# Easter is now "spring"! Did I miss a memo? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 27, 2003, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591 "2003-03-27T19:42:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/41 "2003-03-28T06:40:37Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Ben_ > > Jesus Kicks Ass in Hell Day This is my new favorite holiday! How do we celebrate? I’m seeing something with a lot of fire, and the whole “devil-may-care attitude” taken up notch or two. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/42 "2003-03-28T07:12:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\*Point is, I have not heard about _anyone_ crying out for the change. This year is the first I’ve heard about Easter being dropped in favor of spring. It smacks of needlessly caving into the PC police. \*\* Methinks you’re a little confused on the concept. If there’s no one asking for a change, then there aren’t any PC police to cave to. Perhaps it wasn’t done out of fear of offending but (and here’s a downright nutty concept) because it seemed like a good way to draw in business. Maybe it has nothing to do with Easter. Maybe they plan on bringing in the Easter bunny later as a potential mate for spring bunny and they can give birth to the baby Jesus in a Sunday afternoon show for the kids. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/43 "2003-03-28T08:33:05Z")
Maybe the mall’s owners are fundamentalist Christians who are trying to de-secularize Easter, but don’t want to lose the business of the families who will be coming by to get an overpriced photo of their kids with a man in a rabbit suit. Does this mall of yours have a Thomas Kinkaid[sup]TM[/sup] Gallery? Are their other malls in your general vicinity? Are they also renaming the Easter Bunny? It _could_ even be the promotions company that dominates your region is run by fundamentalist Christians who are trying to de-secularize Easter, etc., etc. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 8:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/44 "2003-03-28T08:44:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > Point is, I have not heard about _anyone_ crying out for the change. Then why did you post the following? > [@](#): > > Are athiests and non-Christians that hung up on kids visiting someone in a bunny suit at the local mall? Seems like you are bothered by the prospect of non-Christians complaining about Easter, and yet bothered by them _not_ complaining as well. Are you _ever_ happy? > [@](#): > > This year is the first I’ve heard about Easter being dropped in favor of spring. It smacks of needlessly caving into the PC police. There’s something I’ve noticed about some Christians: When the status quo favors _you_, you’re happy as a clam, and wonder why anyone would want to change anything - you glibly say it’s no big deal. But as soon as you notice any area where Christians are not favored, it all of a sudden _is_ a big deal. I also think it’s funny that Christians stole the holiday from the Pagans, but get bugged when it gets stolen back.😃 ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/45 "2003-03-28T10:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Amanita \* > \*\*Dammit, that mythical pastel rabbit who brings candy damn well better continue to be associated with the solemn death and resurrection of my god. \*\* It’s extremely rare for me to actually laugh out loud at something I read on the boards, but this did it. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/46 "2003-03-28T11:03:54Z")
Don’t worry Ben – we Christians still have Halloween, aka All Hallows’ Evening. Of course, it is loaded with all sorts of Pagan imagery and symbolism, but since I can’t figure out what pine trees or bunny rabbits have to do with my Saviour’s birth or death, I figure we’ve got no cause to complain about any other holiday. As for you folks who’re waiting or looking for Cadbury Creme Eggs, all I can say is you’ve _almost_ got it. Me, I go straight for the Cadbury Mini-Eggs for a hit of pure chocolate. Mmmm. Heavenly! CJ ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/47 "2003-03-28T15:09:37Z")
As many posters have observed, the OP has not proved his case that this is a PC Police effort. And I’ll chime in with **CrazyCatLady** : Why are some Christians like the OP upset that an _egg-laying rabbit_ is being disassociated with Easter? Do they lack a complete understanding of how their faith evolved or do they just don’t care? WTF?!?!? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/48 "2003-03-28T15:14:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Enderw24 \* > \*\*Methinks you’re a little confused on the concept. If there’s no one asking for a change, then there aren’t any PC police to cave to. \*\* No confusion here. The fact that they made the change without anyone fussing about it AFIK is why I said it was needless. [quote] \*\* Perhaps it wasn’t done out of fear of offending but (and here’s a downright nutty concept) because it seemed like a good way to draw in business. \*\*Maybe so but I think it’s silly. More than the whole Easter bunny concept in the first place. > [@](#): > > \*\*Maybe it has nothing to do with Easter. Maybe they plan on bringing in the Easter bunny later as a potential mate for spring bunny and they can give birth to the baby Jesus in a Sunday afternoon show for the kids. \*\* Somehow, I think that would be worse! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/49 "2003-03-28T15:34:30Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by blowero \* \*\*Then why did you post the following? > [@](#): > > Are athiests and non-Christians that hung up on kids visiting someone in a bunny suit at the local mall? Seems like you are bothered by the prospect of non-Christians complaining about Easter, and yet bothered by them _not_ complaining as well. [QUOTE] No, I was just using them as an example of what I see as the latest round of political correctness. Dissassociating a pagan symbol from Easter may not be that big of a deal but there has to be a line somewhere. We’ve already seen communities try to ban Santa Claus from Christmas celebrations. We’ve seen bannings of manger scenes. Where does it end? FTR: I was raised Christian but have been pretty much an agnostic since High School. Please forgive me if I’m not up on all these religious symbols. ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/50 "2003-03-28T16:24:53Z")
It was a trade off engineered a few years ago. Non-Christians were allowed to refer to those non-secular things associated with Easter as “Spring” stuff. In return, Christians were allowed to take all the fun out of Halloween and start referring to it as “Harvest” time. ---
**Author:** ![Kepi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kepi/32/7251_2.png) [@Kepi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kepi)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/51 "2003-03-28T16:26:24Z")
Oops. I meant “secular things associated with Easter”. Or maybe I was going for “non-Christian things”. Whatever. I hope you get the point. ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/52 "2003-03-28T16:35:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*I also think it’s funny that Christians stole the holiday from the Pagans, but get bugged when it gets stolen back.😃 \*\* I’m confused. I thought Easter was timed to coincide with the Passover, and it was only in Britain (and later America, of course) that it grafted on the pagan symbolism as well? Have I been totally wrong all this time? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/53 "2003-03-28T16:36:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kepi \* > \*\*I hope you get the point. \*\* I do, thanks. But itsn’t it lopsided? How does the Santa-ban fit in there? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/54 "2003-03-28T17:28:29Z")
Well, I guess Easter Bunnies aren’t as bad as getting a guy that’s been dead for three days and dragging him into the house.😉 ---
**Author:** ![LordVor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90ced4/32.png) [@LordVor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LordVor)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/55 "2003-03-28T17:39:51Z")
**dylan** , the pagan Anglo-Saxon goddess “Eostre,” whom some believe sounds remarkably like “Easter”, had a spring feast day that was celebrated several hundred years before the birth of Christ, which featured bunnies, eggs, lillies, etc. Around 145 AD, the Roman Catholic Church decided that this feast-day should be tied to a celebration of Christ’s resurrection. Around 325 AD, the Roman Catholic church tied the celebration date to passover, instead of the equinox. Cites: [1](http://www.bright.net/~1wayonly/easter.html) [2](http://www.ictacchiventuri.it/english/easter/origins.html) (Note that the first site seems to be run by christians who advocate not celebrating Easter because of it’s pagan origins) -lv ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/56 "2003-03-28T18:13:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > No, I was just using them as an example of what I see as the latest round of political correctness. Dissassociating a pagan symbol from Easter may not be that big of a deal but there has to be a line somewhere. We’ve already seen communities try to ban Santa Claus from Christmas celebrations. We’ve seen bannings of manger scenes. Where does it end? That’s not true. Manger scenes have never been banned. They have in some cases been eliminated when they were erected by government entities with public funds. That’s entirely different. You _do_ understand the concept of separation of church and state, don’t you? And Santa Claus is secular, so I’m not getting how it would be “P.C.”, as you call it, to get rid of Santa Claus. Where did this supposedly happen, and why? And if you’re an agnostic, why do you even care if it’s called Easter Bunny or Spring Bunny? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/57 "2003-03-28T18:53:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > \*\*That’s not true. Manger scenes have never been banned. \*\* I think the residients of [Lexington, Massachusetts](http://www.legalcasedocs.com/120/250/139.html#item1) would disagree. > [@](#): > > **And Santa Claus is secular, so I’m not getting how it would be “P.C.”, as you call it, to get rid of Santa Claus. Where did this supposedly happen, and why?** [Kensington, MD in 2001](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,39928,00.html) is one example. The official reason was that the city council deemed him as being inappropriate so soon after 9/11 but there were rumors that it was really because they were afraid of offending their local Jewish population. > [@](#): > > \*\*And if you’re an agnostic, why do you even care if it’s called Easter Bunny or Spring Bunny? \*\* It’s a tradition. My family is big on tradition, Christmas is one of the few times that the majority of us will be gathered in one place. I no longer celebrate Easter; I’ve only stepped foot in a church twice in the past 19 years. The second time was when I was forced to attend a Christmas pageant and my parents wouldn’t take no for an answer. Dad is a WWII vet and went to college on the GI bill. He’s pushing 80 now but he still has the ability to scare the hell out of me. I digress. Traditions are nice but some of them can’t stay traditions forever and sometimes there are people who have trouble adjusting. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/58 "2003-03-28T21:24:11Z")
speaking as a Christian, I always loved Easter Bunnys and hollow chocolate ones too. Its the thing to buy “resurrection eggs” now at Christiians bookstores. But I tell my son Easter IS about the resurrection of Jesus, but chocolates and bunnies go along with it. Why not? hop hop hop ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/59 "2003-03-28T21:27:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > I think the residients of [Lexington, Massachusetts](http://www.legalcasedocs.com/120/250/139.html#item1) would disagree. > [@](#): > > This complaint challenges the actions of the Lexington Board of > Selectmen, who on November 6, 2000, declined to act on an application by the Knights of Columbus to place their crËche/Nativity scene on the Battle Green (the Lexington Common) during the Christmas Season How is that a “ban”? I don’t know what the hell a “Board of Selectmen” is, but isn’t this about not putting a nativity scene on _government_ property? Isn’t that what I was talking about, i.e. separation of church and state? Seems to me everyone would still be free to erect nativity scenes on their own property. As far as putting things on _other_ people’s property, you have to get permission. > [@](#): > > [Kensington, MD in 2001](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,39928,00.html) is one example. The official reason was that the city council deemed him as being inappropriate so soon after 9/11 but there were rumors that it was really because they were afraid of offending their local Jewish population. Well, that _is_ weird. What do they mean by “ban”? Did they say nobody could dress as Santa Claus, ever, or just for purposes of that particular government-sponsored event? The article is pretty sketchy. If they said nobody could dress as Santa, ever, I don’t think they would have had a leg to stand on, First Amendment-wise. > [@](#): > > Traditions are nice but some of them can’t stay traditions forever and sometimes there are people who have trouble adjusting. Yeah, I really miss slavery, for example.😉 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591/60 "2003-03-28T21:54:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by blowero \* > **How is that a “ban”? I don’t know what the hell a “Board of Selectmen” is, but isn’t this about not putting a nativity scene on _government_ property? Isn’t that what I was talking about, i.e. separation of church and state? Seems to me everyone would still be free to erect nativity scenes on their own property. As far as putting things on _other_ people’s property, you have to get permission.** From what I understand, there had been nativity scene on that site for over 30 years and all of a sudden the Board decided not to allow them any more. Admittedly, I don’t know if it’s Government property or not. [Here’s a cached site](http://216.239.57.100/search?q=cache:RV64VHF_-jsC:www.thecrackedpot.net/2_1/NativityBan.html+nativity+ban&hl=en&ie=UTF-8) that leans toward the latter. How about [New York City schools](http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021212-80863274.htm) banning nativity scenes but not other secular decorations? Or the Red Cross [not allowing any Christams decorations](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2596703.stm) in British charity shops? > [@](#): > > **Well, that _is_ weird. What do they mean by “ban”? Did they say nobody could dress as Santa Claus, ever, or just for purposes of that particular government-sponsored event? The article is pretty sketchy. If they said nobody could dress as Santa, ever, I don’t think they would have had a leg to stand on, First Amendment-wise.** The tradition (there’s that word again! :)) was that Santa Claus would ride into town on a fire engine and light the community Christmas tree. In 2001, the city decided to repace him with three uniformed public servants. A cop, firefighter and (IIRC) postal worker. I believe the mayor either had just been elected or was coming up for election and possibly didn’t want to piss off any Jewish constituents. There’s at least one Pit thread on the subject from when the ban was announced. Of course, even with the ban in place it didn’t stop several people from showing up as Santa anyway. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easter-is-now-spring-did-i-miss-a-memo/164591.md?page=4)