geez, Easter overload

[Zoe Girl]

So I have shared before that I am in a new school that is in a more conservative community than I have been in a long time. Mostly that specifically Christian religious holidays are a big deal. It seems fine with the community overall, and I am one of the few who is REALLY uncomfortable. Since I am the new person I am working with it, just not doing Christmas or Easter in my program.

However there is still the assumption that I am Christian, and that my assistant is Christian (actually practicing Jewish). People have been talking to me and said things like 'well we know we can't use Christmas colors because someone will have an issue'. I am the one who would actually have the issue. Of course I get wished Merry Christmas and Happy Easter a lot, I say thank you and I hope you have a good holiday. Sometimes parents will notice and give me a serious double take.

So today was the weirdest with my roommate. I said a student wanted to basically create an Easter egg hunt on Friday, and I said no. Of course professionally and in a caring way. My roommate said that I could do it next year, so I said I didn't do religious holidays in public school. Her response was that since the bunny was not in the Bible then it wasn't religious so I should be able to do it in school. I told her I didn't want to, it was not necessary to a good and fun program, and my family does not do Easter. I think of how many people may feel really out of place around these holidays. I also think about people with really crappy, abusive families who may have bad memories of holidays. I got more pressure this year to like Christmas than ever before, I started to think about people who have trauma around holidays or depression.

So yeah, just blowing off steam because I stay professional.

[sweetana3]

Is there any way to support "holidays" without promoting the religious or commercial activities? We were not particularly religious but I remember the fun we all had working on the pretty standard holiday activities in school. Mostly it was Halloween and Christmas. Easter must have been more a church and family thing because I have no memory of anything specific in schools.

Of course, we were in small city Alaska and all activities had to be done indoors in Oct and Dec. so the school and its building were important to the whole very non diverse community.

Personally, I wish Christmas could be turned into more of a giving and less of a getting holiday time.

[Gardnr]

I've heard Happy Easter so much this last week. I always want to say "I don't believe in the Easter Bunny" just to see the response. I do however believe "He is Risen" which is the reason for Easter.

I don't know why you should be forced to "do" holidays in school. I would however, recommend that you consider doing none as opposed to only those that don't impact your beliefs.

I'm with you Sweetana3 on Christmas!

[happystuff]

I am no longer a Christian, but still get the holiday wishes... Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, etc. I really don't mind as those who say these things to me are doing so out of kindness and are wishing me well. Even though not part of my religious beliefs, the intent is goodness and kindness, and I can gladly and graciously accept the religious well-wishes.

As part of school programs - that's whole other issue and I'm glad I am not involved in those situations any long! Good luck!

[Zoe Girl]

I don't do any religious holidays, and if there is a concern about anything I didn't think was a problem I would listen to that. I have a friend who works in a school in an immigrant community and they asked that no holidays be done. The school has respected that and there is no issue there.

I don't want to be the complainer, I just felt very awkward around Christmas this year. The teacher's lounge was Christmas, the wishes were all Christmas, etc. Now Easter decorations (not spring) were all over the school and a 'women of faith' group had a meeting hosted at the school during the day. Even the FM who knows I am Buddhist and my assistant is Jewish said Happy Easter, My assistant answered happy Passover in that case.

[iris lilies]

At our neighborhood board meeting someone who is Woke about race issues and reminds us regularly of that planned an Easter egg hunt with neighborhood money.


Being old and experienced and having done something similar decades ago, I inquired mildly if there had been any pushback about the religious aspect of it and she looked at me with surprise. Years ago there was a little flap about neighborhood money being spent for an obviously Christian event.

For me, the Easter bunny thing is all about spring and the Earth and I can divorce any issues of religiosity from it, but apparently many cannot.

I am glad to be out of that milieu of steering through correctness. Perhaps she will encounter unhappiness, perhaps not, but I did raise the issue. We cant do better if we dont know better, right? And etc.

[Teacher Terry]

I am no longer religious at all but don’t mind the greetings people use. I loved celebrating all the holidays when my kids were home. I loved hiding their Easter baskets. Once they were teens they said they were not going to hunt anymore and I said no problem but too bad they will go to waste. They hunted because I wouldn’t tell them where they were:)). The Easter bunny is not religious. When my kids went to school they even celebrated Valentine’s Day. A Jewish friend called and wanted to know if we were doing anything today and I said no. So we will walk the dogs, eat dinner and play cards.

[JaneV2.0]

I'm oblivious to the religious underpinnings of holidays, the greetings, etc. I'm aware of the pagan roots of most of them. It's a complete non-issue for me.

I agree public institutions should completely steer clear of religion. Too bad it can't be made clear that bunnies and eggs are all about the Spring equinox and have nothing to do with Jesus.

[sweetana3]

I take somewhat of an issue with the word "complainer" as I do with "failure". It starts out the narrative with negative feelings. What you seem to want is a more inclusive considered plan on how to accommodate various beliefs within the school programs or consider the affect "religious" parts of activities might affect others not of the faith or a faith. These issues you can raise as a positive item of moving towards a better goal. They may or may not be accepted by those in power but it should not label you as a complainer unless you approach it from a negative all or nothing place. What is your district's policy?

Get your facts together. Do you know of any children that are of other faiths? Are their needs generally considered? Is this one place where it has been overlooked? Have their been any feedback from parents, even from just one?

I think your concern over "women of faith" meeting could be quite complex. What is the school district written policy? Perhaps the individual school messed up or has just gotten sloppy about making decisions? Don't know. Do you really want to get involved in that particular issue?

Are you not happy with the school you recently joined?

[ToomuchStuff]

I think at this point, Bunnies and Eggs have more to do with commercialization and candy companies.

[catherine]

I'm oblivious to the religious underpinnings of holidays, the greetings, etc. I'm aware of the pagan roots of most of them. It's a complete non-issue for me.

I agree public institutions should completely steer clear of religion. Too bad it can't be made clear that bunnies and eggs are all about the Spring equinox and have nothing to do with Jesus.

That's what I was thinking. It's so easy to do a secular egg hunt or dye eggs, or whatever spring celebration you wish to do. Abolishing holidays altogether for fear of offending someone seems dreary to me, but I understand that people do get offended. Our national holidays are the only permissible holidays these days, but seasonal holidays were very common throughout history to brighten up the winter doldrums and celebrate spring and and share in fall harvests.

[Float On]

Most holidays have become so secularized it's hard to find the religion in any of it.
Thank goodness kids are just looking for eggs... not 32 giant stones that were rolled away.

[Gardnr]

Too bad it can't be made clear that bunnies and eggs are all about the Spring equinox and have nothing to do with Jesus.

Too bad it's not celebrated with the Equinox then, rather than the Christian celebration of Christ.

[Gardnr]

Most holidays have become so secularized it's hard to find the religion in any of it.
Thank goodness kids are just looking for eggs... not 32 giant stones that were rolled away.

Commercialization and advertising of buy buy buy, eat eat eat of secularization, hasn't removed the faith of holidays. Faith is strong among the faithful. It was wonderful this morning to see the children singing and (2) signing at church this morning. ;)

As long as there are consumers for the detritus advertised, it will be manufactured. It's good to be a simple liver!

[Zoe Girl]

Too bad it's not celebrated with the Equinox then, rather than the Christian celebration of Christ.
exactly, it is done on easter and called the easter bunny. I am happy to do equinox or anything else, but if you use a christian holiday name then expect people who are not christian to maybe feel weird about joining in or spending school/neighborhood money.

[Alan]

exactly, it is done on easter and called the easter bunny. I am happy to do equinox or anything else, but if you use a christian holiday name then expect people who are not christian to maybe feel weird about joining in or spending school/neighborhood money.
What about mindfulness? Do you feel that a public school environment is a proper venue for teaching or promoting that aspect of Buddhism?

[Teacher Terry]

Easter bunny is fun and not religious. Don’t know how anyone could have a problem with that.

[Chicken lady]

Because he’s the “Easter” bunny? And “Easter” is by definition a religious holiday?

Alan, while mindfulness is a key part of Buddhism, i’m Not sure it’s any more “Buddhist” than Charity is Jewish or loving others is Christian. (Yes, Yes, i’m Sure everyone knows a hateful Christian, or an uncharitable Jew, or a Buddhist who isn’t at all mindful, my point was that they are key values from various religions that are really just valuable keys to life.

[Simplemind]

As a kid I always loved the classroom decorations changing with the seasons. We were encouraged to assist in making and displaying them. It was part of our art education. We did Valentines Day and May Day as well as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Pumpkins, pilgrims, snowflakes and flowers. Not a bit of religious discussion was had. I still give out Valentine's to all my friends and family. It was never romantic, it was always a show of appreciation. I still like doing may baskets. Oh for the simpler times before people were overthinking everything.

[iris lilies]

As a kid I always loved the classroom decorations changing with the seasons. We were encouraged to assist in making and displaying them. It was part of our art education. We did Valentines Day and May Day as well as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Pumpkins, pilgrims, snowflakes and flowers. Not a bit of religious discussion was had. I still give out Valentine's to all my friends and family. It was never romantic, it was always a show of appreciation. I still like doing may baskets. Oh for the simpler times before people were overthinking everything.
I gave out May baskets last year!

Here in Hermann we have Maifest with kids dancing around the Maypole.

[sweetana3]

Iris Lilies, I am sure someone would complain (negatively meant) about the maypole being perhaps a foreign religious dance/ceremony. :-)

[Alan]

Alan, while mindfulness is a key part of Buddhism, i’m Not sure it’s any more “Buddhist” than Charity is Jewish or loving others is Christian.I agree with the sentiment, although if you forbid the secular aspect of an Easter Egg hunt because of it's association with Christianity I fail to see the difference in promoting an element of Buddhism without seeming to notice the inconsistency.

[iris lilies]

I'm oblivious to the religious underpinnings of holidays, the greetings, etc. I'm aware of the pagan roots of most of them. It's a complete non-issue for me.

I agree public institutions should completely steer clear of religion. Too bad it can't be made clear that bunnies and eggs are all about the Spring equinox and have nothing to do with Jesus.
Separated at birth we are.

I don’t mind if other people use terms that are meaningful to them such as “Easter bunny “but that just means spring bunny and pretty pastel eggs/flowers/decor to me.

[ToomuchStuff]

Maybe we should call the celebration Rapa Nui day (and see who gets that).

[JaneV2.0]

Maybe we should call the celebration Rapa Nui day (and see who gets that).

Chocolate moais!

[Zoe Girl]

I feel there are plenty of spring things that are wonderful, i made a nice board with a 3D tree that changes with the seasons. There are all sorts of animals being born like bunnies, flowers growing, etc. And Easter still has a religious meaning even if most people treat it like it doesn't.

When i teach mindfulness i do not teach buddhism. I teach on a way that draws on MBSR techniques, body awareness and breathing. I do not say namaste, use tibetan bells, talk about suffering or refer to the 8 fold path.

[Chicken lady]

That was sort of my point Alan - we teach school children to “love their neighbor as themselves”, we just don’t quote Jesus. We hold food drives at schools, but we don’t tell them it’s a mitzvah to feed the hungry.

because those things are good and useful and secular as well as religious.

even the ancient fertility festivals the eggs and bunnies evolved from were religious - and the current observations include the name of the religious holiday. It’s kind of hard to separate. What do you have left? I’m trying to envision holding some kind of “hide and hunt” event in, say, November...

[razz]

I appreciate each day and if some segment of society finds a special enjoyment for a special reason, so be it. This "us vs the other" approach, for whatever reason, gets old very fast and tiresome.

The joy in life is being free to think for ourselves and give to others that same freedom as long as it means no violation of another's person, rights and freedoms.

[JaneV2.0]

Most of the enduring truths of life were discovered long before modern religions were codified, I'm sure.

[jp1]

Shortly after I got out of college I had a jewish friend, my age, who was a pretty good violinist. Not too long after we met she got a gig playing Easter services at a church. Monday morning she called me up "JP! JP! You won't believe the crazy story they told at the church yesterday! Do they really believe that???" I had to explain to her that that believing or not believing that "crazy story" was one of the main differences between Jews and Christians. Apparently her childhood school district on the Jersey shore didn't spend much time teaching Easter stuff...

[Teacher Terry]

JP, that’s funny. I have a Jewish friend and we were talking about religion and that they don’t believe in s afterlife so all your good works should be done in this life. I thought that was great. I was raised Lutheran and during our 3 year weekly class that led to being confirmed the minister said not to take the Bible literally. He said it was a bunch of stories to teach uneducated people rules to live by. He explained when it was written most people couldn’t read or write. My mom was furious when I told her. I baptized my kids to appease family but didn’t make them suffer through Sunday school or confirmation.

[befree]

but...but... if you celebrated bunnies and spring at actual Equinox, that would be referencing pagan religion! (You can always get offended if you're looking for offensive stuff.) Personally, I'm happy anytime anybody is kind enough to wish me "happy" anything.