It sneaks up on you, doesn’t it? At some point, perhaps before having kids, you make a promise to yourself to resist the materialism, showmanship, and stress of extravagantly celebrating each holiday. “I’ll keep it simple,” you declare, around the time your child receives their first matching family Christmas pajamas.
“We won’t go overboard,” you whisper to yourself as you shop for Halloween cookies for your six-year-old’s “boo bucket” and set up a dozen pumpkins on your doorstep. “Never again,” you pledge as you clean up 3,000 foil shamrocks while your kids play with St. Patrick’s Day yo-yos in the background.
Before you realize it, it’s time to set up your inflatable Easter yard decoration, fill plastic eggs with Sephora lip gloss, prepare “bunny buckets,” and question how Easter has morphed into a pastel-hued Christmas morning.
If it feels like every Easter, and every holiday, is becoming more elaborate, you’re correct. Various reports and studies indicate that people are spending more money on Easter and other holidays, dedicating more time to their children, and feeling increased pressure to provide their kids with idyllic childhood experiences.
On one hand, fully embracing holidays can offer a welcome distraction during challenging times, notes Lisa Strohschein, a sociology professor at the University of Alberta. “In some ways, it could be parents’ attempt to shield their children from the unrest in the world,” she told CBC News.
However, the pressure to orchestrate a flawless Easter egg hunt and picture-perfect family dinner sets everyone up for disappointment, she added. This emphasis on perfection suggests that failing to meet these standards means failing at celebrating the holiday correctly.
“A lot of emotional investment goes into creating a facade of perfection in a world where perfection is unrealistic,” Strohschein remarked. “Pretending that this superficial ideal is reality deceives us from discovering genuine joy.”
One glance at social media illustrates how Easter celebrations have evolved into grand spectacles. From TikTok videos showcasing opulent Easter baskets to Instagram posts featuring meticulously styled displays of picnic coolers and oversized clear eggs stuffed with high-end items, the trend towards extravagant Easter showcases is undeniable.
While some may feel pressured to keep up with social media trends, others, like Melissa Toolsie from Smith Falls, Ont., genuinely enjoy going all out for Easter. For Toolsie, Easter presents an ideal occasion to bestow significant gifts upon her daughter, such as a bike, trampoline, or this year’s choice, a pink all-terrain vehicle.
As Easter baskets have become status symbols, their contents often reflect personal affluence rather than traditional items. Retailers have seized upon Easter and other springtime festivities as lucrative marketing opportunities, with sales of plush toys and seasonal products experiencing substantial boosts during the holiday season.
The commercialization of Easter is not a recent phenomenon, but the current trend intertwining holiday celebrations with notions of ideal family life is a newer development, according to Strohschein. The pressure to conform to a specific holiday aesthetic based on social media portrayals can be overwhelming for many.
While many parents partake in these lavish Easter traditions, there is a growing counter-movement of individuals opting out of the excess. Some parents express frustration over the escalating consumerism of Easter, with debates on spending limits and gift choices becoming commonplace.
Influencers and content creators are also challenging the trend of over-the-top Easter celebrations, urging parents to resist the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards. Many are advocating for a return to simpler, more meaningful Easter traditions, emphasizing that an Easter egg, in its simplicity, is more than sufficient.