What to Teach Your Kids about Easter (even if you don’t celebrate it)

Spring has come, and soon a young child’s fancy turns towards… Easter baskets! Even if you don’t celebrate Easter, it’s hard not to notice all the Peep candies, the chocolate bunnies and the one-thousand-and-one Easter egg dyeing kits populating the shelves. As he or she is gnawing one of those aforementioned chocolate hares, your inquisitive little one is bound to ask what all the fuss is about. 

According to Christian teachings, Easter is the time of the Resurrection, when, simply put, Jesus Christ returned from the dead and ascended to Heaven. It’s a central tenet of Christian belief. Of course, all the talk about life, death and rebirth may be a little weighty for children. If you’re looking for ways to teach children about the meaning behind the Easter celebration without unnerving them, try some of these suggestions.

Now that still doesn’t quite explain where jelly beans and bunnies come into the picture. As early Christianity spread through Europe, the celebration of Easter gradually replaced the old pagan spring festivals. The word ‘Easter’ actually comes from Ēostre, the Germanic goddess of spring, who would often take the form of a hare. Here are some more insights into the history of Easter, which might help you reconcile resurrections and rabbits a little better when your kids ask. 

Even if you’re not religious, teaching your children about the meaning behind this colorful holiday can help them understand other people’s faiths, and these days a little understanding can go a long way.

Happy Easter!