For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 20, 2011

The “Why” stage: a nightmare for everyone in the surrounding area.

Because people since the dark ages have enjoyed a good pagan spring festival of Astarte … rabbits, eggs, .. Only 8 months wait for the Winter Festival of the December Solstice - with its evergreen trees …

The inquisitive minds of kids…so cute!

Apparently they only teach the Christian versions of the ripped off holiday festivals at their school…

Good probing question, Lizzie! You sure got to the real answer.

WebSpider - Sigh… really?

Christianity, strictly speaking, borrowed only the name “Easter” from pagan sources — and even that only approximately. The time of year is based on the historical event taking place at the start of the Jewish observance of Passover, along with some minor calendar tweaking. If early Christianity could co-opt a pagan festival from the local popular culture, that was a bonus…nowadays we would call it “marketing”. And if the message is more important than the medium, why not?

Anyone who thinks the Easter Bunny is a “Christian” version of anything has had one too many Cadbury Creme Eggs. (Mmmm…!)

@scaaty - exactly. The Jewish passover has passed, so Christendom has missed the opportunity to remember the anniversary of Jesus death on the actual date (Luke 22:19) - ‘bout time Christians got back to grass roots and rejected the traditions of men because of the Lord’s words at Mark 7:13 “you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition. And this is only one example among many others.”

Why can’t we just enjoy the cartoon for what it is, cute.

^Because, it is written in our constitution, that we are permitted to speak freely. No one said you couldn’t enjoy the “cartoon” for what it is. =o)

Liz’s dolly is a pretty scary looking one.

Older brothers always know the answer, Michael. It’s in the book. Didn’t you read the book?

I’m with you Azlilsis. People gotta preach. Why? Back to you Lizzie and Michael. I don’t have the answer either.

However, this is an Internation community and not all the members here are Christian, nor do they want to be. I am a Christian and I get my daily devotional in a PROPER place. THIS is not a proper place. Comics, family enjoyment, and diversity. Live with it.

Part of the enjoyment of these comics is reading replies to see what’s said, but preaching and Bible quoting is WAY out of bounds. You insult others AND you make yourself look stupid. You’re better than anyone else? No, you’re not.

As this is a Canadian Cartoon, it falls under Canadian Jurisdiction, and no where in our Constitution, do we have total free speech.

That being said, the “why” stage is very difficult to deal with, and one way I know how to ‘fight it’ is to ask THEM questions.

Mornin’ Neighbours!

I know! The Easter bunny is my sister and we bring the baskets to each other because we have wonderful memories of our Dad doing it.

These are the days that I remember best about Spring. There are even Easter egg hunts here at my English school in Mexico. Chocolate rabbits don’t do well in the 38C heat!!!!

hey let the kids have fun.. good times are so short lived.

hey let the kids have fun.. good times are so short lived.

prfesser said, 27 minutes ago

“Kinda cool, but what’s that got to do with Easter eggs and ham?”

Seeing as Easter takes place in the Spring, and the tradition of Christianity swiping Pagan festivals, one would think that eggs and fertility go together. Ham, on the other hand…was Noah’s son.

Oh I hate that annoying word, “WHY?” My sister always keeps asking “WHY?, WHY?” Ughhh! X-(

Here’s some other ways to handle this.

I’m sending my sister this card.

Easter/fertility is all about new life, in the worldly sense. The Resurrection is all about new life, in the spiritual sense. No co-optation is necessary, but the juxtaposition is beautiful!

duck: What???? You mean the Cadbury bunny isn’t real!!!!!!

They didn’t even change the name - Eostre is a Germanic/Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess.