In our family the E Bunny hides the baskets around the house (one for everyone in the family, including grown up) and we search for them on Easter morning before church. We have a very utilitarian bunny, so baskets contain socks and new baseballs in addition to chocolate, peeps, and jelly beans.

I am sort of on the fence. We didn't get an "Easter basket" as kids though we did have big egg/candy hunts. (Main issue with a basket is that it isn't sporting - aren't you supposed to hunt for your treats? ) But having learned about the tradition, like the PP, I actually found it sort of useful to collect all the spring stuff that I was basically going to get the kids anyway. Bubbles, flip-flops, garden tools, rain boots, summer clothes -- jazzed up a bit to be fun (i.e. all those licensed character on the boots and T's that DCUM --and I admittedly--hate, but kids love, etc.)

Anonymous wrote:My entire FB feed was full of parents posting Easter basket pics. I think it's stupid. Just another thing to buy from pottery barn kids, another reason to fill your kids up with chemicals and sugar, and totally forget the major religious "reason for the season."

I'm not even religious and I find the commercializations of this holiday apprehensible

Right on.

Op here and I seriously want to put all the easter junk in the trash! The kids are going nuts from all the sugar and chocolate, and the trinkets and toys and everything else is everywhere. All from the inlaws. Every year, there's more and more stuff, she tries to outdo herself each year. Hundreds of candy and toys everywhere, so overwhelming. Thankful we have involved grandparents, but really wish we could cut down the gifts to a small fraction of what they get.

I love the simpler ideas some of you suggested.

Anonymous wrote:What surprises me is how MUCH kids get for Easter. I thought I was overdoing it with a kite, little gardening tools, watering can, and a few other $1 items (from Target dollar aisle), a 4-pack of peeps, a book, and some socks for the 2YO. 8MO got some puffs, a book, and some new bath toys. Open Facebook to see kids on new bikes, crazy new toys, scooters, SO MUCH CANDY, the works! It was like Christmas! I mean, to each their own and do what makes you happy, but sheesh!

I know, it's insane!

Anonymous wrote:I've never done it, partly because MIL goes overboard with easter baskets for our kids already, and also partly because I rarely received easter baskets or celebrated easter as a child. But now I'm wondering - am I the only one? Am I a bad mom for not getting them anything? Is easter supposed to be a big gift-giving holiday? And what else do you do for your kids for easter?

Well, they *are* getting an Easter basket. They hardly need two. And no, Easter is *not* supposed to be a big gift-giving holiday.

This year, my daughter got: a chocolate bunny, a couple of chocolate eggs, some jelly beans, a coloring book, a little sticker book, a little daisy growing kit in a pot, and a kid's book about seeds and plants. We also hide eggs, some real, some with candy inside. She was thrilled.

I have tried to get stuff for my kids that is NOT candy-related. I don't like the focus on candy, candy, candy. I am trying to teach them that special occasions can be fun WITHOUT candy, candy, candy. So maybe that looks like "more" to people who are just accustomed to seeing candy in the baskets? But I am not getting them big things. They are like nickle and dime stuff. They got:

1) sand bucket and shovel for the beach this summer
2) new cute placemats for their spots at the kitchen table
3) tiny stuffed animal lamb
4) coloring/activity book
5) bubble gum lip balm
6) hair ties
7) spring-themed window clings
8) "Finding Dory" shower gel
9) an Easter themed plate and bowl
10) ONE chocolate bunny

What surprises me is how MUCH kids get for Easter. I thought I was overdoing it with a kite, little gardening tools, watering can, and a few other $1 items (from Target dollar aisle), a 4-pack of peeps, a book, and some socks for the 2YO. 8MO got some puffs, a book, and some new bath toys. Open Facebook to see kids on new bikes, crazy new toys, scooters, SO MUCH CANDY, the works! It was like Christmas! I mean, to each their own and do what makes you happy, but sheesh!

Even aged children in my house get an Easter basket

I'm from England, new to the US and I was surprised by the Easter celebrations here. I don't think the Easter Bunny has made it to England yet! There are chocolate Easter eggs and rabbits but I've never heard of the Easter Bunny and had never heard of Easter Baskets. Just like Halloween was not a thing in England when I was growing up but now it is, I'm sure the bunny is on his way soon

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My entire FB feed was full of parents posting Easter basket pics. I think it's stupid. Just another thing to buy from pottery barn kids, another reason to fill your kids up with chemicals and sugar, and totally forget the major religious "reason for the season."

I'm not even religious and I find the commercializations of this holiday apprehensible

Agree. It is the biggest and most important Christian holiday. Pick another day to eat candy and give presents. It's offensive to not believe in God yet "celebrate Easter".

It's a cultural holiday. People who grew up celebrating it don't need to apologize for passing on what is largely a spring holiday to their children, whether they are religious or not. You can't take all the pagan trappings for yourself and complain when others "celebrate Easter."

It is absolutely not a cultural holiday. Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It is not largely a spring holiday. It's only the last 10 years or so that's it has become commercialized. People who are passing down the Easter traditions to their children are doing so by omitting the church part and keeping the baskets and candy. But that doesn't mean it is not a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.

I grew up in the 1970s and 80s, and Easter absolutely was a "cultural holiday." Easter egg hunts, big gaudy baskets, candy, the whole nine yards, none of which had anything to do with the Christian celebration of Jesus. This isn't a "thing" of the past decade, it's been this way for most of our lives.

But I do agree that this doesn't mean that it's not a religious holiday - it still is (as it has always been) a religious holiday for those who celebrate it that way.

Adult here, not part of a religious family in the least, and every "adult" child in our family still gets an Easter basket, filled with all of our favorite treats and now, some useful things - rose gold colored flip flops, pink wayfarer ray-ban's, customized s'well bottles w/ our names on them. I honestly don't think anything makes the parents / aunts / uncles in our family any happier than when they give their children / nieces / nephews gifts, so every holiday is huge. Any excuse for them to give us something, they take it, and Easter is no different. I can't wait for all of us to have kids and pass down this love of gifting and all these holiday traditions. It really is quite a treat to see the smile on someone else's face when you surprise them with something like an Easter basket.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My entire FB feed was full of parents posting Easter basket pics. I think it's stupid. Just another thing to buy from pottery barn kids, another reason to fill your kids up with chemicals and sugar, and totally forget the major religious "reason for the season."

I'm not even religious and I find the commercializations of this holiday apprehensible

Agree. It is the biggest and most important Christian holiday. Pick another day to eat candy and give presents. It's offensive to not believe in God yet "celebrate Easter".

It's a cultural holiday. People who grew up celebrating it don't need to apologize for passing on what is largely a spring holiday to their children, whether they are religious or not. You can't take all the pagan trappings for yourself and complain when others "celebrate Easter."

It is absolutely not a cultural holiday. Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It is not largely a spring holiday. It's only the last 10 years or so that's it has become commercialized. People who are passing down the Easter traditions to their children are doing so by omitting the church part and keeping the baskets and candy. But that doesn't mean it is not a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.

Some holidays have both religious and cultural aspects. To each her own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My entire FB feed was full of parents posting Easter basket pics. I think it's stupid. Just another thing to buy from pottery barn kids, another reason to fill your kids up with chemicals and sugar, and totally forget the major religious "reason for the season."

I'm not even religious and I find the commercializations of this holiday apprehensible

Agree. It is the biggest and most important Christian holiday. Pick another day to eat candy and give presents. It's offensive to not believe in God yet "celebrate Easter".

It's a cultural holiday. People who grew up celebrating it don't need to apologize for passing on what is largely a spring holiday to their children, whether they are religious or not. You can't take all the pagan trappings for yourself and complain when others "celebrate Easter."

It is absolutely not a cultural holiday. Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It is not largely a spring holiday. It's only the last 10 years or so that's it has become commercialized. People who are passing down the Easter traditions to their children are doing so by omitting the church part and keeping the baskets and candy. But that doesn't mean it is not a RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find East store apprehensible, two. Never fells that DH will soddenly get cot up in his orifice and wound be apple to hope.

Just fell a beg biscuit with traits and wahlah

Is that to mulch to axe of DH, rally? Apprehensible!

/thank you! I'll be here all week!

Irregardless of what you celebrate or believe, that was funny.

This is a joke too, right?

Anonymous wrote:I find East store apprehensible, two. Never fells that DH will soddenly get cot up in his orifice and wound be apple to hope.

Just fell a beg biscuit with traits and wahlah

Is that to mulch to axe of DH, rally? Apprehensible!

/thank you! I'll be here all week!

Irregardless of what you celebrate or believe, that was funny.