascended into what I did.