As I drive down Main St. of a little town in Eastern Pennsylvania, I notice Easter decorations on one side of the street and St. Patrick’s Day decorations on the other side of the street. I think to myself, “I love when Easter’s early in the year. We get to celebrate with a feast honoring the Patron Saint of Ireland immediately followed up by a feast honoring Jesus Christ. It’s a great time of year for Christian celebration.”
I continue driving down the street and I realize, the streets are decorated with clovers, bunnies, and eggs, but there is no sign of the cross. How can we celebrate Easter without a cross?
Both the Easter Bunny and colored eggs have their origins in the religion of Paganism, but were carried over into the Christian celebration of Easter as more and more Pagans converted to Christianity. Why have these symbols maintained their acceptability in American culture, but the cross has not? Is displaying the cross actually more offensive to Americans than displaying ancient symbols of Paganism? If so, when did the American Pagan population pass the number of people in America who celebrate Christmas?
In regards to St. Patrick’s Day, does anyone know who St. Patrick is besides to say “the patron saint of Ireland?” St. Patrick was not even Irish! St. Patrick was captured and brought to Ireland as a slave for six years of his childhood. He escaped and returned to his parents. Years later, he returned to Ireland as a missionary. He returned to Ireland to spread the word of Christ to the people who had imprisoned him in his youth.
Dozens of cities will have parades to honor St. Patrick. Thousands will eat corned beef and cabbage. Chicago will die the river green. Who will display a cross: the sign St. Patrick strove to share with all?
Somewhere along the line in our country’s growth, Christianity became offensive to people. A nation that was formed on the basis of religious freedom, became a nation bound and determined hide the truth about God. Recently, the government even issued a dollar coin that is missing the phrase “In God We Trust.” Somehow, it’s still okay for the Easter Bunny to sit at the mall, Santa to visit the firehouse, and kids to draw leprechauns in school on their St. Patrick’s Day posters, but displaying the cross is socially unacceptable.
As I drive down Main St. of a little town in Eastern Pennsylvania, I notice Easter decorations on one side of the street and St. Patrick’s Day decorations on the other side of the street. I think to myself, “God forbid we display a cross on Main St. for Easter.” Then I realized; man forbade that. I ask myself, “Why?”
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I read your article, and it's a good one. Sometimes the Easter bunny, and the cross don't mix, and some children get mixed messages about Easter. It's the same thing with Christmas time as to whether Santa is real or is did the birth of Jesus really happen.
Now about myself. I am not a published Author. I just contributed a book to the library, and one to the literacy centre. I am slowly working on a novel. It took me months already. I still have alot of revisions to make. I may decide to get it published. It will cost me at sixty-five dollars to have it copyrighted.
Very interesting piece of writing. Your point is well made and quite accurate. We do have so many religious celebrations throughout the year, and we so often forget or ignore their origins. If each of us decided that WE would be the one to show the true meaning of those holidays, what a statement and witness that could be! I'll be trying to do my part. Thanks for the reminder!
