Since when did the Easter Bunny take to shopping at Toys R Us?

Please forgive me. I'm about to bash Easter. Kindly, though! Please do not light your torches until after the comments section has been opened. (That is, if I feel brave enough to open the comments section..) And remember, this is a non-smoking blog. Thanks.

Considering Easters past, I can recall Sundays of little girls and boys in their Sunday best, collecting Easter eggs from hidden spots where the hollow ovals would be opened to reveal either candy, a coin, or if they were lucky (or had rich parents), even a dollar. Sometimes, they got a bum egg and they accepted it anyway. (Unless they had rich parents or were spoiled. Or both.)

The Easter baskets would be filled with Cadbury eggs, jelly beans, and maybe a little stuffed bunny or chick or whatever animal was prone to repeated reproduction and left for the kiddies to find.

Now, of course, being the one Jewish family on the block, we did not participate in the Easter finery, or get our yearly picture taken with the Easter Bunny, but Lee and I still received a small consolation basket from my mother, who was determined to make sure we would not be completely left out from the merriment. (And she had a yen for jelly beans.) (Yes, you did, Mom. Caught you a couple of times..) Sure, we were allowed to play along when the school ran it's huge egg hunt and had a ton of fun with that, but Easter for us usually meant that our friends would most likely not be able to play that day.

As we grew, Mom stopped buying into the entire candy routine. I believe her reasoning was, "You get an allowance. Buy your own damn candy!" or something to that extent. (My teen years are a little fuzzy..) (Okay, maybe I'll close down the comments section to just my mom... Can I DO that?)

Now, being a parent myself and being married to a Catholic man, I get to join the legions of parents trying to prove to their kids that the Easter Bunny does exist, although Sprite didn't look too convinced when she saw him at the mall on Saturday.

When Sprite was old enough to walk and grab at the brightly colored plastic eggs, we brought her to the city's celebration where we stuck to the outskirts of the enormous crowd and let Sprite mosey around in her own little area and pick up what she pleased. We didn't entertain the thought of making her an Easter basket, because, Dude, she was hardly 18 months old, she wouldn't appreciate the chocolates like we would so why shell out the money? I never looked into it.

This year, it was a different story. I knew we would be making a day trip to Nana and Papa's house, so I started eying the pre-made baskets that the grocery chains had to offer. And tripped over my own sputtering. Toys? And not just little stuffed animal toys. Big toys. Regulation basketballs. Barbie dolls. Little-est Pet Shop dolls. (I really hope Sprite completely sails past that particular trend. I don't think my vacuum could survive that many little parts.) I saw baskets playing up to the sports minded, the princess minded, the farm animal minded, the video game minded, the CRAWLING minded. If you have a kid who fits into any genre, I'm sure there's a basket out there for you. These baskets were overflowing with offerings, mostly plastic, and of course, the candy was represented. (Yo yo, and a Yum.)

Some of the baskets retailed for $9.99, although their content would suggest you're getting it for a steal. Some of the baskets went all the way for a cool fifty, with two Nintendo DS games nestled in the fake grass, right next to the M&M's. Intimidated, I backed away from the baskets and re-thought my strategy. We're raising this kid Jewish for goodness sake. Let her have her egg hunts at the day care, some candy at Nana's, and don't play into this hype. It's not her birthday, it's not Christmas, It's not Hanukkah, Hell, it's not even Arbor Day, let it ride! She's two, she won't even notice.

Sunday morning, we dressed her nicely, (Of course, I would acknowledge the Easter finery, plus her photographer uncle would be there, so I was hoping to snag some pictures from him. Um, Ryan? Does this count as a request?) (I know. I'm so bad.) (Please, Ryan?) and delivered her to her grandparents' door to have some fun with her aunts, uncles, and cousins. As soon as we entered though,

Hi, Easter baskets!

And to top it off, the very object of her affections, a Sleeping Beauty Barbie doll was sitting high and regal above the other prizes and candies. And not to give all the attention to Sprite, her baby cousins collected some nice loot too.

So, where is this post going? Good question. I could throw a couple more cute photos at you to deter you from trying to gain a point from this blathering on, but I actually have a question. (Or two.)

When did Easter succumb to the excess? When did gifts (and I don't mean the candy) become the norm? When did people start treating this religious holiday as an excuse to buy presents? Sure, egg hunts are a great way to get kids involved and the Easter Bunny is the biggest mascot I can think of other than Santa Claus (or the Cleveland Indians) (Sorry, but that mascot immediately comes to mind.), but buying plastic toys to fill the basket? Doesn't that take away from the holiday when you have kids clamoring over each other to "open!" their toys while you're trying to have Easter dinner or partake in Mass? Can't people just buy smaller baskets and keep it to only candy?

Or is that it? The competition of the baskets... Yeah, I can see it. The kid with the bigger basket won. So, everyone started getting larger baskets. Then it became a problem of filling the baskets with just candy, so they turned to toys...  and the snowball picked up speed. (Can I blame this on Mattel? From the abundance of Barbie dolls decorating the baskets, I have to think they had a hand in this.)

Easter, to me at least, has always represented a celebration of family, a celebration of church, a celebration of the very thing that makes Christians believers. Now, again, since I am Jewish, I am in no way slamming the faith at all. I respect it very deeply. And while I appreciate the fun aspects of celebrating Easter, I just can't get my mind around the burgeoning Easter baskets or the excuses we parents use to heap more excess upon the kids who would most likely be just as happy to get a Peep as they would to get a Wii. (Of course, this would be dependent on the child not knowing they had the choice of a Peep or a Wii. Because if the child knew they had the choice, I would seriously doubt the child would even acknowledge the Peep.) (Unless that child was Sprite. Bright colors? She's all over that. And marshmallow? Score.)

Unfortunately for Sprite, (Or fortunately. She probably won't cast an opinion for another year at least.) John and I are not joining the basket barrage and her only prize will be what she collects in a plastic egg or gets from the grandparents. (Since we have no control over how they spoil their grand-kids.) (Yes, I know we have some control, but come on! I'm denying her the coolest thing! If they wanna slip in some spoilage, let them.) (I know that thought will come back to haunt me..) We're going to celebrate the way we remember it, and toys are not the way we remember it.

Ooh, look! a cute picture! Just look at it for a few minutes and all will be right in the world...

 

(The three "princesses" of the family. Sprite, Alyssa-9 months, and Daniela-4 months, or as I spent Sunday calling them, "Small, Medium, and Large".)

(Are we good?)

(Phew!)

Comments

[Arwen]

I'm afraid those toy-filled premade baskets have been around at least since we were kids. Although they are definitely getting more insane every year. Easter, just like every other holiday, forces us parents to try and find the line between holiday fun and spoiling our kids. For our baskets I like to do a book, a few homemade things and a little candy. Hopefully I can stay on the side of moderation as the kids get older (and hold back Daddy as well).

[Jan]

The premade baskets have been around since *I* was a kid - you know, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth - but they were pretty cheesy then; they've definitely gotten out of hand. We never got one, though - my mother made our baskets and they had some candy, not a ton, and maybe a stuffed bunny or chick. It's the same thing I did for my kids - we might have thrown a book or something in there along with the stuffed bunny.

But the grandkids? I don't know...I haven't gotten to spoil one yet. Talk to me next Easter.

P.S. I think your strategy for the whole thing is perfect.

[Gina]

I put small toys (books,stickers, bubbles, etc) or sometimes beach-type toys (since Easter comes as we're planning summer vacation) into our kids' baskets, mainly because my daughter has serious dental issues and candy is something to be avoided. Also - another young child in the family is diabetic, so we try to keep the candy all-around to a minimum. A chocolate bunny is pretty much it.

[Hallie]

I think I suck as a mommy. Or maybe it's cuz my kids are now 19 and 15. Either way, I stopped doing Easter baskets years ago. This year I threw a bag of Twizzlers (the big one!) at my 19 year old and a big bag of mixed Tootsie products at my youngest rug rat.

That counts, right??

Hallie
http://wonderfulworldofweiners.blogspot.com/

[WickedStepMom]

I put small toys in the baskets. Mostly dollar store items to tell you the complete truth. This year, the teen and tween got lotion, bubble bath, body wash, and flip-flops. (All dollar store items.) The youngest got bubbles, a small ball, a stuffed rabbit and flip-flops. I get pre-filled eggs with no candy. Mostly school supplies, hair accessories and tiny toys that you would get from a vending machine. They do get some candy, but I don't like getting a lot. They will just plow through it without permission and get tummy aches. And because 2/3's are taller than me, its not like I can hide it well.

[Cameron]

I'm pretty sure EVERY holiday has been bastardized by commercialism. My wife insists we buy toys and videos and candy for every stinkin holiday, and I'm thinking this is stupid. First of all our kids have way too much shit, and second, toys on their birthday and Christmas, that's it IMO.

[Robin]

I am Jewish too so I definitely see things from your point of view. I grew up completely sheltered from this stuff (no christmas tree, no easter baskets) and I've been watching this evolve as a complete outsider ever since. I think that gift-giving is just how these holidays are celebrated, a ritual as much as a seder is for us. But retailers have greedily jumped on board and turned simple gifts into crazy extravagance. I find it kind of kind of sad but again, I think my separation from it all causes me to feel that way. Though I do know people who feel pressured by it and find it hard not to get sucked into the whole thing. Interesting stuff. Great post.

[Lori]

Can you hear me screaming "AMEN"? I am so with you on this. It is so out of hand, just like Christmas is. I have always given my kids things like a ball or a kite(things to play with outside) and very little candy since most of them were not big candy eaters. I have watched friends and people in general give toys of all kinds. I remember when my kids were little they would always ask me why the Easter bunny brought some kids really nice toys and not them.

Our neighbor kids got a flippin kids 4 wheeler for Easter. Seriously.

The birth mother(my step daughter) of the 2 grandchildren were are raising goes over board for everything. And once again this Easter she spent money she doesn't have. She had have spent at least $60 on each of them. For flippin Easter!!!? On more junk they DON"T flippin need. My husband says to her,"How about spending this money you don't have on getting your life together so that you can be a mommy for real????"

Gee thanks for letting me vent here...lol...I feel so much better now that I got this off my chest on your blog! LOL!

[Kyooty]

CHOCOLATE! and spring shoes are what my kids get, the sneakers for 1 because he had rubber boots, and rubber boots for the other 2 because they didn't have rubber boots. I buy "needs" not wants, well other then the chocolate!

[jenni]

We always got pretty good toys in our easter baskets. My mom didn't give us much, if any, candy, so the toys were our consolation prize.

[bessie.viola]

No upset here - AMEN, Jen!

I don't get it either. When I was little (cue violins) we got the chocolate bunny and other assorted candy, along with a few "spring" objects - usually a light spring jacket, and then something for we 4 girls to share (a bat & ball, new kites, etc.)

I don't get it. Maddie got some candy, new spring hats, one short/shirt set, and crayons. She was, as you noted, most excited about the Peeps.

I am irritated about the trend simply because I felt I should have bought more... which is ludicrous, given that she's 14 months old.

I loved watching her hunt for eggs, though - once she found one, she was happy. I think I should take that as a sign.

[Michele]

Near as I can remember (yeah, I'm that old. I can say shit like that)Easter with our boys was pretty basic. A basket with a little candy, hunting real & plastic (where the real loot was)eggs, and a big meal. There was no real huge basket filled with gifts & such.

[Baba]

You and your sister had a good childhood. I tried to give you everything so you would not feel different. Maybe that was my mistake. You and your sister are different. Yea I did give you both baskets with a little candy but more hair accessories and stuffed Bunnies. You and your sister didn't need all that candy. I think your dad and I did a good job on you and your sister you both know about different faiths and what they mean. See Baba was nice. Baba is good. Keep saying that over and over.

[Camille]

I don't know why you're worried people might get offended. This is completely logical. (This coming from a girl who plans on telling her kids straight up that Santa's a hoax.)

Go you!

[Allinole]

I can say similar things about Christmas. Most of my friends here are Christian and went nuts spending over $1000 dollars on Christmas gifts for their 18 month olds. Then they would complain that they did not spend enough. Christmas was all about the gifts and Santa and not the reliigious aspects.

Lowell and I bought Eli 8 small gifts for Channukah and put some money into his savings account. At 18 months old, there was more of a thrill of opening a gift than what was inside and I jumped at the chance to save money for him because who knows how expensive college will be in 16 years!

[Melly]

My husband bought me a chocolate cow for Easter, and I thought it was the neatest gift EVER. Simple. Forthright. Appropriate to my life right now.
Beyond that? I'm anti-holiday. *LOL*

[Laufa]

They were all adorable!!
I spent the least amount this year on candy and Easter stuff. The Easter Bunny pops in and disappears faster than Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy. The baskets were waiting for them when they woke up. MJ even told me that they had to be real, because I don't have the time or money for all that candy in the eggs. LOL, if she only knew that I was all three mythical creatures in my house. Hmm, maybe I would get more respect. I would post about this, but I usually have a couple of 7 yr old eyes reading over my shoulder.

[HeatherPride]

Sprite looks like a princess for sure in her pretty dress!! Hmmmm, let's see.....when I was a kid, Easter ranked third behind Christmas and birthday in the amount of loot received. Usually my baskets entailed a pair of PJs, small toys and candy, and one sort-of big present. Does that help?

I think you're doing a great job balancing religion with Sprite! That's probably hard at times.

[blissfully caffeinated]

I never do the premade baskets, and I try not to go overboard, but I usually do put in a movie, or crayons or a stuffed bunny. Also, this year I found - you guessed it - eggs filled with Littlest Pet Shop pets for the baskets. (You can't avoid them, you might as well just accept that now).

I totally get what you're saying. It's about excess, and commercialization of holidays. I have the same issue at Christmas.

[blissfully caffeinated]

Oh and ditto Heather. You guys are doing a great job balancing religion with Sprite. I bet she will appreciate you efforts when she is grown.

[Lisa]

You know, I've also wondered about all this excess and all the gifts for every holiday. Easter isn't about gifts. We give gifts on Christmas to reflect the gift God gave us in Christ (that is the view from Christians, of course) and I guess some believe that we also give gifts on Easter to reflect this, but I don't feel that way. Easter is a day to reflect, in my opinion, not a day to spoil little ones. Jonathan did get a small basket but that was more for fun. I think next year we will give him a little treat, but I don't want to go all out.

Honestly I don't even get the painting of eggs. Huh? What is with that anyhow...Jesus didn't rise from an egg!

Candy canes -- I get it -- "J" turned upside down, painted red and white to reflect Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. There ya' go. But eggs? Dying them? Huh? :-)

[Jamie]

You are spot on. I think of every thing you talked about every year and swear I won't do it the next year. I do. I am hanging my head in shame as I type this.

[K]

I've been struggling with excessive gift giving in general.

I don't want my kid totally spoiled.

I haven't found a way to get the relatives to quit buying so much stuff.

[CDB]

That is an adorable picture, and "S, M and L" is even more adorable.

Yeah..no.. I don't ever remember being given ANYthing but an Easter basket with candy (and a stuffed bunny) when we were growing up.

Blame it on (panicked retailers in a) recession?

[CuppaJo]

Bunnies and eggs come from ancient spring fertility rites, which is not something I need to be explaining to my 3 year old. Although we did manage to convince her that "Jesus really liked bunnies" in way of justification. I don't get the chocolate tradition - I'm not complaining, I just don't get it.

So we do a couple small toys and things like sippy cups and socks, mostly because we don't want to overload the kids on sweets - that's what Halloween is for (although I don't have a great explanation for how that got started, either). And Easter baskets come AFTER church - God-reason for the holiday first, present-reason second.