In recent decades Easter has become a material based holiday, with people prioritizing the items they receive over the deeper meaning of the holiday. Easter is meant to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, however over time, many have turned the celebration into a holiday focused on what one gets in their Easter basket, becoming an opportunity to make a wish list, rather than go to church and celebrate the life of Jesus.
One aspect of Easter becoming a money based holiday is the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny, which is found in many malls this time of year, is simply a way for these malls to gain money. When one visits this bunny, there is no emphasis on the meaning of the holiday, it is simply a way to entertain children. When one visits the Easter bunny, they pay to have a picture taken with a person dressed up in a bunny suit, and tell them what they want in their basket, which is all marketed towards young children. The emergence of the Easter Bunny is a point where views shifted, and people started to think of Easter as a day to accept gifts. The entire concept of an Easter bunny is unfounded, with it existing only to give presents, not to show the significance of the holiday.
Dating back to the 1600s in Germany, hares and bunnies were mentioned as part of springtime rituals. Even then, the animals were hiding eggs for children to hunt for. The idea was that after a long cold winter, it would be best to welcome spring, a time of resurrection and rebirth. The bunny was chosen as a strong symbol of these themes. As Christianity and its celebrations spread throughout Europe, Christians changed previously celebrated springtime festivities, combining them into one holiday: Easter. When Germans immigrated to America in the 1700s, they brought the idea of an Easter bunny with them. As time progressed, Americans changed the symbol to the candy-bearing, happy bunny recognized now. This has turned original traditions into mainstream events which bear a striking resemblance to other resemblance.
With the emerging trend of extravagant Easter baskets made by parents, the amount of money individuals spend on these baskets has skyrocketed. Some parents even plan on getting their children bikes, technology and many other expensive gifts each year. With social media projecting the unreasonable gifts influencers are receiving, expectations across the country rise for people to spend incredible amounts of money this holiday. Some baskets, such as one created by social media influencer, Brittnay Xavier, spent upwards of $500 on her child’s basket. Miranda Harness, another influencer, showed off the Easter basket she made for her daughter, which included two Stanley cups along with many expensive clothing brands. It is easy for people to feel that the gifts circulating on their feeds are normal, but it is important to remember that these content creators are making at least double the amount they spend on these videos. Influencers are another example of how society capitalizes on Easter because they promote the consumption of unnecessary products.
These trends, along with rising prices, have people spending a record total during Easter this year according to the National Retail Federation. Overall, $24.9 billion is expected to be spent this year, with $195.59 being spent per person. Last year, a shocking $24 billion was spent on the holiday.
One should celebrate a more traditional Easter by focusing their reflection on their religion, instead of hunting for eggs. Attending church services, spending time with nature and focusing on community actions are key ways to connect with religious aspects of the holiday. One could also take time out of their day to volunteer, fostering the sense of growth that a traditional Easter promotes. These actions are a key way to appreciate the meaning of the holiday.
Easter has become an outlet to buy material goods and an excuse for retail businesses to capitalize on the holiday spirit. This Easter, consider the true meaning of the holiday, instead of spending the day focused on what you did or did not receive.
