Holidays

This weekend was Easter Sunday, and it always gets me thinking about secular tradition on religious holidays. Christmas and Easter are the two main Christian holidays, and there is a lot of secular tradition for both, like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny. I used to get me mad because I always thought that these stupid traditions always took the spotlight away from the real meaning behind the holiday and that people weren't realizing the full meaning of the occasion.
But, now I think it might actually be a good thing. I was playing frisbee golf with my family on Easter and I overheard two neighbors say "Happy Easter" to each other. My initial thought was that they probably didn't really mean it, and didn't really even celebrate the holiday for what it really means, the resurrection of Jesus. But then I started thinking.....how many people would actually celebrate Christmas and Easter if there was no Santa Clause, presents, Easter bunny, or Easter egg hunts? Not many people. They would be holidays that only a few christians would celebrate every year, and the majority of the population wouldn't give a rip.
But now, since we do have secular traditions associated with them, everyone celebrates these holidays, even if they don't believe in Jesus. Sure, they might be celebrating them for the wrong reasons, but at least they are still being immersed in the real meaning behind the holiday too. When their kids find out that Santa and the Easter Bunny aren't real, and start asking real questions to the true meaning of the holiday, there will have to be an answer. And that answer will always shine a spotlight on Jesus.