Easter Costumes: An Expensive Church Tradition

As Easter approaches, I’m trying to figure out what outfit I will wear for that special Sunday.

This is what everyone does, right? It’s part of Easter tradition.

The tradition of wearing special clothing for Easter, often referred to as “Easter clothes,” has historical and cultural roots dating back centuries. While the specific customs and practices associated with Easter attire vary across different cultures and regions, supposedly the tradition originally symbolized renewal, rebirth, and the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.

I struggled to find definitive sources describing the history of the Easter clothes tradition, so understand that the information below may not be 100% accurate, and you should do your own research rather than assuming that my findings are all correct.

Early Christian Influences

In the early Christian church, Easter was celebrated as the most significant event on the liturgical calendar. Believers marked the occasion with elaborate worship services, processions, and celebrations.

During this time, it became customary for Christians to dress in their finest attire to honor the sacredness of the occasion and demonstrate reverence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Medieval Period

During the medieval period, the tradition of wearing special clothing for Easter became more widespread and elaborate. This was partially due to Constantine’s decree around 300 AD in which he required the men in his court to dress in their finest clothes on Easter.

Wealthy nobles and royalty would commission luxurious garments made from fine fabrics and adorned with jewels and intricate embroidery for Easter celebrations. For common people, Easter provided an opportunity to wear their best clothing, often passed down through generations or reserved for special occasions.

Renaissance and Baroque Eras

The Renaissance and Baroque periods saw further refinement and elaboration of Easter attire. Fashionable trends of the time influenced the style and design of Easter clothing, with an emphasis on opulence, elegance, and grandeur. Elaborate dresses, ornate suits, and extravagant accessories became fashionable choices for Easter celebrations, reflecting the social status and wealth of the wearer.

Victorian Era

In the 19th century, the Victorian era brought about significant changes in fashion and culture, influencing the tradition of Easter clothing. The Victorians embraced the symbolism of Easter as a time of renewal and new beginnings, and elaborate Easter bonnets, dresses, and suits became popular choices for Easter attire. The tradition of dressing in new clothing for Easter symbolized the spiritual significance of the holiday and the joy of resurrection.

Modern Times

In modern times, the tradition of wearing Easter clothes continues to be observed in many cultures and communities around the world, even by people who do not attend church services.

For many people, Easter clothing represents a long tradition of dressing up to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ or to show off to others. In some regions, particularly in the South, wearing an Easter dress has been a status symbol, reflecting the importance placed on tradition and appearances within the community.

Because of this latter reason, Easter clothes are not that important to me. If the whole point of Easter Sunday is to focus on the person of Jesus Christ, why do we intentionally do things to draw attention to ourselves?

Let’s be honest, how many of us would still dress up in Easter clothes if no one ever saw us wearing them?

It is important to remember that the significance of Easter lies not in what we wear, but in the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

As Christians, our clothing choices should be guided by our heart motives rather than social standards or traditions imposed by the church. Whether we choose to wear an Easter dress or not, our worth in God’s eyes remains unchanged, and His love for us is unconditional.

Summary

Ultimately, the decision to wear an Easter dress is a personal one, and there is no requirement or obligation to do so. What matters most is the condition of our hearts as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Whether you choose to don a fancy pastel Easter dress or opt for casual attire, let your celebration be guided by true worship and genuine motives, knowing that God’s love for you is constant and unchanging.

But remember, this is not a biblical command or even a recommendation.

It’s a tradition.

Your Church Might Be Like the Pharisees

Sideview of Catholic PriestWhat do Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh-Day Adventists, Jews, and the Greek Orthodox have in common?

Tradition.

On the one hand, beautiful, and on the other hand, detrimental.

I love traditions. I grew up with them, and I’ve started my own.

One of my favourite traditions is our family’s annual December trip to Kentucky to visit the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter to immerse ourselves in the Christmas lights and Christmas programs that they host.

All traditions are not created equal.

But traditions have certainly been endowed with inalienable rights by their creators. Because we love our traditions, we have elevated them to positions that they often do not deserve. We value them more than we should.

As we explore the purpose of the church, we need to confront our church traditions. The more we weed out the unbiblical traditions, the more successful we will be in fulfilling the true purpose that God has for us.

Church Purpose Series:
1. Do You Know Why the Church Exists?
2. Your Church Might Be Like the Pharisees (this article)

Defining Tradition

When I started this new series of blog posts on the purpose of the church, I had not intended to take an in-depth look at traditions in the church.

But a recent Facebook post of mine on the topic of tradition received so much feedback that I realized it was a subject that many people are at least semi-passionate about. So the next several posts are going to discuss church traditions, many of which were mentioned on that social media post.

These are the first four definitions of tradition according to Dictionary.com:
“1. the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice
2. something that is handed down
3. a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting
4. a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices”

In other words, tradition is a pattern that is deeply ingrained in our thoughts, our words, and our actions because it has been repeated long enough.

It’s not a tradition if it’s new. Traditions take time to form.

But with time also comes forgetfulness, and eventually we do things simply because that’s what we know to do, not because we have legitimate reasons to do those things.

Is that bad though? Sometimes, no.

Sometimes, absolutely yes.

Evaluating Tradition

The Pharisees were known for their traditions.

Is your church known for yours?

In Matthew 7, the Pharisees found Jesus’ disciples eating without first washing their hands. In our culture, this is also something that we might look upon with disdain, depending on the circumstances. But to the Pharisees, this was a sin!

“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?'” (Matthew 7:5).

The response they got from Jesus was not what they expected: “He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: “This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do'” (Matthew 7:6-8).

Ouch. Jesus called out the religious leaders, called them hypocrites, and did so by quoting one of their revered prophets.

A moment later he said that they make “the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do” (Matthew 7:13).

Yes, washing hands is good. Please do so after you use the bathroom.

But failure to wash hands before eating is not a sin. It’s merely a healthy thing to do.

When we take good things and make them holy things, we take the place of God and define right and wrong by our own standards and preferences.

When we take traditions and treat them like truth, we often forget the things that God actually wants us to do and replace them with the things that make us comfortable.

Tradition is not inherently bad, and God instituted many traditions.

Problems with tradition arise when we assign them the wrong value. Has your church ever taken time to evaluate your traditions?

Summary

As we explore the purpose of the church, we are going to take a look at the role of traditions and their potential impact on fulfilling God’s purposes. We know that traditions are deeply ingrained patterns of thought and behavior that have been passed down over time, but we must also evaluate and discern which traditions align with biblical principles and which ones may hinder our spiritual growth.

Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of his day for elevating human traditions above the commandments of God, emphasizing the importance of aligning our practices with God’s truth rather than man-made traditions.

In the coming posts, we will delve deeper into specific church traditions and their implications for fulfilling God’s purpose for His people. Some traditions may hold undue influence or value, overshadowing the true purpose of the church as defined by God’s Word.

Let’s avoid being like the Pharisees by critically evaluating our traditions and aligning them with biblical principles.

Are there any specific church traditions that you would like me to discuss?