How Not to Commercialize Easter
By Fratena Dawson
Christmas is already commercialized. The stores have started decorating in October now and have "Christmas in July" sales. Easter, it seems, is starting to follow suit. The stores start placing displays right after Valentine's Day in February.
Easter should be recognized as a Holy Day and the resurrection needs to be celebrated.
Instead, we have stores open selling and promoting all kinds of items. It turns out we need a lot of different things to celebrate Easter. We need a new fancy outfit complete with beautiful dress and hat for the ladies. Buy brand new suits for the men, to wear possible for Easter Sunday only.
As for candy, we can munch on chocolate rabbits, jellybeans of all flavors, and eggs with crème, caramel, and our favorite candy bar flavor.
They even have ready-made Easter eggs for hanging on a tree. I never read about an Easter egg hanging on a tree next to Jesus. Some of these eggs are quite expensive, but some are fairly affordable. But, what does the egg represent for Our Lord and Savior who died for us? Not an egg. We are much more valuable than an egg.
Looking through the in the Sunday paper, stores have advertisements going on to coax you into the store. Dresses, suits, Easter baskets, candy, electronics, DVD's, furniture, and even big screen televisions are all on sale. The highest priced basket was fifty dollars, but inside was a DVD, popcorn, candy, and a gift cards. There was Not one egg in sight in the whole basket. What happened to the simple basket of yesterday? What are we sacrificing? The baskets that had a chocolate bunny, some eggs, jellybeans, and maybe a stuffed rabbit and some of that green grass. Simplicity is often the best solution, for those who celebrate, but these days the baskets keep getting more expensive with every passing year. Again, I ask what have we sacrificed? For the One who sacrifice His life with his blood.
When I owned my bakery I used to bake Hot Cross Buns for my customer, and I would sell lots and lots of them. Who started Hot Cross Buns? Well I was told it started in England, so I researched and this is what I found: Hot Cross Buns A Pastry baked in England and served as traditional breakfast on Good Friday. They are so named for the icing across the top of the bun; it reminds people of the crucifixion. If you kept a hot cross bun from one Good Friday to the next, it was thought that you would have good luck all year long.
We celebrate with a lovely family meal of prayer and remembering who we are celebrating, Jesus our Lord and Savior. While all of these things are good to have to celebrate Easter, everybody should also take time to remember what the holiday is really about. We need to keep in mind and heart; What it signifies and Who it represents. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World, Who died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. When Jesus returns He will Not be carrying an egg, a rabbit or chocolate. But, Love in his heart to come for His Beloved, His Bride (male and female) who have accepted Him in their heart and believe. You will see all His Glory.
Easter Sunday is usually celebrated with a sunrise service and highly festive music with brass instruments. The pulpit of the church is adorned with many Easter Lilies. Easter Sunday should be that Sunday that follows the first full moon after the first day of spring or the Vernal Equinox. What is the Vernal Equinox?
May I remind you that this has been happening since after the death and resurrection of Christ. As Earth revolves around the sun, there are two moments each year when the sun is exactly above the equator. These moments called "equinoxes" occur around March 20 or 21 and September 22 or 23.
Equinox literally means "equal night," since the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world during the equinoxes.
The March equinox marks when the northern hemisphere starts to tilt toward the sun, which means longer, sunnier days. In the northern hemisphere, the March equinox is called the "vernal equinox" because it signals the beginning of spring ("vernal" means fresh or new like the spring). All things are made a new! The September equinox is called the "autumnal equinox" because it marks the first day of autumn.
What if this Easter Sunday all business would close their business who believe in celebration of Christ, and give Him all the Glory, and watch what Jesus does for you. Let Jesus bless you this Holy Day. Just rest and watch Him restore your heart, your soul, your finances, your family, your life. Just celebrate Him and Him only for what He sacrificed.
More importantly, we celebrate these days to relive Jesus' last days: The Last Supper, The Cross, and His Resurrection into heaven.
Fratena Dawson is an article writer who enjoys writing on subjects that will bring the reader to understand what is available to them.
Article Source: Fratena_Dawson
How-Not-to-Commercialize
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