Every year holiday festivities seem to get more extravagant, prompting complaints about holiday commercialization.
For the vast majority of Christian denominations, Easter is the oldest and most important of all celebrations. It represents the commemoration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
However, according to some, what is supposed to be a holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus has now become a day full of over-indulged consumerism.
Lethbridge College student, Justin Jensen, 25, is a dedicated Christian who believes modern holidays don’t line-up with Christian beliefs. He says Easter has strayed far from its intended purpose.
“I prefer calling Easter, Resurrection day since it’s the day Jesus came back to life after dying on the cross. The whole season symbolizes we can live in him and be saved.”
Jensen also believes a large portion of the commercialization stems from the capitalist nature of businesses.
“I think Easter and other mainstream holidays have become commercialized because businesses see them as an opportunity to get money. They want to make it more about greed than God,” he added.
The National Retail Federation says the average Canadian family, (two parents and two children) will spend between $150 and $175 dollars on Easter each year. That number increases based on the number of children in the family.
For mother of three, Amanda Bonertz, she believes the struggle for some around the holidays comes when children are very young.
“My son is three and my twins are nine months old. At this point they don’t really have the patience to learn about why the holiday exists, they just know that the Easter bunny brings them toys.”
She added that varying religious affiliations within the family create added struggles around holidays and the neutrality of a non-denominational Easter is simpler.
“I grew up Catholic, but my husband is not. It’s more important to spend time with family and make sure my kids are happy than to focus on Catholic traditions.”
Like many Western holidays, Christian theology has created the foundation of what the majority of Canadians refer to as Easter but the holiday has now turned to the commercial side.
For Jensen, he believes the intended meaning of the holiday can be restored if people take their cues from devout individuals.
“Keep an open mind and learn from religious people. Don’t undermine them; Take time to hear them out because they aren’t trying to change you, they’re trying to share something amazing with you,” said Jensen.
For Bonertz, she does not dispute the intended meaning of the holiday but instead chooses to focus on what she deems the most important part of all holidays, Easter included.
“I just want a happy family. If that means buying them chocolate eggs or a basket of goodies, then I guess that’s what I’m going to do,” said Bonertz.
Easter sales for 2018 were expected to be at a record high. According to early reports, 2018 landed Easter spending at $18.2 billion; of that $2.6 billion was expected to be spent on candy.
