Celebrating Easter
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Posted by Wei Yin Wong Mar 20, 2009 |
For most kids, Easter is all about the Easter bunny, Easter eggs and the nice little gifts they are going to get from family and loved ones. It's a bit like Christmas, albeit on a smaller scale.
But where I came from, there is nothing frivilous and colorful about Easter celebrations. There was and still is no emphasis on Easter eggs and bunnies although in recent years, there have been attempts by retailers to commercialize the event. The season of Lent, Good Friday and Easter Sunday are all sacred, sombre and serious business.
My parents are both very pious Catholics. My mum went to a mission school and was educated by Irish Catholic nuns. My dad has regular church duties. Needles to say, we kids were only taught the religious aspects of Easter. So we performed our Easter duties by attending masses, stations of the cross and going to confessions. No one ever uttered a word about eggs, bunnies or gifts.
It's a totally different story here in Melbourne. Easter is a holiday associated with fun things as well as a religious ocassion. Personally, I have nothing against the secular side of Easter. It's good, clean fun for the kids, after all. At school, they learn and make Easter crafts. And the week before the first school term ends is always filled with fun Easter activities.
Fortunately, most public schools also have a weekly Christian religious program (for families who opt for it). Therefore, the kids also learn the about the origins and the true meaning of Easter. Parents can also teach children about faith, hope and friendships through junior religious books, stories and plays.
For me, I'll hit the library with the kids and encourage them to borrow Easter-themed books. I'm toying with the idea of holding a small mini egg hunt and perhaps make some home-made Easter eggs too. We'll have two weeks of holiday when the time comes to do all these fun and meaningful activities.
To read more about Easter activities for kids, read my recent Easter-themed articles below.
Sugar-free Easter Gift Ideas for Children
Six Easter Egg Decorating Ideas