Humans of USU discuss Easter traditions
The Utah Statesman interviewed Allyson Bronte, a sophomore studying mathematics; Tanner Kattenhorn, a sophomore majoring in civil engineering; Ariana Ortolano, a junior majoring in biochemistry and Nick Guyaux, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.
Utah Statesman: What is Easter and why do people celebrate it?
Allyson Bronte: I grew up as a Christian and whatnot, so for me it’s obviously like the “Jesus resurrected” and whatnot, so that’s what I’ve always celebrated.
Tanner Kattenhorn: The main reason we celebrate it is because of the resurrection of Jesus, right? I mean, am I wrong? I feel like nobody really does it for that reason anymore.
Ariana Ortolano: Doesn’t it have to do with Christ coming back from the dead?
Nick Guyaux: The one version of Easter is Christ’s resurrection and so it’s like a rebirth. It’s spring, like the new year beginning. It’s almost like a spiritual new year.
US: What does Easter mean to you?
AB: For me personally, it’s just like what Jesus did and whatnot, and like how we’re thankful for it and whatnot.
TK: Easter has never really been like that big a thing, you know? It’s more of, “Oh, it’s Easter.” Like nobody really thinks about the real meaning of it, and it’s not like Christmas where you give gifts to everybody and think about everybody else. It’s more of like it’s just another day, but it’s a holiday where you eat some sweet candy and some eggs and stuff like that.
AO: I guess it’s time to spend with family usually. I’m not super religious so mostly we just celebrate it because it’s socially acceptable.
NG: Really it’s just like time with family. Going down, spending time with family, cousins, nephews, nieces.
US: Do you have any Easter traditions?
AB: With my family, we always had a brunch growing up. Both of my parents are in the restaurant business and our whole family would come to our house and whatnot.
TK: Easter egg hunts. They were the bomb.
AO: Usually we just go to my grandparents’ house and have dinner. They’ll usually make like an Easter basket or something and give it to us. When I was little we used to hide eggs and stuff but not anymore. Now that I’m here, I’m from Las Vegas and so it’s not like I can just go home for Easter and so I usually just spend time with my brother.
NG: We usually do Easter egg hunts, but really it’s just like a big everyone comes together and we eat food. That’s the tradition — is food.
US: What’s your favorite Easter memory?
AB: I would probably say one morning, like my parents would always have like the little chocolate eggs, and we woke up and my dog ate them all so my parents felt so bad because like we couldn’t have an Easter egg hunt and my dog was sick all day.
TK: I woke up one time and I had a Bionicle, which is like the coolest toy ever when I was a kid. You would like press them and their heads would fly out. They’re crazy.
AO: I don’t have a specific memory, but I really like coloring eggs.
NG: Well last year, we dressed our baby up as a rabbit. She had Easter ears, and we made a little cotton ball tail for her so that was fun.
US: What’s the deal with the Easter Bunny and leaving eggs? Why not have an Easter chicken instead?
AB: I was actually talking with someone about that, like where does it all start and why. Like if you think about it, Santa Claus has a story or other stories like that, but I don’t know how the Easter bunny happened.
TK: I could come up with some theory, but I have no idea.
AO: I don’t even know where that comes from.
NG: I think he stole them from the chicken. Or because they’re filled with candy and not like rotting half-developed chicks. It would be weird if he gave you little bunny rabbits. An Easter chicken would be weird. Nobody wants to pet the Easter chicken — it just doesn’t flow.
US: What’s your favorite Easter candy?
AB: I hate Peeps. I think Peeps are the most disgusting things ever. I just love the traditional Jelly Beans.
TK: Jelly Beans without a doubt. Or maybe some Starbusts.
AO: I really like those Cadbury Eggs, and like whenever Easter comes, I like stock up on them.
NG: Anything that are the Reese’s Eggs that are chocolate. I also love Jelly Beans, like Starburst Jelly Beans or Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans. They’re so good, and they’re only out this time of year.