BossOfSeattle's 5 yo: Mom, why don't we celebrate Easter? I want to have candy too!
BOS: Well, because we are Jewish...but you can still have candy! And, well, because that holiday is about a guy named Jesus who a bunch of other people got together and killed, and then he...umm...came back to life and now kids hunt for eggs filled with candy.
BOS's 5 yo: Mom?
BOS: Yes?
BOS's 5 yo: That doesn't make any sense.
BOS: I know. Do you want just want me to get you some candy?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
21 comments:
You're right BOS, what you say doesn't make any sense.
The Easter Bunny is a rabbit-spirit. Long ago, he was called the "Easter Hare", hares and rabbits have frequent multiple births so they became a symbol of fertility. The custom of an Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. The Romans believed that "All life comes from an egg." Christians consider eggs to be "the seed of life" and so they are symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Just like the dreidel is the centerpiece of a game which is often played after the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah, to keep the children interested during the short time the candles are burning.
Does this clarify things for you?
Priceless.
We celebrate Easter for the sheer fun of the candy and the easter egg hunt. Not because of some guy named J.C.
Huh? Rabbits that lay eggs? And a man rose from the dead? It still makes no sense to me. As per dreidles and candles, they burn a lot longer than the game lasts.. And candy is still the point.
It's actually not about rabbits laying eggs. We all know that hares/rabbits don't lay eggs. The custom of the Easter egg hunt began because children believed that hares laid eggs in the grass. You know how children are, their imaginations, their fantasies. I think it's sweet that our celebration of life at Easter time is done so with the memory of what these children thought. It's really sweet and tender, don't you think?
As for Jesus, I'm not much of a believer in organized religion but I do try to respect all religions and their own beliefs by not knocking it. It's all about respect. To the Catholics, Jesus was a prophet, a guy who tried to model how we should love each other, respect each other. So whether or not he rose from the dead, I don't know, I wasn't there, but I do like the symbolism. The same symbolism we see with the prophet Mohammed. What about Buddhism? Centuries of precedence have suggested that when it comes to selecting a lama's successor, monks scour the valleys, the cities and villages to find a young child who embodies the spirit of the late rinpoche, or "precious one". Lamas are born, not made, and hold their titles from an early age. Some like BOS might say "what's with that?" But to many, bhuddism helps. I don't mean to insinuate we should stop questionning the meanings, the origins, the symbolism. It's the mockery, the arrogance, that's what scares me.
So if your child asks you about Jesus and about the eggs, explain the best you can what various cultures of our worlds believe, because your child can't read your sarcasm, your disdain. And your child is going to be the one we hope to end hatred in our world.
Come on anon, you try to give your 5 year old a history lesson while walking out the door with four other children. I know how to use the internet, I went to college (studied history as a matter of fact) and I am not obliged to teach my child about all religions. A perfunctory answer got to the point, which was that he wanted to make sure he didn't miss out on any candy. As far as my beliefs, I think you read WAY too much into that post. Some of my closest friends are rinpoches.
Sorry, I don't want to make you feel defensive. I just think that maybe a simple explanation like "We celebrate Easter to celebrate life, and the egg is the symbol for life is all your son really needs. And you might be Jewish son but it's still okay for us to celebrate life and that's when you give him the piece of candy, if he really wants it.
I hope I don't read too much into the posts. I guess I just have a hard time reading people's comments about Jesus. Funny, because I'm not sure where I stand with religion, but comments (not by you) but by another who says "Easter is all about candy and the hunt for the eggs and not about JC", well to me it's insulting and mean. I think any Catholic would be offended. What about the latke parties for Hanukkah? Would she dare to say latkes are all for my tummy, screw Hannukkah?
Anyway, peace.
Priceless. I hate latkes.
I didn't say that Easter is all about candy and the Easter egg hunt. I said we celebrate Easter for the sheer fun of it. Candy and an Easter egg hunt, not because of a guy named J.C.
I dont believe in the big guy therefore I see no reason to bring that in to play. Oh and Thanx for the comment on my blog Smirk.
Btw: This post was a little sarcastic post about bos son, not a lesson is religion.
all these comments have so much richness.
personally i love the latkes.
denise - your btw pretty much sums it up for most of us...i was too amused to point that out though.
But don't you see Denise? Easter IS about the big guy. I'm not big on religion either, but I think you are being hypocritical. Sorry, don't want to sound judgmental just trying to understand your comments. Then again things get lost in writing. I'm sure if we were face-to-face we wouldn't be fussing.
Peace
GWendolyn,
I will quit commenting now. I am so so sorry that an innocent funny post turned into a difference of opinions on religions. I know that it was not about that.Hugs.
I'm with 5YO.
I think it is obvious that BOS is making a mockery of certain religions-rather offensive if you ask me.
Easter is all about baby chicks and bunnies in this secular house. And candy. The Vernal equinox, you know.
I'm working hard to have all my explanations (the story is a MYTH, Jesus was certainly a wonderful person by virtue of his behavior alone) marshalled because Sophie will be coming home soon from church with her grandmother, and they probably told her all sorts of nutty things.
Class Cindy. I see your intelligence level is that of an eight year old.
Hey Cindy does it make you feel poweful and mature to make fun of a particular religion? Are you a racist too? It wouldn't surprise me with your completely ignorant attitude. Believe whatever you want but smarten up and refrain from making fun of others peoples' beliefs. One can only hope your children don't turn out as predjudice as you.
Hi Anon, It's the BOS. Actually my name is Julia. Apparently a post that really was about my son's love of candy (remember Gwendomama and I are long time friends and talk almost every day about our lives and loves- so she know his tastes) and not a comment on religious beliefs, has run amok. As far as my so called "mockery of other religions" and accusations of predjuidce I am not exactly sure how to respond. My religous/spiritual experince has been varied and laced with tolerance. I was raised by leftists who were at the time of my birth (late 60's)Atheists. My parents divorced and my mom let loose all of her pent up spirituality. We attended church, synogogue, hindu temples, bhuddist meditation, etc. The comment I made about the rinpoche was actually true. He is not only a rinpoche, but a tulku and the spritual leader of the largest Tibetian monastary in the world. He is my friend and family. I have chosen a similar path with my 3 sons. We attend a christian based school (Waldorf), I am an avid gardener and Permaculturist and love all things seasonal (we have vernal equinox celebrations,etc), and we identify religiously as Jewish. Inclusion does not even come into discussion because it already lives in my family's spiritual experience. I am wondering if this story would have elicited the same response from you if I had identified as Muslim (definitely NOT PC to insult Muslims these days) or even a non-practicing christian? Makes me wonder if you have a smidge of anti-semetism lurking not too deep below the surface? And I don't mean racial anti-semetism (Persians, Jews, middle easterners- but since you are such an expert on tolerance and history, I am sure I didn't need to define this subtlty, I just did it for all the other dummies like me who might be reading)but the kind that is alive and well world wide (especially here in America),as in J-E-W, killer of Jesus kind of anti semetic b.s.? I must say your comments smack loudly with intolerance and exclusion. Hallmarks of anti-semetic behaviours. I would be so happy to have a discussion similar to this without the secrecy (ANON?? if you believe so much, tell us who you are! No hiding like the German population during WWII) and in a place that doesn't log jam my friend's site. You want to try? This has reached levels of disrespect that I NEVER thought would come from a little boy's plea for candy. If you need some contact with the outside world have at it! But not with a wicked tounge and prediliction for stirring the pot. It is strange and anti-social. If you really WANT to discuss incusion and tolerance, practice it my dear... My email address is gardenorganica@yahoo.com I look forward to a more civil discussion. NO MORE INSULTS and ACCUSATIONS from you. Feel put in your place? You should. If not, get your head together and read back through your responses and check in sister. You are teetering on the edge...
For real y'all- PEACE. Julia And a big THANK YOU to Gwendomama for tolerating this. You are a gem.
hey anonymous
does it make you feel powerful and mature to be able to spew this crap while hiding behind 'anon'?
easter's date is determined as being the FIRST sunday following the full moon after the vernal equinox.
so there is no bashing going on here unless you think that one certain religion should 'own' easter and how it should be interpreted and celebrated.
in which case, then yes, you are.
and if you were face to face, you would not be having this conversation, because ANON, you have no face.
Anon, anon, anon...said like one would say Marsha, marsha, marsha.
Anon, you are tiresome, tedious and, well, anonymous.
Make sure when you choose to battle, that you choose your battleground. You have chosen poorly.
The last three comments made by Anonymous on this post are not those of the first Anonymous -- just want to clarify that. And also, obviously I do have a name, it's Joanne, if that helps at all, I chose to use the Anonymous option because I don't have a blog.
As for Easter, you can all celebrate it as you like and as you did, this is a free world, I just thought BOS's dialog with her son was slightly offensive to those who do believe that Jesus resurrected.
And great blog by the way, your post about your baby brought me to tears. Wicked tears. You should consider writing for real, you have a great talent.
Peace,
Joanne
Post a Comment