As of today, there’s a week and one day until Easter! I was wondering where the idea of new clothes and gifts for Easter came from…
As I googled, of course there’s pagan roots. Someone always finds pagan roots for anything, if that’s what you’re looking for. But when you’re looking for Christ and godly things, those will be found also.
And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13 NASB
So I looked for Him.
One source mentioned the fact that when people are baptized, they’re often wearing white robes. That is true. I wore a white robe when I was baptized back in 1979, and it’s highly likely my kids wore the same robes when they were baptized in the same little church many decades later. But in all my years of church going, Easter was not a big day for baptism. Maybe it is in other places.
Honestly, as I grew up, church attendance was something that caused us to dress up more in general. I was raised during the times of “Sunday best.” That came with the feeling of wearing our best; looking our cleanest and best for church – not to impress the other parishioners, but because it was bringing our best to the Lord. In similar fashion, we also cleaned up and looked nice for company or going to be company. Your never visited someone else’s house looking grungy, and you certainly didn’t visit the Lord’s house that way, either.
Therefore, the answer that resonated loudest in my heart was the “new creation” theory. I distinctly remember my pastor using the words, “raised to walk in the newness of life,” as I was raised out of the baptismal waters. It’s a combination of bringing our best and being a new creation, I believe, that brings us to new clothes, hats or accessories for Easter.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB
Once I had children, daughters especially, it was fun to shop for new, fresh outfits for Easter… and it usually corresponds with the fact that they’ve grown since last year and need new clothes anyway! Until 2020, their new dresses did double duty as a new dress for the Daddy/Daughter Dance, and for Easter.
So this is where I land in 2021. Do I need new clothes? Unlikely. Do my children need new clothes? Likely.
Will we have new clothes for Easter?
I will go through my closet – ahead of Easter morning – and see what I can mix & match to come up with an outfit that feels new to me, but also feels like a new creation. I may add some new accessories – a new hair clip or Upin, a necklace and bracelet I don’t wear everyday.
My children, well… some of them actually need some new clothes. I will make sure they’re clean, and dressed appropriately, and I will explain to them why it’s important. They’ve all been baptized now, and know the Lord. I will continue to teach them that it’s not the clothes and outfits that are most important on Easter. It’s not the candy, eggs or bunnies, either.
We are honoring the sacrifice of Jesus, to die in our place, and rejoicing in the celebration of His resurrection! He overcame death and the grave! And for that, we will look our best.
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” – Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NKJV
And if you ARE going to be dressing up for Easter, and need a new accessory to go with your outfit – check out my top picks! Lots of beautiful, florals reminded me of Easter! A few Easter basket gifts are in there, too! I recommend upgrading your shipping at this point – or check with me to see what I have in stock at home.
Shop the Easter Collection Here
The Growing Hale 