The Atheist Who Celebrated Easter

I just need to confess: I still celebrate holidays. In fact, I love them. LOVE them. I grew up in a home where holidays were not related to religion. Plus, I knew pretty early on that they were rip-offs of pagan celebrations, which meant to me they up for grabs for anyone, really. Holidays always represented the Four F's: Friends, Family, Food, and Fun. They are bright, happy, sparkle-points of my childhood, and for that reason they remain a part of my life.

So, I continue to celebrate them with my family. We do not bring religion into it. It's more a part of being American and (let's face it) commercially bound.

And while I also recognize that I am a creature of logic and reason, I firmly believe childhood should be a time of magic, wonder, and imagination. Children should be allowed to believe, explore, and delight in the world around them, even if sometimes it's fantastical. We grow up and are faced with reality (responsibility, frailty, ugliness, etc.) soon enough. So, we love the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy at my house. One day I will explain to them why I allowed them to believe in certain things while I discouraged a god-belief, and hopefully it's not too hypocritical to make sense to them.

Guess what else? I don't care! Have I mentioned that I LOVE holidays?

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Comment by wisp on March 26, 2010 at 3:25pm: I celebrate holidays with my family too. My family members are somewhat religious, but the extent of religion at family gatherings is usually just saying grace before dinner, so I just sit quietly until that's done.

Comment by Apple on March 26, 2010 at 4:41pm: Holidays mean very little for me. The only thing I am interested in is paid days off work. For Easter I don't get any additional vacation time so it's nothing but an ordinary weekend for me.

Comment by a7 on March 26, 2010 at 8:28pm: i just give them new names and celebrate the time without any religion, take easter, we call mit chocolate sunday.

take care

I

Comment by B. on March 26, 2010 at 8:58pm: I see no reason to stop celebrating holidays or call them by different names; I love them too!

I think religion in holidays is long dead -- which is why the Christians are always so intent on "keeping Christ in Christmas", they know it's over for them haha

Comment by Shine on March 27, 2010 at 6:18pm: After really separating myself from holidays for years, I am just recently getting back in the celebratory spirit. I guess I was so adamant about distancing myself from the religious overtones of all these holidays that I forgot how to just appreciate their other aspects, like visiting with family and marking the turn of the seasons.

Plus, Easter is the season of Cadbury eggs. That fact alone makes it a notable holiday, in my opinion.

Comment by Shine on March 27, 2010 at 7:01pm: Omg, now that I have seen them, I'm totally making a run to the store later! :D

Comment by M on March 29, 2010 at 6:48pm: What is that "creme" stuff, anyway? Crack cocaine? It's so good! Oh, yeah, we don't do nativity, we have no religious symbols at all (obviously). I don't send out religious Christmas cards. We just shamelessly enjoy candy and presents and family time. I like teaching about the turning of the seasons and the old pagan meanings, even though I'm not a pagan, either.

Comment by Laura on March 30, 2010 at 5:54pm: I would never give up holidays because I love all the chocolate and food too much. Holidays rock!

Comment by Mercedes Anderson on April 8, 2010 at 2:59pm: I am really glad you still celebrate holidays. I love holidays! I do not want to quit celebrating them just because I am an Atheist!
Oh, btw, I love Reese's Eggs! That is crack for me.

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