In Luke 24, we read of Jesus, after His resurrection, joining two others traveling to a village named Emmaus, which was located some seven miles outside of Jerusalem. Some who adopted the pagan Easter custom went on to base a new tradition on this biblical post-Passover event, taking a public walk after Easter Sunday services. A group of people would walk into the fields, into the forest or wooded areas, and into town. From time to time they would stop to pray and sing Easter songs. The walk was often led by someone carrying a lighted candle. Farmers in Germany and Austria typically adorned their horses with flowers, ribbons and leaves before riding in the Easter procession.
In Poland the processions were called, “Emmaus Walks,” and there were Easter Monday picnics held in “Emmaus Groves.” Some considered it “bad luck” not to wear something new on these occasions. The poorest men would try to have something new—if only a shoestring—and the women would look diligently for a piece of new ribbon to wear in their hair.
One item of clothing received more attention than all the rest combined. That was the “Easter bonnet.” Each year, Easter Sunday was the time to show off your new Easter bonnet. Ladies would save money and even work extra jobs to ensure that enough funds would be available to buy a new hat for Easter. Some bonnets were designed to resemble very large baskets of fruit or flowers and were worn upside down.
Today, this pagan tradition continues—and many cities hold annual Easter parades. There is a popular song played and sung during this society’s Easter season: “put on your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it, and you’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter parade.”
What does this tradition, with its overt vanity and pride, have to do with Christ’s death and resurrection? Absolutely nothing at all. It is self-aggrandizement, “the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Some individuals go to church just once a year, on Easter Sunday, and the Easter bonnet is a motivating factor. Once the bonnet is worn it may be discarded, becoming just another hat. Then a mad rush is made the following year to obtain a new eye-catching bonnet.
Jesus Christ very plainly condemns replacing God’s commands with human traditions (Mark 7:6– 9). He frequently admonished the Scribes and Pharisees for adding practices to God’s way of life that obscured the intent of His instructions. He also admonished them for their works, which were done to be seen by men (Matthew 23:5–7).
Easter, Easter bonnets, Easter parades, rabbits, dyed eggs— all these have their roots in pagan practices, sanitized to play a part in supposedly “Christian” worship. But God warns those who say they follow Him not to use any pagan practices in His worship (Deuteronomy 12:30–32).