If you are a Christian and do not celebrate Easter

[Mom2J112903]

I find this very perculiar and would be very interested in learning *why*.

 

One of my very close friends, whom we even joke about our children marrying one day, does not celebrate Easter. She does not celebrate Christmas as many do, no Santa at her home. Halloween is another holiday that is not celebrated at their home. I can understand, in some ways, that Halloween and Christmas are not celebrated the way *we* celebrate.

 

We are a Catholic family, so Easter is a big holiday, needless to say Christmas is as well.

 

I do not want this post to get out of hand and will immediatly ask it to be locked and/or deleated if it turns "ugly". I am geniuly interested in learning.

 

Thank you :)

[Jean in Newcastle]

I know of people who do not celebrate Easter as in eggs, bunnies etc. but do celebrate Resurrection Sunday. I also know people who do not celebrate Christmas or the Resurrection on a particular day but "every day" in the sense that everyday is a day that you can remember the impact of those two days for the human race.

[Tess in the Burbs]

Well, we don't do Santa or Halloween. We have never done the Easter Bunny. We celebrate Easter as a celebration of Christ rising from the grave.

 

We have chosen to celebrate the Christian holidays for the Christian meaning they have. My kids are fine without ever having a Santa present. They have survived without the Easter bunny. I relented and they hunt Easter eggs at grandma's every year but to them it's just fun and keeps them out of the way while we cook :-) And they can dress up anytime they want and they get candy when they are good.

 

We just truly never felt to follow the rest of the world in those things. We celebrate Christmas as Christs birth, we celebrate Easter as the resurrection. We focus on the true meaning and not get involved in all the extra worldly stuff. I can't really explain it any other way. We just felt called to do things that way.

[HayesW]

We don't celebrate Easter or Christmas as a "religious" holiday because they aren't! Both of these holy days were set up by the Catholic church. There is no mention of either one in the Bible, and there is no description for proper celebration of these days. They are man made holidays.

 

We do celebrate Christmas and Easter as secular holidays. We don't do Santa or the Easter Bunny, but most of the other folks we go to church with do. We;re just weird like that! We also celebrate Halloween as a secular holiday. We like candy, and free candy is even better!

 

We celebrate Christ's resurrection every Sunday by observing the Lord's Supper and gathering on the Lord's day.

[Mom2J112903]

This particular family does not celebrate any form of Easter or Resurrection Sunday. That is what makes me :001_huh:

 

They also have diteary beliefs that *I* feel do not go along with their home church-a presbyterian church.

 

I understand personal feelings, but why not choose a church that has those same feelings so your children can participate in acitvities?

 

I am very :001_huh:

[ciyates]

I have recently heard Easter referred to as Resurrection day. I think that maybe the way some people choose to keep it more about the meaning than the window dressing. However I have not heard of any Christian not celebrating the day.

[HayesW]

We don't agree with everything that the folks at our church believe. We think the elders are wrong about one current issue right now. We have a few folks who wear head coverings and one man who thinks coverings are required. I am sure there are other differences of opinion with regard to liberties that exist.

[Mom2J112903]

Well, we don't do Santa or Halloween. We have never done the Easter Bunny. We celebrate Easter as a celebration of Christ rising from the grave.

 

We have chosen to celebrate the Christian holidays for the Christian meaning they have. My kids are fine without ever having a Santa present. They have survived without the Easter bunny. I relented and they hunt Easter eggs at grandma's every year but to them it's just fun and keeps them out of the way while we cook :-) And they can dress up anytime they want and they get candy when they are good.

 

We just truly never felt to follow the rest of the world in those things. We celebrate Christmas as Christs birth, we celebrate Easter as the resurrection. We focus on the true meaning and not get involved in all the extra worldly stuff. I can't really explain it any other way. We just felt called to do things that way.

 

 

This I understand :)

 

Being Catholic there is history behind St Nicholas which has led to what we know as "Santa". I understand your beliefs and I am glad we are such a diverse community. Thank you for explaining your beliefs in a very polite, non-"bashing" way to other religions.

[athena1277]

We do not celebrate Easter or Christmas as religious holidays. They are not in the Bible. They are man-made holidays. The Bible says we are to remember the death/resurrection of Jesus every Sunday as we partake of communion.

 

We do however, celebrate the non-religious parts of the holidays. Santa and the Easter Bunny are just fun parts of childhood to us. Like fairy tales.

[mommaduck]

Sounds like they hold to both OT laws (cherry picking, I'm sure) and believe holy days to be Pagan. There are some Presbyterians that are this way, even if their whole church isn't.

[forty-two]

We do not celebrate Easter or Christmas as religious holidays. They are not in the Bible. They are man-made holidays. The Bible says we are to remember the death/resurrection of Jesus every Sunday as we partake of communion.

Not trying to be snarky here, but genuinely asking - why can't you do both?

 

I mean, in the Lutheran tradition, we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ several ways: through morning/evening devotions, through weekly divine services, and through the yearly liturgical calendar. As well, each cycle - daily, weekly, yearly - functions as a microcosm of the Christian life, each in a different way and with a different focus, but all centered around Christ and the cross. Sure, none of it is Biblically mandated as "the one true way" :tongue_smilie:, but they do all have distinct parallels with OT practices, and they add a rich spiritual dimension to the rhythms of life, helping us to integrate our faith in all aspects of life :).

 

They aren't required, sure - but I don't really understand why people reject them or consider them invalid *solely* on those grounds.:confused:

[mommaduck]

Not trying to be snarky here, but genuinely asking - why can't you do both?

 

I mean, in the Lutheran tradition, we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ several ways: through morning/evening devotions, through weekly divine services, and through the yearly liturgical calendar. As well, each cycle - daily, weekly, yearly - functions as a microcosm of the Christian life, each in a different way and with a different focus, but all centered around Christ and the cross. Sure, none of it is Biblically mandated as "the one true way" :tongue_smilie:, but they do all have distinct parallels with OT practices, and they add a rich spiritual dimension to the rhythms of life, helping us to integrate our faith in all aspects of life :).

 

They aren't required, sure - but I don't really understand why people reject them or consider them invalid *solely* on those grounds.:confused:

There are sola scriptura people that believe in what is termed the regulative principle...if it's not in the bible, then it's not allowed.

[Love2Smile]

I am a born again Christian and we do it ALL!

Santa, Christmas, Easter, Easter bunny, Valentines Day, Halloween, carve pumpkins, Harvest Festivals, New Years Eve, Thanksgiving, colored eggs, stockings, Resurection Sunday, you name it, we do it!

Well cept' Kwanza!

 

The Lord knows my heart and life is too short not to have FUN!

[athena1277]

Not trying to be snarky here, but genuinely asking - why can't you do both?

 

I mean, in the Lutheran tradition, we celebrate the life, death, and resurrection of Christ several ways: through morning/evening devotions, through weekly divine services, and through the yearly liturgical calendar. As well, each cycle - daily, weekly, yearly - functions as a microcosm of the Christian life, each in a different way and with a different focus, but all centered around Christ and the cross. Sure, none of it is Biblically mandated as "the one true way" :tongue_smilie:, but they do all have distinct parallels with OT practices, and they add a rich spiritual dimension to the rhythms of life, helping us to integrate our faith in all aspects of life :).

 

They aren't required, sure - but I don't really understand why people reject them or consider them invalid *solely* on those grounds.:confused:

 

Like Mommaduck said, we see it as adding to God's word. If God wanted us to have religious holidays, they would be told to us in the New Testament, just as the religious holidays/feasts/etc were given to the Israelites in the Old Testament.

[mommaduck]

Like Mommaduck said, we see it as adding to God's word. If God wanted us to have religious holidays, they would be told to us in the New Testament, just as the religious holidays/feasts/etc were given to the Israelites in the Old Testament.

Except the Jews celebrate two holidays that are not commanded and are not religious holy days, but they celebrate them in remembrance of God caring for His people.

[VaKim]

No xmas or easter here.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

[Aggie]

We celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born. I love to celebrate all birthdays in our family because I consider birth a wonderful, miraculous event!

 

It is difficult for me to explain about Easter. Easter is different. We are Christians *because* Jesus rose. The resurrection is the basis of Christianity. Without His resurrection, Jesus would have been just another teacher, or a liar or lunatic. No one else in the history of the world has risen from the dead. We acknowledge and celebrate His resurrection every day, all day as part of our relationship with Him. For me (and this is not a commentary on anyone else) celebrating Jesus' resurrection once a year detracts from the very reason for my relationship with Christ.

 

I see it similar to wedding anniversaries and Valentine's Day. We acknowledge our anniversary because it is the day we got married. We exchanged vows, had a nice ceremony, etc. And although we are still married every day, that was the beginning of our life together. We don't do Valentine's Day because we try to show our love every day, not once a year.

 

Like I said, this is difficult for me to explain.:001_smile: We do celebrate (not worship) the harvest and spring because I love those seasons!

[Mom2J112903]

The Lord knows my heart and life is too short not to have FUN!

 

I sooo agree :D

 

Except the Jews celebrate two holidays that are not commanded and are not religious holy days, but they celebrate them in remembrance of God caring for His people.

 

Yes!

 

 

No xmas or easter here.

http://www.religioustolerance.org/easter1.htm

 

I did not see Christmas on this site. If you know the life of St Nicholas, you will understand where the now-day Santa has came from.

[Mom2J112903]

Have you read the story of Lazurus? John11:43

 

We celebrate Christ and his life and what he did for us every day, we make the day of his resurrection a *very* special day.

 

It is difficult for me to explain about Easter. Easter is different. We are Christians *because* Jesus rose. The resurrection is the basis of Christianity. Without His resurrection, Jesus would have been just another teacher, or a liar or lunatic. No one else in the history of the world has risen from the dead. We acknowledge and celebrate His resurrection every day, all day as part of our relationship with Him. For me (and this is not a commentary on anyone else) celebrating Jesus' resurrection once a year detracts from the very reason for my relationship with Christ.

 

I see it similar to wedding anniversaries and Valentine's Day. We acknowledge our anniversary because it is the day we got married. We exchanged vows, had a nice ceremony, etc. And although we are still married every day, that was the beginning of our life together. We don't do Valentine's Day because we try to show our love every day, not once a year.

 

Like I said, this is difficult for me to explain.:001_smile: We do celebrate (not worship) the harvest and spring because I love those seasons!

 

We do celebrate, and make it big some years, our anniversaries because it is one day out of the year that we make *extra* special. V-Day J gets me one yellow rose (my favorite) for every year he has celebrated with us :) J was a *very* un-expected pregnancy and we almost lost him twice. There is more to the story of V-Day for us, but that is all that I care to share ;)

[Aggie]

Have you read the story of Lazurus? John11:43

:001_smile:Yes, yes, I have. I was thinking more in terms of 'religious' leaders, as Lazurus never claimed to be the Son of God. And Jesus called Lazurus out, actually.

 

Please know that I hold nothing against Christians who celebrate or don't celebrate any day. This is what God has laid on my heart for me.:001_smile:

 

 

We celebrate Christ and his life and what he did for us every day, we make the day of his resurrection a *very* special day.

 

 

 

We do celebrate, and make it big some years, our anniversaries because it is one day out of the year that we make *extra* special. V-Day J gets me one yellow rose (my favorite) for every year he has celebrated with us :) J was a *very* un-expected pregnancy and we almost lost him twice. There is more to the story of V-Day for us, but that is all that I care to share ;)

[justamouse]

Sounds like they hold to both OT laws (cherry picking, I'm sure) and believe holy days to be Pagan. There are some Presbyterians that are this way, even if their whole church isn't.

 

I was raised like this, struggled with it as a parent (yes, halloween, no halloween, yes Santa, no Santa) and then I walked along to a point where I knew God knew my heart and I could shrug off the manmade rules.

 

I am a born again Christian and we do it ALL!

Santa, Christmas, Easter, Easter bunny, Valentines Day, Halloween, carve pumpkins, Harvest Festivals, New Years Eve, Thanksgiving, colored eggs, stockings, Resurection Sunday, you name it, we do it!

Well cept' Kwanza!

 

The Lord knows my heart and life is too short not to have FUN!

 

yup, this is us now. God is never forgotten, and we joyfully have a blast with all of it.

[Guest janainaz]

We don't celebrate Easter or Christmas as a "religious" holiday because they aren't! Both of these holy days were set up by the Catholic church. There is no mention of either one in the Bible, and there is no description for proper celebration of these days. They are man made holidays.

 

 

Well, this is how I feel except for the fact that we do Santa and the Easter Bunny.

[Mom2J112903]

What about Saint Nicholas? This is where the modern-day Santa derived from.

 

There is meaning behind the Easter eggs, the Easter bunny and other "modern" Easter traditions. Today has been a long day, but tommrow I will find some links and post.

[milovany]

We had started going down this path, thinking we'd start only celebrating the feasts mentioned in the Bible, but then discovered the ancient church and how the celebration of the resurrection developed within it (it's called Pascha in the Church). Here's a link to The Easter service this past year -- such a longing-filled, holy, joyous celebration. It's the center piece of our year.

[mommaduck]

We had started going down this path, thinking we'd start only celebrating the feasts mentioned in the Bible, but then discovered the ancient church and how the celebration of the resurrection developed within it (it's called Pascha in the Church). Here's a link to The Easter service this past year -- such a longing-filled, holy, joyous celebration. It's the center piece of our year.

This was our first Pascha and it was awesome! I've never seen a service like it.

[scrappyhappymama]

We are Christians and do not celebrate Easter as a religious holiday. As others have said, we believe the Biblical example is to remember Christ's death and resurrection ~every~ Sunday and not especially so on one particular day. For similar reasons, we do not celebrate Jesus' birth on Christmas- partially because it is very unlikely to actually be the day of his birth, and also because it was not commanded as a Holy Day in the New Testament. In fact, the New Testament is conspicuous in it's lack of Holy Days and ceremony, especially in contrast to God's mandates to the Jews under the old covenant.

 

Our family does choose to celebrate these holidays, as well as Halloween, secularly- focusing on the fantasy and fairy tale aspects rather than any religious or historical aspects of the holidays. However, we have many friends who are our religious peers who choose not to celebrate these holidays at all, either religiously or secularly.

[justamouse]

We had started going down this path, thinking we'd start only celebrating the feasts mentioned in the Bible, but then discovered the ancient church and how the celebration of the resurrection developed within it (it's called Pascha in the Church). Here's a link to The Easter service this past year -- such a longing-filled, holy, joyous celebration. It's the center piece of our year.

 

THAT is beautiful. Just absolutely beautiful.

[newlifemom]

We had started going down this path, thinking we'd start only celebrating the feasts mentioned in the Bible, but then discovered the ancient church and how the celebration of the resurrection developed within it (it's called Pascha in the Church). Here's a link to The Easter service this past year -- such a longing-filled, holy, joyous celebration. It's the center piece of our year.

 

You all are going to have to start praying. I want to attend an Orthodox Easter service. Dh, is already scratching his head at me, the prototypical pentecostal enjoying reformed services and now this . . . :tongue_smilie:

[milovany]

... pentecostal ... reformed services ...

 

 

Hahaha, yeah we have those in our background too, and more. :D

 

We're done now -- forever.

[milovany]

THAT is beautiful. Just absolutely beautiful.

 

It really is stunningly beautiful. Most of that video was shot after midnight. We got home at 4 a.m.

[Parrothead]

There are sola scriptura people that believe in what is termed the regulative principle...if it's not in the bible, then it's not allowed.

Wow! There's a lot of stuff not in the bible.

[Parrothead]

This was our first Pascha and it was awesome! I've never seen a service like it.

It looked a whole lot like what we do. But we were not there until 4 a.m.;)

 

I love the inside of every EO church I've ever seen.

[HRAAB]

We had started going down this path, thinking we'd start only celebrating the feasts mentioned in the Bible, but then discovered the ancient church and how the celebration of the resurrection developed within it (it's called Pascha in the Church). Here's a link to The Easter service this past year -- such a longing-filled, holy, joyous celebration. It's the center piece of our year.

 

That was so beautiful. I can't imagine getting my dh to attend; our Easter Vigil Mass is usually over by midnight, and he won't even do that.

[milovany]

I find this very perculiar and would be very interested in learning *why*.

 

 

As I said in another post, we were pretty close to doing this, but I didn't expound on why people might move this direction (some have mentioned it) -- because doing so is not mentioned in the Bible. But to us, there are quite a lot of things not mentioned in the Bible that are pretty commonplace in most Protestant churches (Sunday school, membership, a pastor's sermon being the focus of the service, youth ministers, etc.), let alone in the rest of life. For us, we see the church in the New Testament as an infant church. This "baby" church, with Jewish roots, developed and grew after the time of the NT. It didn't change its "being" but it .... well, developed. And that's okay. And while not Jewish, it did take a lot of its traditions from the Jewish roots it has (feasts, richly decorated temples, vestments, incense, etc.). It's actually wonderfully deep and beautiful -- becoming a part of this ancient church has transformed our faith.

[OnTheBrink]

I know of people who do not celebrate Easter as in eggs, bunnies etc. but do celebrate Resurrection Sunday. I also know people who do not celebrate Christmas or the Resurrection on a particular day but "every day" in the sense that everyday is a day that you can remember the impact of those two days for the human race.

 

:iagree:

[KellyinPA]

Well, we don't do Santa or Halloween. We have never done the Easter Bunny. We celebrate Easter as a celebration of Christ rising from the grave.

 

We have chosen to celebrate the Christian holidays for the Christian meaning they have. My kids are fine without ever having a Santa present. They have survived without the Easter bunny. I relented and they hunt Easter eggs at grandma's every year but to them it's just fun and keeps them out of the way while we cook :-) And they can dress up anytime they want and they get candy when they are good.

 

We just truly never felt to follow the rest of the world in those things. We celebrate Christmas as Christs birth, we celebrate Easter as the resurrection. We focus on the true meaning and not get involved in all the extra worldly stuff. I can't really explain it any other way. We just felt called to do things that way.

:iagree:We do exactly the same here.

[goldberry]

We are Christians who do not celebrate Christmas and Easter. For us, it is not because they are not mentioned or commanded in the Bible. What IS mentioned in the Bible is 2 Cor 6:14-16. This is the scripture about "what sharing does light have with darkness" "what agreement does God's temple have with idols". It also quotes from the old testament "quit touching the unclean thing".

 

The scriptural principle that applies is that it isn't acceptable to God to mix true worship of Him with customs of false worship. I understand some people think that is not such a big deal, or it is ok as long as you mean well. For us, this is a serious issue. Both Christmas and Easter, although labeled as Christian holidays, have pagan and unChristian origins. Therefore, we consider it unacceptable to celebrate them, even though they have been relabeled as Christian celebrations.

 

I know that many people feel it is ok because "their intention is what matters, and they feel they are worshipping God". I understand how they might feel that way, and that these celebrations are happy and peaceful for them.

 

There is a scriptural example where the Israelites, having been freed from Egypt, proceded to build a golden calf while Moses was up on the mountain. This is Exodus 32. Aaron proclaimed it a feast or a festival to the Lord. Let's just say it ended badly! The point was, it didn't matter what they called it, or if then "intended" it to be something else. They were still using customs of false worship.

 

So, we don't celebrate those holidays because we believe that God has a right to determine how He wants to be worshipped. As a Christian, we accept that the Bible is what tells us who God is and how to worship Him in a way that is pleasing to him. And the Bible says, don't be mixing true with untrue, or light with darkness, or the table of God with the table of demons.

 

Edited to add: There are many things that apply in our day and age that are not "mentioned" or "commanded" that we do in the Bible, but which we do for practical, enjoyable, or other reasons. What we feel is important is rather, "does anything I choose to do violate a Bible principle?"

 

Thanks for listening!

Edited August 8, 2010 by coloradoperkins

[heritageofthelord]

I personally do not celebrate these holidays but I think everyone has to do what is right in their heart. In other words I think people can celebrate these holidays and it does not bother me at all, but for me and my family it is not the right choice for us because it would bother me too much.

For those interested though, the reason why we choose not to celebrate them is that these holidays combine pagan worship with Christian worship. Most of these holidays were made by combining aspects of both to satisfy people. Easter for example is even named after a pagan goddess that was worshipped named after Nimrod's wife, Semiramis. Many of the pagan aspects date back to Nimrod and the tower of babel. Nimrod was the great-grandson of Noah who rebelled against God and tried to elevate himself to a god. According to history Nimrod's wife Semiramis had a illegitimate son Tamuz who she claimed was Nimrod reborn. When he died she claimed he was eaten by a boar(one reason why historians say pig is eaten to celebrate Easter) but resurrected each spring. The easter bunny is a symbol of fertility that was worshipped and the egg was also a sacred symbol back in Babylon. Festivals began to celebrate ceremonies around the egg and many places began coloring them during the festivals.

The Christian Answers website has a great article on this here http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t020.html

 

I agree with coloradoperkins that this means that it is a mixture of true worship with false worship and I personally do not think this would please God.

[*********]

We are Christians who do not celebrate Christmas and Easter. For us, it is not because they are not mentioned or commanded in the Bible. What IS mentioned in the Bible is 2 Cor 6:14-16. This is the scripture about "what sharing does light have with darkness" "what agreement does God's temple have with idols". It also quotes from the old testament "quit touching the unclean thing".

 

The scriptural principle that applies is that it isn't acceptable to God to mix true worship of Him with customs of false worship. I understand some people think that is not such a big deal, or it is ok as long as you mean well. For us, this is a serious issue. Both Christmas and Easter, although labeled as Christian holidays, have pagan and unChristian origins. Therefore, we consider it unacceptable to celebrate them, even though they have been relabeled as Christian celebrations.

 

I know that many people feel it is ok because "their intention is what matters, and they feel they are worshipping God". I understand how they might feel that way, and that these celebrations are happy and peaceful for them.

 

There is a scriptural example where the Israelites, having been freed from Egypt, proceded to build a golden calf while Moses was up on the mountain. This is Exodus 32. Aaron proclaimed it a feast or a festival to the Lord. Let's just say it ended badly! The point was, it didn't matter what they called it, or if then "intended" it to be something else. They were still using customs of false worship.

 

So, we don't celebrate those holidays because we believe that God has a right to determine how He wants to be worshipped. As a Christian, we accept that the Bible is what tells us who God is and how to worship Him in a way that is pleasing to him. And the Bible says, don't be mixing true with untrue, or light with darkness, or the table of God with the table of demons.

 

Edited to add: There are many things that apply in our day and age that are not "mentioned" or "commanded" that we do in the Bible, but which we do for practical, enjoyable, or other reasons. What we feel is important is rather, "does anything I choose to do violate a Bible principle?"

 

Thanks for listening!

 

This is pretty much where dh and I are at as well.

 

We dislike the way holidays, particularly Christmas and Easter, are celebrated. Seems it's mostly about giving kids more things they don't need, and then throwing in some 'oh, and Happy Birthday Jesus!' alongside. It's just not something we feel our family needs to participate in.

 

It's very complicated for us, however. I mean, if one lives and has family in here in the USA, it's pretty much a 'given' that you will at least gather and have a meal, if not exchange presents. To completely bow out comes across as terribly rude.

 

Every year, we just find our way through it our own way, and let others figure it out for themselves, too. We have nothing against tradition; but I don't think the consumerism and greed of Christmas is very Christlike at all.

[HS Mom in NC]

We celebrate Christmas and Resurrection Sunday as religious holidays. No Santa. No Easter Bunny. I was on the fence and could have gone either way but my husband was against it. We play dress up on Halloween and trick or treat as an American cultural event.

 

Our Independent Baptist Church has a mix of families-some do. Some don't. It's never been an issue between members who see it differently.

[ktog29]

As I said in another post, we were pretty close to doing this, but I didn't expound on why people might move this direction (some have mentioned it) -- because doing so is not mentioned in the Bible. But to us, there are quite a lot of things not mentioned in the Bible that are pretty commonplace in most Protestant churches (Sunday school, membership, a pastor's sermon being the focus of the service, youth ministers, etc.), let alone in the rest of life. For us, we see the church in the New Testament as an infant church. This "baby" church, with Jewish roots, developed and grew after the time of the NT. It didn't change its "being" but it .... well, developed. And that's okay. And while not Jewish, it did take a lot of its traditions from the Jewish roots it has (feasts, richly decorated temples, vestments, incense, etc.). It's actually wonderfully deep and beautiful -- becoming a part of this ancient church has transformed our faith.

 

 

:iagree: