Have you ever heard of parents giving their children presents for Easter?

Yes, but not at the level of Christmas or their Birthday. We always have my daughter Spring/Summer stuff, like a tee-shirt and flip flops or a beach towel and swim goggles. It had to fit in her basket though, along with some candy and such.

It wouldn’t surprise me. Some parents give their kids cars, so why not?

@kritiper: Cars won’t fit in an Easter basket.

Your friend probably derives pleasure from giving like this. Easter is an excuse. This may not be all good, it can be a sign of controlling behavior, depression or possibly other mental conditions.

It’s not unheard of in my area. Easter outfits and some treats or small gifts are normal to celebrate the religious holiday. Big presents are a little odd though.

I don’t know anyone who does that. I don’t judge it, but sometimes I feel that the fewer times one is pressured to give gifts, the better. (I would assume in this case that they really enjoy giving gifts and are looking for any opportunity to do so).

I always added a clothing item and a book in the Easter Baskets for my girls.

We gave the kids Easter Basket things (like Beany Baby rabbits) but never anything wrapped or more involved than that. And it pretty much stopped being that extravagant by the time they were 7 or 8.

Their grandmother would give them a sweater to wear to church.

Yes.

Hmmm…what constitutes a present? We give them little things. But they all fit in their Easter baskets.

@raum: In the details, I specified what I was referring to.

We give them little things that fit in their baskets. But some aren’t necessarily trinkets?

We’ve given books, art supplies, stuffed animals, etc.

It only happened to me once and I really wasn’t expecting it, I wonder why.

I used to give my kids the typical candy but I also used it as an event to give them books.

The first time I heard of this was about seven years ago. I knew about hiding Easter Eggs, and Easter candy and Easter Baskets, but I did not know some families treat the Easter Bunny like Santa Claus, and the Bunny brings surprise gifts while the children are asleep or away. Even the idea that the Bunny hides the eggs like magic was news to me. Growing up when I went to Easter Egg hunts I just figured the adults were the ones hiding the eggs, I was never told a big magical Bunny was doing it. I’m not Christian, but I knew about Santa Claus, and I used to go to Easter Egg hunts in the park with all the other kids where I grew up in Hastings.

We always got all new clothes and shoes plus a new basket for the eggs and candy.

Some people choose this time to give their children a pet. It is mating season, so baby critters are easy to find. Depending on their environment, it might be a bunny, a puppy, or a pony.

I think for some, gifting on Easter is a generational change from the Easter parades of days gone by. Not an actual parade usually, it is reference to the spring finery people used to indulge in. The whole family would have fancy new hats, dresses, blindingly white gloves (sometimes with lace!), new hanky, suits, shoes, the whole bit. For some people, it is simply a habit to shop at Easter because it is habit passed down from spring indulgence on Easters past.

It’s actually really sad when people give bunnies and chicks to kids as Easter presents.

Sometimes, yes. It depends on the child, the parents, and the environment available.
Unfortunately, some parents only consider the cute.