Many people feel it’s essential to incorporate Jesus into Easter for cultural significance. A friend recounted how her child once mixed up the resurrection story, likening Jesus to Obi-Wan Kenobi. “So, Jesus is like a force ghost?” the child asked, leaving their parents shocked. While they may not be particularly religious, I thought the comparison was quite clever. In our family, we celebrate Easter without any focus on Jesus, and when I shared this story with my partner, he jokingly challenged me to ask our youngest about Jesus.
“No way,” I replied. “His godparents would surely sense a disturbance in the Force!”
It’s true; if I were to ask my youngest children about Jesus, they’d likely stare blankly and perhaps mumble something about Christmas and Bibles. We distanced ourselves from church a few years back and haven’t replaced it with much, though I’ve drifted back into a loose mindfulness practice. I’ve shared some Old Testament stories as part of their social studies, so they grasp the basics like Adam and Eve and Noah. They understand that the Abrahamic religions trace back to Abraham, although my oldest is the only one who has a more defined concept of him.
But when it comes to major holidays, I’m not a Christian. We celebrate Christmas and Easter without Jesus.
What Easter Represents
It’s well known that early Christianity borrowed elements from other traditions, a process referred to by St. Augustine as “Egyptian gold.” For example, the Venerable Bede noted that the Saxon goddess Eostre inspired the name of Easter. Such celebrations of renewal and rebirth were intertwined with springtime themes, like baby animals and blooming flowers.
So, for us, Easter becomes a celebration of spring. Living in the South makes this easy; the trees are budding, dogwoods are in bloom, and azaleas are vibrant. We give thanks for the arrival of spring after a long winter and celebrate with a chocolate bunny.
Celebrating Traditions Without Jesus
We may celebrate Easter without Jesus, but that doesn’t mean we miss out on traditions. Wearing our fanciest outfits is part of the fun. I’ll dress my kids up while they grumble, and we’ll hunt for eggs in our yard. I’ll don a white dress with a large hat, while my partner opts for a pink polo. We aim to look our best.
Easter baskets are another tradition that fits perfectly into our secular celebration. When I was younger, we had to take our baskets to the church to be blessed, but our baskets can remain unblessed! We fill them with colorful paper grass, candy themed for spring, like Robin’s Eggs and an abundance of Peeps.
And then there’s the ham. Why ham for Easter? Who knows? I’m a vegetarian and skip it, but it can still be part of our Easter feast. Every culinary tradition, from ham to macaroni and cheese, can thrive without religious undertones.
The Joy of Togetherness
Above all, Easter signifies the end of winter and the beginning of spring. This year, it carries even more significance as we celebrate the end of the pandemic’s dark winter. My partner and I received our second Moderna vaccine, and our gratitude around the Easter table will be directed toward Dolly Parton for all she has done for the world.
We made it through a challenging time together, and as spring blossoms around us, we can see hope ahead. Easter without Jesus won’t feel empty; rather, it will be our spring of hope following a bleak winter. We have renewed possibilities to look forward to. This season will be about celebrating our resilience, our sacrifices, and the world’s revival.
This article was originally published on April 2, 2021.