I bought PAAS egg coloring kit like I always have. I've used it all of my life, it's part of our family tradition, like it is in many other homes. But never again. I am so saddened. I know this may seem like nothing to some, but to me it was just too sad to find there were no cross stickers or anything signifying the reason we celebrate Easter.

It is unbelievable that secularism has crept into a holiday celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the ONLY reason for this holiday, yet now He is being ignored.

Like I said, I know it sounds stupid, and the only reason I even noticed was because putting stickers on was the only way Faith could really join in. But, all the stickers were so stupid. Soccer balls, baseballs, weird stuff that has nothing to do with Easter.

I'm writing them an email, and I will tell everyone I know. I hate this....

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Melissa

Is it possible that there are different stickers for different kits? In other words, could someone choose a kit with religious themed, as opposed to the sports theme?

Do you have any cross stickers or such around the house? Perhaps you could put them on the eggs?

I suppose they could have different kits, but what would be the point??? And there werent' just sports themed stickers, there were others too , I just didn't list them.

We let her put the stickers on the eggs, we don't "have' to have cross stickers. My point was that I feel they are ignoring the whole reason for celebrating Easter and replacing it with only secular type stickers.

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Melissa

Easter, like Christmas did not originate w/ Christianity.
Furthermore, if cross stickers is what makes an Easter celebration special, then I would suggest that priorities need to re-evaluted.

Christmas and Easter were taken over by Christians--Pagans celebrated them long before Christians did. I'm just saying.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

thank you for sharing

stickers can be pretty cheap too to just buy a pack. or use the dyes and not use premade stickers then make them to your tastes instead of a sticker in a premade box. Not sure how you can write your own stuff in the dye, wax I think on the eggs before coloring? we go to a church for egg hunting they hide over 25000 plastic eggs for the kids to find and then after we're done we donate the plastic eggs back to the church for next year

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Marilyn, I hope you "know' me better than to think that cross stickers are what would make the Easter celebration special for me. That is just silly. I just wonder what would be the reason for removing them in the first place??

Even if Christians did "take over" pagan holidays, (and I have studied that before but have forgotten much of what I learned, so I don't feel like debating) it's not the point.

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Melissa

No, I don't think the cross stickers would make or break your Easter celebration.

I don't want to debate either. I pointed it out to make a point. You are offended by the removal of a symbol; maybe there are those who celebrate Easter as Pagans and are offended by the symbol.
Easter, in it's original celebration, is not the exclusive possession of Christians...

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Yeah, we wouldn't want to offend anyone. lol

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Melissa

Hmm..never noticed it but then again, we don't celebrate the religious side of Easter so it wouldn't matter to me. I would guess that PAAS is trying to more "PC" by removing the cross. Like it was said, it might offend those who color eggs but don't celebrate the religious side of Easter. Even though we don't celebrate the religious side of Christmas, we call it a Christmas tree. EVERY year we have a group with a stick up their butts wanting to call them "holiday trees". It bugs the crap out of me. Sometimes I think being "pc" goes just too far.

I am sorry you missed your stickers. I know our kit had funny face stickers in it (not sure if it was PAAS or not though...)

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

I'm with you, mamarajum. I can see why it feels like such a bum deal. It is - to me, too.


I'm glad others participate in Easter egg-coloring. I just don't see why the whole tradition has to get so bland as to remove the simple religious stickers. It is interesting, though.


Have a great Easter! Enjoy the day, and everything about it!

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Seems like offering a variety of different holiday/springtime stickers would serve to make everyone happy. OK, not EVERYONE...there's a piss-ant in every crowd.

I think soccer balls, etc is kinda dumb for an Easter egg kit.

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I usually always buy Paas and have never got a pack with any stickers at all. I know when we bought ours there were different packs with different stickers. My dd picked out Hello Kitty, but I did see religious ones too.

Personally, the cross stickers or anything like that would make me buy another brand.

I'm Jewish and as a kid we still colored eggs and got a basket from the Easter Bunny. Until I was older I never even knew the other side of the holiday.


I know that Easter is a Christian holiday, but I always thought the coloring of eggs and egg hunts and the Easter Bunny was a secular thing. Am I wrong?

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When I was a kid, I used to decorate my eggs with a message or design using a crayon
before I dyed them. You could write a scripture, draw crosses or Easter lilies, or write "He is Risen!" on the eggs. When you dye the eggs, the design pops out.
That's a good alternative if you don't have any religious stickers. I believe that Paas removed the religious stickers because they are marketing their product to a wide audience, some who celebrate the holiday in a secular way.

I think anyone is welcome to decorate Easter eggs and get baskets from the Easter bunny.

The operative word is Easter...but I don't imagine anyone minds if those who don't celebrate partake in the fun! I know lots of Christian people who eat Matzo Brie (a Passover favorite). They realize they're borrowing from a Jewish custom, but why not?

If a person would stop buying egg coloring kits because some of the stickers contained crosses, I'd think that was sort of uptight of them, but they're free to feel that way.

Just like if someone chose not to eat food just because it had been blessed for Passover.


KWIM??

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Eh, not so much. Being a Jew I don't think I'd want a cross, on my colored eggs just like I'm sure you wouldn't want a Star of David on yours.

KWIM??

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Interesting...I think I'd be fine with purchasing the kit, but opting not to put the crosses on my eggs.

And it surely wouldn't offend me to find an assortment of stickers - INCLUDING (not limited to) stickers with crosses or Stars of David.

But that's just me. I might be more open-minded and inclusive than some. If I'm buying EASTER eggs, I'm thinking it's a strong possibility they'll be there. And if they are, I'm not going to get upset.

You do make a great point, though. There obviously is a need for "seasonal egg decorating kits" for those, such as yourself, who are sensitive to such things.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Company Offers Religious Egg-Dyeing Kit for Easter - Beliefnet.com

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Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box.

We always celebrated the secular side of Easter. I don't remember any crosses being in our kits as a kid, but then again, we didn't have stickers then. We had the wax sticks that someone else mentioned and these colored paper things that you wrapped around the egg and then moistened with a rag that was soaked in vinegar. After a minute or so, you took off the rag and the egg came out kind of like it was tie-dyed. Those things were cool.

Fortunately, my Mom is a bit of a pack rat, and so am I. She always saved the left-overs. So, I still have some of those wax sticks and tie-dye things!

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I remember something like this! I haven't seen them in ages, maybe when I was still back in grade school?

Man, those were cool looking eggs! Couldn't get them quite like they looked on the box (never can!) but they did come out pretty nice.

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Hmmm......we used to work so hard to dip and double and triple dip our eggs to make them nicely striped.......AND used those waxy crayons to make our own designs. Kids these days have stickers and shrink wraps and all these other things that make it so easy!!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Ditto - the exact same here to everything you said! I didn't even notice there were no religious stickers in there! I'm getting tired of the "PC" aspect of every holiday as well.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

We did the one with the crayon thing last night. It has always been my favorite because you can make it how you want. It is creative.

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

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I guess if the president of our country doesn't think we are a Christian nation,
we shoudln't celebrate religious Christian holidays anymore!
For those of us who disagree, we had better speak out while we still can!!!
He will probably be attacking freedom of speach before we know it!!!!!

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

WTF are you talking about?
"Christian" holidays? Christians bastardized Pagan holidays.

Just because a person doesn't celebrate in the same way as you and your Christian friends; just because a person doesn't celebrate the same holidays as you and your Christian friends--it doesn't make them wrong!

Frankly, I find it offensive when "Christians" play judge, jury and executioner as it pertains to other religions. I think those kind of knee-jerk reactions are born out of uncertainty of one's choice of religion. If you are sure of your beliefs, then you don't need or won't want to degrade others for their beliefs....of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

What? I must have missed this. Can you explain further? I do believe that the President and his family were at church services this morning to celebrate Easter like many Americans.

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God Bless the USA!!!!! Praying for my Youngster son at United States Naval Academy, class of 2014!!

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Like I said before. Growing up I had no idea that Easter was a religious holiday. We only knew the Easter bunny, Peeps and candy.

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Marilyn, I respectfully disagree.

We got here.... somehow. Various religions have different explanations for how we got here, and science has it's own set of theories.

They cannot all be right because some directly contradict others.

That means that some are wrong.

If you are certain that you know what is 'right', you won't necessarily have a lot of patience for or interest in alternatives that you believe are wrong. I don't understand why you single out Christians as the group that you think play judge and jury; I have not encountered any faith system that happily embraces explanations for our origin (and the resulting beliefs and behavioral expectations) that are contradictory to that which they are called to do.

You often make solid, and IMHO often accurate assertions and statements about legalities surrounding insurance claims. You feel very comfortable acting confrontational when someone espouses what you believe to be a misconception about insurance law. Using your logic, you don't truly believe you know the truth about insurance laws - if you did, why would you need to even bother to speak up when you hear someone state something you *believe* to be false?? The fact that you speak up...is that proof that you aren't all that convinced that you are right, deep down?

No... it's the fact that you are convicted that you *are* correct in what you know to be true that makes you want to assert the 'truth' that you know.

For those unaware, when Christianity (actually Catholicism, which to me is not a term that is interchangable tih Christianity, but that's beside the point...) became an official Christian nation when Constantine was converted, Constantine was aware that the many pagans in his kingdom would be resistant to simply give up their traditional times of feasting and holidays simply because *he* had declared that they all had to be Christian.


There was a pagan holiday known, IIRC, as Ishtar during which they celebrated fertility and new life. This was in the spring when things were starting to green up, crops were being planted, etc. IIRC, Constantine recognized that the Jewish passover occurred at a similar time, which would mean that Christ's crucifixion, which occurred during the Passover feast, also occurred during that spring timeframe. So... in order that the pagans not completely revolt from his declaration that they all had to be Christian - something he was afraid they would do if that important feast became illegal - he deemed that had been a pagan celebration of life and fertility (Ishtar) to be no more, but during that same time declared that the nation was to celebrate the resurrected life of Christ (Easter). Constantine allowed the pagans to keep some of the things that to them were symbolic of their history (I believe that's why eggs and rabbits are tied to Easter - they remind one of fertility)... but declared that they were no longer celebrating fertility as a gift from anything but the God of Abraham.

I am Christian, but did not grow up celebrating Easter or Christmas as religious holidays. The reasoning under which I was raised was that Christ didn't tell us to celebrate his birth - we're told that he was born and how it happened, but it's his death and resurrection that we are told to remember with continuity. That, coupled with the fact that we don't know when he was born was reason enough in our family and our church not to designate a certain day as a holiday and assign an event to that day that with relative certainty *didn't* take place on that day.

Same with Easter. Early Christians met often - sometimes daily - to remember Christ's life and death, and there are directives in the New Testament saying, "As oft as you come together...." to remember his death, burial, and resurrection... so we never recognized Easter in a way that was more of a big deal than every other Sunday.

Regardless of all of that... I doubt that the Paas people eliminated the religious stickers because of some epiphany about the origins of Easter. My guess is that they weren't selling enough of them. It was probably a marketing decision. And though I don't celebrate the holiday as a religious one, I do think it's somewhat sad that their company decided it was no big deal to eliminate something religious for financial reasons.

The only reason I "singled out" Christians was because that was who made the statements I found offensive. Had it been Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, etc. I would have referenced that religion.

I also brought up the Pagan aspect because someone mentioned that Christ was the only reason for the Holiday--obviously not if someone doesn't ascribe to Christian beliefs, KWIM?

It's one thing to tell someone they are wrong because they misstate a law (a law regardless of what religion you are) or something that is fact. Religion is based on faith of things not seen. And what I believe may or may not be the same as you. And it's fine to believe that my beliefs are "wrong"(because it's not the same as you), I just have problems accepting that people who think all other religions are going to HELL are true Christians, KWIM?
While I don't think we should always be politically correct, I do think we should be a little slower to judge and sentence others to condemnation. *shrugs*

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

FactCheck.org: Did Obama say we "are no longer a Christian nation"?

LOL! Too funny!

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

I'm really confused. I mean, I know you are disappointed about not having cross stickers in your egg dyeing kit, but, what is the religious meaning of dyeing eggs? I have never known the religious tie to the dyeing of eggs.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

We aren't a Christian nation. We are a nation that allows you to practice your faith freely....

So, go practice and stop whining about Easter Eggs.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

AMEN!!!

Our nation was founded on Christian principles. I'm afraid we aren't much of a Christian nation anymore which is why this country is heading downwards rapidly.......I am sick of the PC crap too.
Easter (Greek: Πάσχα, Ethiopic: ፍሲካ, Pascha) is the most important annual religious feast in the Christian liturgical year.[1] According to Christian scripture, Jesus was resurrected from the dead three days[2] after his crucifixion. Christians celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday[3] (also Resurrection Day or Resurrection Sunday), two days after Good Friday and three days after Maundy Thursday.
However it has evolved, this is suppoesd to be the meaning of the celebration now. So to the op, they should have religious stickers in them!

In Medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent. Eggs laid during that time were often boiled or otherwise preserved. Eggs were thus a mainstay of Easter meals, and a prized Easter gift for children and servants.

I'd rather Easter merchandise be secular, personally. I like chocolate bunnies, but I'm not sure I could bite the head off a chocolate Jesus. Same idea with the eggs. I'd rather put a bunny sticker on the egg I dipped in too many colors of dye than a cross. Just seems more appropriate, somehow.

Now that's just tacky. Of course, there's a market for everything, and there's always someone who can google it and find it.


I can understand the lure of those who wish to participate in Easter traditions without being Christian.

Jewish mc'ers, correct me if I'm wrong - but aren't there "Faux Mitzvahs" going on for those who feel left out of the Jewish Bar/Bat Mitzvah traditions? Ya gotta love those, huh?

We're a society that likes to claim whatever appeals to us - and our parents indulge us so we don't feel left out...hence the secularization of many religious traditions.

I did notice lots of churches and other establishments putting on Easter egg hunts. But there were none at the temples/synagogues nearby... However, our churches didn't mind who showed up. The hunts were open to everyone - all were welcome.

Whatever people want to participate in is fine with me. But I can't see getting all sensitive and uptight when there are a scattering of religious symbols on what's purchased. You're still free to buy them, so that you can participate with us. At the same time, there's definitely a market for the watered down items, as we see here! In fact, there are plenty of Christians who prefer the secular celebrations, as well. Lots of options for all peoples...

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

Our founders had slaves - should we continue that practice? As for PC crap, if you're sick of it, then why worry about whether a company includes freakin' crosses in their egg dying kits? In my opinion, including them is a PC issue. Why appease the Christian contingent for a non-religious practice? Does the bible mention dying eggs and sticking cross stickers on them? Buy your own cross stickers and paste 'em wherever you please in the privacy of your own home.

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Chocolate Jesus and crosses, etc

Religious Chocolates, Chocolate Jesus, Chocolate Mary, Chocolate Christ


LOL the same site also has "adult" candy.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Personally for me I honestly do not see the big issue here. From working within the school system, so many traditions have changed to be politically correct. Now we can only have a holiday party with no mention of Santa, we can only have a spring party with no mention of easter or passover. Yes I know we live especially here in New York where it is truly a melting pot of cultures and religions. Yet why can it not be as it was before were we all learned about the differences, so we can grow up and respect and come to know the differences... Being raised a catholic I know what my holidays and religious holidays mean. When my eldest dd was in kindergarten and it was the holidays, they were taught by a mom, the meaning of all the holidays celebrated around christmas. In fact my dd loved the matzo bread and played with the dretel sp... so many times over and over. No big deal, as far as easter eggs and the cross, again easter eggs was a fun thing to do with all the colors, to me personally it always had the meaning of that colored eggs, we kept cold in the fridge to eat. It was not religious and then the plastic ones my parents backed with pennies and candies and put them in our yard for me and my brothers to find to put into our baskets. Again no religious purposes here. Honestly if I was given the star of David its only a sticker and would be no problem for me at all.... Also what about chocolate its eaten world wide has nothing to do with religion... Only stickers small problem in my book.... Peace... Catherine

Amen Sister!!!

The United States was founded on Christian principles as a Christian nation.
We allow freedom of religion for all of the citizens, but are still a Christian nation.
I love bunnies and baskets and coloring eggs, but I do not forget the real reason of Easter. The fact that I seem to be in the minority here both scares and saddens me.

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Square dancing is friendship set to music!

You got that right! It is scary.

I disagree. There are plenty of people in this country who are not Christians, but, ARE some of the most decent wonderful people you will ever meet. On the other hand, I've met some of the most nasty Christians. I wouldn't let them near my dog. To say it is basically the lack of Christianity making our country go downward is just narrowminded, and kind of scary, really. Can you say "Hitler"??

It is a lack of morals that is doing more harm to our country, IMO. You can follow the basic rules of the 10 Commandments and NOT be a Christian. You know, common decency....don't steal, cheat, kill.......

A whole 'nother topic, but, sheesh, this is what turns me off about organized religion.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

Where do you get that? Rush Limbaugh?! According to the constitution:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Thomas Jefferson:

"The day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin, will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter." -- Thomas Jefferson (letter to J. Adams April 11,1823)



The Treaty of Tripoli, written in the 1700s, Article 11, states:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquillity, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

That being the key phrase!

I don't understand why we have to sterilize everything. Allow everyone. . .including Christians. . .to practice and appreciate their religious holidays. Have some stinking tolerance for ALL religions. . .instead of trying to "not offend" anyone by making everything devoid of religious meaning. Sheesh! It's like we are losing all common sense here.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

I get your point OP.
We did not dye Easter Eggs this year so I had not purchased a set.

We did all 12 Resurrection Eggs last night at our Easter Family Dinner.
The kids loved opening and sharing what they found inside.

I will be more mindful in future years because of what you posted.

Thanks,
X

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Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

But dying eggs has no religious meaning. The absence of cross stickers in a PAAS kit doesn't prevent anyone from practicing their religion for Christ's sake! (Pun intended

__________________
If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

For many people it does. . .as in a traditional Easter activity. That's my point. Do we have to remove the stickers because it's not for everybody? I don't think so. . .but it's really a small thing. . I really don't care because we never use the stickers anyway. . .my kids aren't patient enough to let the eggs dry and so the stickers never stick anyway. I'm just saying I hate the way we have to sterilize everything nowadays. My best friend in elementary school was Jewish and I loved learning about her traditions and playing dradel with her. Can't we just appreciate the diversity? Do we have to pretend like some things don't have different meanings to different people? That's all.

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

It's a two way street....
However, did anyone stop to think that maybe the OP's kit was missing the sheet w/ the religious stickers????
It could have all just been a defective egg dying kit.

Regardless, if it upset/offended/saddened the OP or anyone else for that matter, then a letter to PAAS would be in order.

Our stickers never ended up on the eggs anyway! Every other surface, yes--the eggs not so much!

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Truly open-minded people will get your point.

But there are LOTS of pretenders on here - people who are, themselves, much more narrow-minded than they realize - who have a tolerance of zilch for difference here. The people to whom I'm referring continuously try to pass themselves off as all-inclusive. But they don't mean it.

Isn't it ironic (and creepy) that the same people who try to shock and insult others on here are the ones who are the most strong-minded about NOT wanting to see any sign of crosses in their EASTER Egg coloring packets? Helps me to see things more clearly, that's for sure.

Live and let live.

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"The errors of faith are better than the best thoughts of unbelief." - Thomas Russell

I looked at the PAAS website, and what I found was somewhat interesting. They have many different kinds of kits that they offer, and one happens to be a sports-themed kit. OP, is it possible that they also sold one with religious-themed stickers, and you just happened to pick up one of the ones with the sports balls?

I agree with you. Maybe the ones with the cross stickers were just sold out. I know my dd's first choice was was gone so she had to pick another kind.