How the Grinch Stole Easter
Hi everyone, and welcome to this hastily conceived blog.Before we get started, here’s a little bit about this blog and EasterBunnyDude. (Yeah, I know it’s a weird name, but I’m trying to do this quickly and it’s the best I could do on short notice.)
EasterBunnyDude is a resident of Walnut Creek, Calif., who discovered a few weeks ago that the city has banned all things Easter. No Easter Bunny. No Easter Egg Hunt. But we do have a Spring Bunny and a Spring Egg Hunt. Kind of like Whoville, without those whacky dwarfs. We live in the shadow of Mt. Diablo, named after the devil himself, which may explain a few things.
In the Easter Bunny vernacular, I was hopping mad. After my initial shock wore off, I scrawled a letter to the editor of the local paper, giving the needle to those harebrains who would give the Bunny the boot. And that was that. Or so I thought. Interest in this story increased like, well, rabbits procreating on Viagra.
Within hours, the phone started ringing. First the San Francisco Chronicle, then a couple of Bay Area TV stations caught wind of the story. People in nearby cities called to share their thoughts. The Chronicle story appeared on other newspapers’ Web sites. Then Fox News, where EasterBunnyDude learned about makeup. (Shaky-cam video and offscreen cackle courtesy of EasterBunnyDude’s daughter.) And more local radio, including KSFO. Satellite radio, too. All from one letter to the editor in the local paper.
I never planned for this kind of response, nor did I expect it. I’m not from the radical right, nor do I have any religious or political agenda. I’m just one guy who got tired of seeing traditions diluted and city officials cave to just one person — one person — who complained five years ago.
So while interest is hot, I started this blog to chronicle the Don’t-Call-it-the-Easter-Bunny saga. I don’t know where it’ll go or where it’ll end. We’ll just have to let the Easter Bunny run his course and hope that the Walnut Creek city officials come to their senses and see the light. Let them know what you think. I’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, hare’s here’s the story of Easter, Walnut Creek style.
An Easter Bunny’s Tale
This is the story of the Easter Spring Bunny. And if you’re a good little boy or girl, and live near Walnut Creek, Calif., you can have breakfast with the Easter Spring Bunny and even take part in the bunny’s Easter Spring Egg Hunt. Don’t you just love hunting for Spring Eggs? They’re much more colorful than those drab Fall Eggs.
You see, Walnut Creek isn’t like all those other cities that invite the Easter Bunny to town. He’s just a little too controversial. We invite the Spring Bunny (because he’s a B-list celebrity, works cheaper and is in far less demand), and keep that nasty Easter Bunny from endangering our parks and harming our children. But that’s a good thing, because that gives the EasterBunny time to attend other events, like the White House Easter Egg Roll, run by people who aren’t as enlightened as those of us in Walnut Creek.
And if you like that, boys and girls, you’ll love Christmas the holidays. You see, Christmas the word that many use to describe that big holiday in December is a bad word in Walnut Creek, too. It’s tied to religion and that’s a bad thing. So every Christmas holiday season, we decorate a big tree downtown and call it the Christmas Holiday Tree. We put it up next to a very large Menorah, which is a symbol of Hanukkah for the Jewish faith. The two look very nice together, and allow people of different faiths to celebrate their traditions. But for some reason, Christmas that traditional word is a bad religious word, and Menorah isn’t. I suppose that’s because no one thinks that we should call the Menorah it the Holiday Candelabra. And they’re right. We’ll just stick it to Christmas, that commonly used word for now, anyway. Kind of like the Grinch.
So boys and girls, if you’re tired of traditional celebrations that welcome everyone, Walnut Creek is a great place to live. Easter and Christmas Common names for holidays don’t exist here, and I hear we’re working on St. Patrick’s and St. Valentine’s Day those saintly offensive days in February and March, too. Word is that they’ll be replaced by Drink-Green-Beer-til-you-Drop Day and Give-Your-Sweetie-a-Rose-or-Else Day. And we’ll all live blandly ever after.
E. said,
March 6, 2007 @ 5:50 pm
Walnut Creek is merely feeding into the politically correct movement that’s gone mad. And I consider myself a real activist! I have never been a fan of the church and I’m certainly not a right wing evangelist. But I have always particpated in Easter egg hunts and enjoyed a few Easter Sunday brunches in my time. Not once have I ever been offended by the title “Easter” rather than “Spring” eggs or bunnies. Walnut Creek needs to get a grip and start listening to the MAJORITY and not the few MINORITY who have nothing better to do than get offended by an EASTER BUNNY.
By the way Easter Bunny Dude, you do realize you’re the poster child for all supposedly “offensive” holidays now. I’ll be waiting eagerly to hear your witty thoughts about all the holidays throughout the year. And I’ve included a link to your new blog on my blog. A little cross-promotion.
Gregory Gochtovtt said,
March 7, 2007 @ 2:58 am
I just saw you on Hannity and Combs. You go buddy!! I have bookmarked this site and will put it on my website when it is done. Have you read Bill O’Reilly’s “Culture Warrior” yet? This is just the kind of secular progressive nonsense he is talking about! God bless, you, have a great EASTER, a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Mike said,
March 7, 2007 @ 2:59 am
We support you here on the East coast too. OOPS is “East” coast too close to Easter. Do I need to remove that from my comment. I can tell you this much anyone passing through Walnut Creek CA make sure you don’t patronize any business there. You money shouldn’t support towns that run this way.
Patty said,
March 7, 2007 @ 2:59 am
It must really stink to live in Walnut Creek.
Tedd said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:00 am
Walnut Creek council…pull your head out of the bunny tail.
Don’t try to smash any more American traditions for kids. You’re taking away something that has been here for generations.
It’s not funny anymore…knock it off.
RBR said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:00 am
How preposterous. I wish I could believe that this type of nonsense only happens in California, but it is pernicious. Easter is Easter and the Easter Bunny is the Easter Bunny. And, by the way, the Christmas Tree is also exactly that - a Christmas Tree.
But I am sticking my neck way out. This country was founded on Christian beliefs and the one of the principles of Christianity is tolerance. We welcome others to come an worship as they wish, but don’t try and stop the very base of principles that started this great democracy.
We wish you well and hope as on Fox News some lawyer will come to your aid. Long Live the Easter Bunny!
Martha Thornhill said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:02 am
Right on, EasterBunnyDude! You state your position well and with good cheer. I nominate you as the Official Spokesperson for all emasculated holidays and as Defender of Truth, Justice, and the American Way.
Jim Aloye said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:02 am
This issue is not about the Easter Bunny at all. It is an part of the larger cultural movement by secular progressives to ban Christ. I would like to see some real reporting on the larger issue…..
Who is behind the movement to ban Jesus Christ from America?
Why is banning Christ so high up on their priority list?
Who ultimately benefits once Jesus Christ and all reference to him are removed from society?
What is the benefit and what kind of world will we live in when the symbol of truth, love, and sacrifice is erased from people’s awareness?
This issue needs to be elevated to a higher level of importance and taken directly addressed in the mainstream press.
Chuck said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:05 am
I just saw the EBD on Hannity and Colmes and was surprised to hear those words “walnut creek” on national TV.
Gosh, for all the things my home town could be known for - it had to be extreme political correctness!
Walnut Creek is great - I’ve lived here 30 years - but EBD is spot on, and more power to him! I’m forwarding the link to this blog to all my peeps, oops, I mean homies.
Thanks for all that you do, EBD!
S. said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:07 am
As a Christian I’d like to point out that the Bunny thing is not in any way related to Easter in the traditional, faith context. I think that for the officials of Walnut Creek to take Easter out of Easter Bunny because of a concern for religious overtones just shows their ignorance about what Easter is really about, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It has nothing to do with colored eggs, baskets, bunnies or candy.
Chad said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:08 am
I really don’t understand this country. America is a great country, don’t get me wrong… but some people are going overboard with trying to replace certain holiday names with very boring, “universal” words such as HOLIDAY. And curiously, these are only the Christian holidays. What next? Are we going to have to have a code word for “Christian faith” when we talk about it or when we try to research it (etc)? Are Christian churches going to have to change the signs in front of their churches so that they don’t offend anyone who might read the word “Christian?” There is absolutely no good reason for this foolishness. Give me a break! This is the LAND OF THE FREE. Let’s act like it.
Mike said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:09 am
Ridiculous! Rediculous! Rediculous!
Why should I expect anything more out of the Bay Area. I believe the First Amendment says something about free speach, but exercise a little freedom and call a bunny the “Easter Bunny” and the next thing you know, we can’t say that! Oooooooo, I offended someone. Get a life and let the kids have their Easter Bunny and Christmas Trees.
Divad Danyhl said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:09 am
If Walnut Creek wants to be so politically correct, shouldn’t a Menorah be a “Holiday Candle Celebration Fixture”? Objects such as the EASTER bunny have been given their names because they are associated with that holiday, so how is that offensive to anyone? As long as everyone is free to express their own belief, who cares? Get a life. I think the politically correct term for political correctness is Christian Discrimination.
Tom Johnston said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:10 am
I am an atheist and even I am outraged by the utter silliness of what has happened in Walnut Creek, California. When one person’s complaint can ruin things for everyone else, things have gone too far. Let the kids have their Easter Bunny, for Pete’s sake! This type of asinine political correctness is destroying traditions that we can all enjoy. Those traditions are what bind us together. They are part of our culture. We are getting to the point when a minority of one can control a majority of thousands. What I find most disturbing about this whole matter is that the city council actually went along with this. They should be ashamed of themselves and if they don’t do something to rectify this situation, the voters should let them know what they think at the next election.
Tom Johnston
judie garcia said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:10 am
Absolutely ridiculous.Do any of these people have kids? Shoot…I loved EASTER.I came from a single family home that was’nt big on religion.Loved Easter.Never thought of it as more then a bunny who came and gave me eggs and candies.Loved it.Great memories…Passed it on to my kids…who LOVED easter…Jesus did’nt drop the eggs…the bunny did.This is so retarted.When are officials going to get balls and start standing up for just the simple things in life?
Geez…what a great comment on the minora….I insist if we can’t call a christmas tree a christmas tree that we call the minora…a bunch of candles or a candlabra.Lets be serious.
I spent many a summer with my grandma in Sonora which is not to far from Walnut creek….Really disappointed here with the “new” town of walnut creek.Come on guys…get real
Meg Watson said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:11 am
We are with you 100%. We used to live in Concord, CA a long time ago. Do they still allow the EASTER BUNNY? After working in Saudi Arabia, and now living in Reno, NV our feeling is….DON’T MESS WITH OUR HOLIDAYS. Really enjoyed you on Hannity and Combes!
Rev. Jack Krch said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:11 am
Remarkable! In order to keep from “offending” one, the city “parents” of your town have succeeded in “offending” tens of millions! What in the world did Jesus ever do to become the target of such hostility? He was a nice guy, great with children, understanding with goof-ups like me, always willing to give sincere folk a second chance — and a pain in the side of hypocrites everywhere and at all times. Still true, apparently. The city “parents” have made fools of themselves on a national stage — can’t they see that? Their misplaced zeal has made them a laughing stock. So sad, so sad. Feel encouraged, Easter Bunny Dude — I think you’re on the side of the angels.
Pastor Jack from Davenport, Iowa
R. Corliss said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:12 am
We’ve gone from “freedom of religion” to “Freedom only for Atheists and Anti-Christians”. Minorities should have rights, but shouldn’t the majority still be allowed to keep some of theirs?
So much for freedom of religion! I obviously had the mistaken idea that we were actually allowed to express our religious beliefs in this country. I hope that they are not letting kids out of school or adults out of work for these “religious” and “offensive” holidays, since they are so bad. That is, of course, unless that would impact the convenience of adults having a day off, which is far more important than misguiding and depriving children of traditions that have any remote suggestion of Christianity related to it; even if only by name. I don’t remember reading about Santa Claus, Christmas Trees or the Easter Bunny in the Bible…
I do feel that all religions should be free to express themselves, and think it is great that the Jewish community have a Menorah at Christmas-time now. However, I think that political correctness has gotten WAY out of hand and needs to be stopped now, before it snowballs out of control.
Good luck with your website and your vision!
GodBlessAmerica said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:12 am
I think you should be able to have as many Easter Bunnies anytime you want.
But why should people of NON-CHRISTIAN denominations help foot the bill for Easter?
So go and raise the money and privately sponsor your fetish with the Easter Bunny.
I would pissed if my town funded a Ramadan Festival or a Rosh Hashanah party. Religious celebrations have ZERO place in public spending.
If private citizens want to put up their OWN CASH then that’s different. But we are talking about a mixed community defrauded of their tax dollars for an obviously Christian agenda. That Sucks!
So be grateful that Walnut Grove still sponsors the Bunny and the Egghunt with taxpayer dollars. Because they shouldn’t..The whole thing should be privately funded….If it was from the get go we would not have a problem today.
If you push too hard you could end up with nothing.
Gandalff said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:12 am
Great Job tonight…Keep up the good fight. It may seem very trivial to some however they just happen to be the minority trying to dictate to the majority of Americans and you are doing the right thing.
Set up a pay pal account should things get to that point and I and others will support you in your fight for this small but important piece of realestate we call Tradition.
This has nothing to do with the true meaning of the season but I hesitate to start that conversation here & now for fear of getting off topic and the point of why you started the blog and went on Hannity & Combs.
Best of days to you,
Gandalff
Sorry for the repost I put it in the wrong spot….
Savanna said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:13 am
This has gone completley out of control, and i’m glad someone has stood up somewhere to try to put a stop to this nonsense. I don’t think the grinch would even stoop this low. I meen is it really that big of a problem, and i believe that that person has a problem with coming up with somthing to do if they have the time to complain about the word “Easter”. Well I can be a big pain in the butt right back, if you can take away the words and traditions of Easter and Christmas…. I suggest the Manora to be called…. “Holiday
Candle Holder”…. I hope it doesn’t come to that, and i hope that people can just respect others religions and traditions, and not make a deal out of nothing…… It’s getting real old.
alexis said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:14 am
since when has the word “easter BUNNY” been affiliated with religion? i know that easter itself is also a christian holiday but it has nothing to do with the easter bunny. easter can also be a non-religious holiday. why can’t people just pick the one they want to celebrate (or not) and end it? it’s better than going through the trouble of having to rename a whole holiday all because of “one person-one person-who complained five years ago!!!”
alexis said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:15 am
since when has the word “easter BUNNY” been affiliated with religion? i know that easter itself is also a christian holiday but it has nothing to do with the easter bunny. easter can also be a non-religious holiday. why can’t people just pick the one they want to celebrate (or not) and end it? it’s better than going through the trouble of having to rename a whole holiday all because of “one person-one person-who complained five years ago!!!”
Tammy said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:17 am
I am just so sick and tired of all this so called politically correct crap! No one ever has a problem with any other religious or traditional symbol out there. I so agree with what was said about the Christmas Tree and the Menorah. I really don’t care if others have their symbols right next to ours, but just leave us alone and let us have our symbols too! Bottom line “IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT LEAVE!”
Pauline Scott said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:25 am
Unbelievable, I am also not an activist but I am sick & tired of the minority trying to run this county into the liberal ground! I really would like to know what these people are afraid of that one complaint would make them change this beautiful tradition. In my city, Lake Forest, CA, the local schools now call the “Christmas Break” the “Winter Break,” if Easter is next here I’m moving, but first I’ll make a lot of noise at City Hall.
SueM said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:31 am
If i lived in Walnut Creek — I’d move the hell out of there. What’s next — not allowing shamrocks to be placed in retail store windows for St. Patty’s Day? Is this really what we need to spend our time, money and energy on? This overly touchy-feely political climate today is enough to make anyone want to live in another country sometimes. Tolerance and respect for tradition is something we’r losing sight of — every year. Soon there will be not stories to tell and no historical framework for generations to come to have reference to. We may not all celebrate the same things or have the same beliefs — political, religious or otherwise — but isn’t that what makes this country great and life interesting? I have no interest in living in a homogeneous society. What a bore life would be.
Let’s focus on the important things that need fixing and move the heck on.
I applaud your putting this up and being on Fox News. I wish you luck in your endeavor to just stop the insanity! Ugh.
Angry Monkey said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:31 am
My voice represents my family’s voices (me, wife, daughter, & soon to be born son). We watched your segment on Hannity & Combs and wanted to add our voices to this conversation. It’s a shame that Walnut Creek chooses to call the Easter Bunny the Spring Bunny. You made a great point when you noted some cities, including Walnut Creek & San Jose (both cities near our home), have chosen to call Christmas Trees Holiday Trees yet, these same cities would not call a Menorah a Holiday Candelabra. Let make myself clear, I do not want other symbols to be renamed. I do want historical, traditional, and cultural names to remain as they have been and unchanged. Ironically, a number of years ago the city of San Jose erected a statue of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl on public land. I’m not sure why San Jose does not want to recognize the historical, traditional, and cultural reality of an object called a Christmas Tree, but they recognize an Aztec god? Back to Walnut Creek…The city has made a choice to call the Easter Bunny the Spring Bunny. My family has made a choice to not do business in Walnut Creek.
Angry Monkey
Fremont, Ca
Collette said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:32 am
I’m really infuriated when I hear these stories about the CHRISTMAS TREE and now the EASTER BUUNY. It is a complete assault againt the Christians. I saw your comment on Hannity and Colmes about the Menorah and found it true. We are never renaming any other religious symbols. I would like to see an established organization (like the wacky ACLU) take on these battles and ram these secular movements up their _ss! I will support any movement to stop these secular’s from removing tradition. Think of our children, it deprives them of these fun times like when we were children. My sons school doesn’t have any Christmas/Holiday show anymore. It is very sad to see how those who seek to change and rename the christian symbols are having success. Even now, Jesus is still being persecuted.
bob johnston said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:49 am
Thank you EasterBunnyDude for sticking up for tradition. We here in Mississippi love traditional values. The Easter Bunny, Valentine’s Day roses, Christmas trees, in God we trust on currency are long held beliefs that will never be thrown on the BFI trash pile.
Lynda said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:50 am
It is so sad that we have to redefine everything in this country just to placate a minority of the people. Easter is Easter - Christmas is Christmas - Hannukah is Hannukah - Flag Day is Flag Day - Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving, etc. How do you change what IS just because it may offend someone else? This country prides itself on embracing and celebrating the differences in all of us. No one need be ashamed of what they believe in nor should they be offended by what someone else believes. No one should be forced to take on someone else’s beliefs as their own, nor should they be forced to hide or camoflauge their beliefs and traditions or water them down to please others.
Even though the Easter Bunny has little to do with the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus, he is indeed the “Easter Bunny.” Simply put there is no such thing as a Spring Bunny or a Holiday Tree unless you are willing to sit back while others reinvent Easter and Christmas for you.
I feel sorry for the citizens of Walnut Creek and Americans everywhere who allow this to happen. We need to stand up for what is right and true before we end up with a country our children won’t even be able to recognize in the not to distant future.
We should be proud of our differences and not be made to disguise them or diminish them. Such a policy is wrong no matter what side of the fence you are on. Before long all that we hold dear will be challenged, and if we don’t protect what we believe it in, it will all disappear before our eyes. How sad for all of us.
bob johnston said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:52 am
Thank you EasterBunnyDude for sticking up for tradition. We here in Mississippi love traditional values. The Easter Bunny, Valentine’s Day roses, Christmas trees, in God we trust on currency are long held beliefs that will never be thrown on the BFI trash pile.
Please let me know if you got this as my other residence (summer) is in Foster City and will be back in May to protest city hall, if necessary.
judie garcia said,
March 7, 2007 @ 3:54 am
I’m sorry but I had to add one more thing.My children were in elementary school in the early 80’s.When christmas came around each year…they not only learned of christmas…but they learned of honnaka.They colored pictures of xmas trees and minora’s.I hung them all up.They had little ornaments for our tree{which I still treasure and hang on my tree each year}but they brought home dradels with peanuts and taught me how to play the game.I was’nt enraged and ran to the school to complain.I enjoyed the fact that they were learning about other cultures.I wish they had learned more about other cultures and there religions during the holiday times.It was a learning experience for our whole family.I welcome that and I believe most families do.We all need to live together in this melting pot.I think it was not more then a very few who caused this problem.Walnut Creek needs to stand up for the majority.Stand up for the Easter Bunny.
Randi said,
March 7, 2007 @ 4:49 am
OK, What has happened to our traditions here in the U.S.? Give me a BREAK! Our Schools have allowed the minority to influience them to change Christmas Vacation to Winter Break and Easter Vacation is now Spring Break. No longer can we see a Nativity Sceen at the Library nor can we buy a Christmas Tree at the local Christmas Tree lot and God forbid we hear MERRY CHRISTMAS as we do our Christmas Shopping! Now they want to get rid of the EASTER BUNNY! COME ON PEOPLE! Why are we allowing this! Are we going to let them take away the 4th OF JULY TOO!!!!!
I will say Happy Easter and display the Easter Bunny and have an Easter Egg hung and I will always respect the In God We Trust on our money!!!!!!! I am proud to be an American and I am proud of all the traditions we hold dear here in the United States.
So try to take them away, but come hell or high water, it will always be Christmas with Santa and Jesus and the Christmas tree and Easter with the Easter Bunny and eggs and the American dollar and the American flag at our house.
Charlotte said,
March 7, 2007 @ 5:36 am
Do the businesses in Walnut Creek accept cold hard cash for purchases? I would be suprised if they do, since all American currency does have the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” written on it.
christine miller said,
March 7, 2007 @ 5:57 am
what prevents those that support the friends of the EASTER bunny from showing up with bunny ears and bunny costumes. i’m so sick and tired of one guy being offended and ruining it for the rest of us. how does this teach tolerance to our kids. I’m ashamed to say I’m a resident of a nearby county and can’t believe this crap is happening in my back yard. you’ve got my support Easter Bunny.
GOD BLESS!
Harry Kerstetter said,
March 7, 2007 @ 5:57 am
Just saw you on the Hannity and Colmes replay on the East Coast. Just wanted to drop a line a say, “Good for you!” I am so glad to see people stand-up for traditional and Christian Values. I mean, why should people steal an idea that was born from a Judeo-Christian teaching and then make it a secular symbol?
Kudos to you and I support your mission!
Best Regards,
Harry Kerstetter
Central Pennsylvania
http://www.harrykerstetter.com
Tom Garvie said,
March 7, 2007 @ 6:00 am
Go give ‘em all the ammunition you can deliver, to bring back the Easter Bunny. We normal American’s are getting sick and tired of this left-wing political correctness. The Easter Bunny and the Christmas Tree have been an instituion and a a tradition of many many years, long before a lot of these left wing morons were on this earth. Good luck in getting the Easter Bunny and also the Christmas Tree back where it belongs……
dottie said,
March 7, 2007 @ 6:10 am
My husband and I live and travel in a motorhome. While it won’t contribute much in the overall scheme of things, please let the powers that be in Walnut Creek know that we will not be stopping and spending money in your fine city on our way in and out of California. Too bad, because we like it there and usually stop for a couple of days each way to visit friends.
Barbara & Mike said,
March 7, 2007 @ 6:17 am
We agree with you Michael and so glad you took the time to write your letter and the rest is history!
Keep up the good fight - little by little our freedoms will be taken away if we do not speak up to the “politically correct crowd” to quote Edmund Burke “All that is necessary for the forces of evil to win in this world is for enough good men (and women) to do nothing.” Though this is not an evil act, it is discriminating against the christian tradition of the easter bunny. Think about it, have you seen any other religious group experience this kind of discrimination? I don’t think so! WE should not take it anymore. We should all do our part to speak up and take action when it happens in our communities. THanks again and we are with you all the way.
Lynne said,
March 7, 2007 @ 6:43 am
I wonder if anyone remembers that Easter was first a so-called “Pagen” holiday, celebrating rebirth and fertility, and of course one of the symbols of Easter was the rabbit. In fact the name Easter itself is a derivitave of “Eostre” or “Eastre” who was a Great Mother Goddess of the Saxons and didn’t have anything to do with Christianity. Many religious historians agree that many of our Easter traditions are hold-overs from Pagen beliefs. The Christians were mostly unable to change these beliefs of the people who celebrated these fertility and rebirth traditions, so they simply overlayed the resurection story onto this celebration, showing considerably more tolerance than those who would ban the Easter Bunny. So you see Walnut Creek, what we are celebrating is not really a “Christian” holiday at all, but a longstanding celebration of Spring whcich goes back well into pre-history. It’s so mcuh a part of us and truly a joyful time of year. When I was little, how I looked forward to going on egg hunts, getting a stuffed bunny for Easter, and most of all, painting Easter eggs. To take away more of our cultural heritage by “renaming” our holidays because it offends a few, is a very sad affair. The only way to stop this nonsense is to speak up for keeping our traditions intact (no matter what they may be) The anti-Easter Bunny people in Walnut Creek need to read their history and bring back a very beloved symbol of Easter, the Easter Bunny. God Bless him.
Chris said,
March 7, 2007 @ 8:19 am
I think everybody is just jealous that Christianity is the best religion. They get make fun of the fact we have the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus, two characters that seem to have nothing to do with christianity…
But everybody loves these two characters. They rock! Bringing gifts, hardboiled eggs, candy, everything a person really needs!
Personally, I don’t know why everyone can’t have Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny come for their children. It’s a part of our childhoods and helps fuel our imaginations.
vettiliveinnorthcote said,
March 7, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
There’s enough room for all of us, and all our holidays. Thanks for blogging, and standing up against stoopid intolerance. The Easter bunny deserves a quiet life, let him/her get on with making people happy!
Rosie Stanton said,
March 8, 2007 @ 3:17 am
Kudos to you EASTER-BUNNY I think it is great what you are trying to do in defending our holidays. I come from a little town in Germany where we have a lot of different denominations and people of different countries and still the easter bunny was the easter bunny and the christmas tree was a christmas tree. If we had functions like the easter egg hunt if you didn’t like then you just didn’t attend. What is it with this country that I was so proud to become a citizen of. Where do some of these people come from destroying every child dream of the easter bunny and santa claus.
I now live in Palmer Alaska where it is at the moment very cold, but believe me even we have the Easter bunny. Even if the snow isn’t gone well then we’ll have the Easter egg hunt in a building or the snow.
Tony said,
March 8, 2007 @ 3:52 pm
Way to go!!! I can’t stand these politically correct politicians, I’m pretty sure the holiday has been called Easter since its inception, so I think if they want a Spring Equinox of the Vernal Whatever, or a Spring Bunny, make a new holiday for it. STOP MESSING WITH OUR HOLIDAYS!! They were here before you, and if we can help it, they’ll be here after you!
Susan Rassai said,
March 8, 2007 @ 7:16 pm
What has happened to just plain common sense in our society?! This story and others like it are just so absurd. If you don’t like the Easter Bunny festivities than don’t participate, but it’s not fair to make everyone else abide by your prejudices.
Thanks for taking a stand! And Happy Easter!!
Darrell E. Wagoner (Surf) said,
March 9, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
Let me guess….ACLU, right?
The last time one person got in the way of other’s ability and desire to celebrate and participate in what are traditions enjoyed by a good people was in 1939. Perhaps the person who objects to this Easter celebration can remember his name?
Here’s some steady advice for the individual who complained, stay in that day. Read a good book. Visit an old folk’s home. Clean a bed pan. Do something constructive for the greater good. Pick up litter in the park. Call your mother. Make a difference in a positive way.
Antisocial said,
March 11, 2007 @ 12:56 am
Just read about you in the paper. I’ve been here in Concord for 3 years and had no idea this was going on. Thank you for your letter to the editor and picking up all the press on this.
Wonderful job on Hannity btw, (is that your wife laughing in the background? That’s so funny!)
[Note from EasterBunnyDude: The cackle is courtesy of EasterBunnyDude's daughter, operating the ShakeyCam.]
TXatheist said,
March 15, 2007 @ 8:03 pm
Darrell W,
Don’t ask us to stay inside. Keep your religious themed function where it belongs, in your church or home but not our public park and endorsed by a government entity. If you don’t want to do that then do one of the recommended functions you mentioned.
vettiliveinnorthcote said,
March 16, 2007 @ 4:45 am
the easter bunny isn’t christian - if anything, he/she is either pagan fertility festivalist or a poster rabbit for the capitalists who sell chocolate and greeting cards…
Happy Easter, FibroDenial Style! « It Ain’t Fibro: Denial or Intuition? said,
April 8, 2007 @ 2:52 am
[...] Apr 7th, 2007 by fibrodenial Here’s yet another holiday that has come under so much scrutiny about religious overtones that we’re almost afraid to mention it for fear of offending someone. I just learned today that some town out in California has changed the “Easter Bunny” into the “Spring Bunny” and I won’t even get on my soap box about that! Here’s that story: http://friendsoftheeasterbunny.wordpress.com/2007/03/06/easter-bunny-endangered-species/ [...]