There was a time that Easter was just as important as Christmas, if not more important. But, not surprisingly, Christmas has stolen the entire show over the last century. Maybe because it brings in many, many, more billions than Easter.

Still, last year, 80% of Americans celebrated Easter. In 2019 Michelle Boorstein, a religion reporter for the Washington Post wrote, “…for Americans not affiliated with a religion, Easter may be more apt to symbolize spring, hope and renewal, or just an excuse for new clothes.”

While Christmas became more and more commercial, Easter, remained essentially a religious holiday. Despite ongoing corporate efforts to exploit it, in 2020, Easter generated only $21.7 billion in sales revenue compared to Christmas’ massive $777.2 billion.

In the early 20th Century, Easter and Christmas were mentioned in published English language books at about the same frequency. By the year 2000, however, Christmas was mentioned almost four times as much as Easter.

There is one place where Easter seems to have the edge and that is in church attendance. While there may be some regional differences, the data clearly suggest that the top three weekends for church attendance in America are Easter, Christmas Eve, and Palm Sunday.

If there’s one nice thing about Easter being a step-sister to Christmas, is that at least there is one holiday where the meaning is perfectly clear. While I know for some, Easter is about the jelly beans, churches report a 230% increase in attendance.

There was this story about churches reported by the Guardian newspaper in the UK this past January:

“Churches are closing at rapid numbers in the US, researchers say, as congregations dwindle across the country and a younger generation of Americans abandon Christianity altogether – even as faith continues to dominate American politics.

As the US adjusts to an increasingly non-religious population, thousands of churches are closing each year in the country – a figure that experts believe may have accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic.

The situation means some hard decisions for pastors, who have to decide when a dwindling congregation is no longer sustainable. But it has also created a boom market for those wanting to buy churches, with former houses of worship now finding new life.”

Rather depressing news, since I believe religion was one of the only things providing moral fiber in our times. I am confused as to where our children are learning that there are certain universal truths we should abide by in our journey through life. Those truths are what keeps humanity committed and united to one another, things like, “do unto others,” which is probably one of the most profound rules human beings have endeavored to live up to. Moral fortitude. Where is its fountain now?

Perhaps one of the biggest shocks of my life came from visiting Ireland several times and seeing that religious faith in that beautiful country had dwindled. Their unique faith had gotten them through 800 years of British rule, potato famines, disease outbreaks, and poverty. What gets them through the tumultuous times on earth today?

It’s a wonderful weekend to contemplate and remember our duty to other human beings. I think the true defining quality of a person is the way they treat other people. I think we have forgotten that. Now that other defining principles shape our lives, like money, we have forgotten many important things.

Well, it’s beginning to look like Easter outside, at least last week it was. I won’t rule out one last random snowstorm. Last April it snowed on the 17th of April in a final test of our patience. But still, there are the beginnings of buds on my lilac trees, and pastel colors have returned to the shelves of our stores, and I hear kids playing outside again.

Last Saturday, before the odd windstorm arrived, the park in Lakewood was mobbed with families. It was a lovely thing to see. Getting outside again is a sure sign nature’s renewal has begun. I hope it is a renewal within each of us as well.

Be kind.