I am not sure the CHurch has not picked up on this.  But frankly the Christmas story is an easier story to sell.

I would suggest that it is hard to say whether Christams has become more impoortant because the church made it so or because the culture made it so and the church followed.  Sort of a chicken (bunny?) and egg question.

First you'd have to remove the commercialism from both stories. Unfortunately the churches didn't nip this in the bud long ago, when it became a brilliant marketing strategy to sell stuff. Try doing that to a Muslim Holy day, the stores wouldn't even dare.

Actually, in my opinion Christmas and Easter should not be turned into a contest about which is more important to the church. Christmas is about incarnation. My understanding of both crucifixion and resurrection are intricately wrapped around the idea of incarnation. So Easter is about incarnation as well. To say that one is more important than the other simply doesn't work for me. Christmas and Easter are complementary.

As to what the world does or doesn't do with them, that's of little interest to me, provided that in the church we ensure the proclamation of the gospel and encourage the living out of the gospel on both occasions.

Easter and Christmas are both symbolic of transformative death and rebirth. Christmas was supposed to replace the pagan holiday of Winter Solstice, Easter the pagan holiday of Spring Equinox, although it does not always coincide with the Spring Equinox.

In some of the ancient world, Spring Equinox marked the beginning of the New Year and was the most important festival of the year.

There are increasing complaints in Muslim countries about the commercialization of Muslim holy days, and especially Ramadan. It isn't perhaps as noticed as it is here, because unlike Christians at Christmas or Easter, Muslims have very specific requirements that must be followed which makes the commercialization less ostentatious, but it's there. I have known people who have travelled to Muslim countries and been there during Ramadan. Shopping malls open in the evening and are often packed as people (including shopkeepers) take advantage of the opportunity. The "iftar" - the meal that ends the daily fast - is often quite lavish, and those who sell the foods required for the iftar often manage to make a buck off it. Eid-ul Fitr (the celebration of the end of Ramadan) has been compared by some to the Boxing Day frenzy here. Eid-ul Fitr also features gift-giving (and therefore shopping beforehand, which is why the malls get packed on the evenings of Ramadan) as a prominent practice. These things happen among North American Muslims too, but they're not as noticeable.

As we often criticize some for demonizing Muslims, let's not fall into the opposite trap of glorifying Muslims.

One of my Facebook friends shared a photo of his child sitting on the lap of a big Easter Bunny in a mall, just like the traditional picture with Santa. That's the first time I've seen that.

Blame it on Magi not laying gifts at the cross.  But neither occasion are secular events. Business just latches like the parasite it is, onto whatever can be manipulated for a cash benefit.

Wonder why there is no Bunny and eggs representing Passover? Selective manipulation?

I have a picture of myself on the Easter Bunny's lap, taken when I was about 3 or 4 years old I'd say. Let's just say that would have been in the 60's. 

Just heard that on the radio as a ploy to get people siirred up. Heavy on the getting kids excited about the Bunny picture but stay tuned for secret locations during this spring break where he will magically show up. Stay tuned and be ready. ingenious.

60's ??  You sure it was a rabbit?

LMAO 

Hi crazyheart,

I'm not so sure about that.  Any incarnational theology is going to need a birth and for Christianity Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation.

I would agree that historically Easter has been considered the greater of the two feasts.  I mean we are able to pin point the events of Easter with some accuracy.  The date for Christmas is pure invention.

Judging by the commercialization I would say the secular world has picked up on Easter's merchandising importance.  Noting the various "Easter Chocolates" I would also suggest that the secular world is successfully crowding the Christian message out of the celebration.

I know I am not a Marvel comics fan.  Still not sure of Spiderman's or the Avengers connections to the holiday though.

Not necessarily.  Mother's Day is Hallmark's biggest sales event and we don't have Mother's Day Trees.

Commercialization isn't necessarily invention.  I am reminded of a skit from MAD TV where a Mexican working at a Taco Bell invites customers to order from the culturally raping menu.

The Tree existed before Christmas was commercialized.  It becomes a vehicle by which merchants can pad their pockets.

Easter had eggs and . . . . .

Whose attitude is it that we are going to change?  Try to get through Advent without singing a Christmas hymn or carol.

Grace and peace to you.

John

I'm glad that Easter is not overly commercialized! To me it's remained far more holy than Christmas.

IMO, the significance of the birth was rejected when the baby was executed. Yet the resurrection seemed to be a key to the Kingdom.