Which Holiday does your Ward do more to Celebrate?

[pellegrino]

Which holiday does your ward do more to celebrate?

The 4th of July
Easter
Celebrated Equally

by celebrate, I mean the importance given to the holidy during the 3 hour block (music, talks, lessons, etc.) and activities outside of the 3 hour block (parades, parties, etc.)


The question came up today why is it that Mormon culture does more to celebrate The 4th of July than it does for Easter? I realize that we aren't a liturgical church and so that takes out most of the Easter celebrations that other Christian churches do, but why is it that Easter takes a back seat to the 4th?

If you disagree with my premise (Easter takes a back seat to the 4th) then please tell me why.

[Moliere]

I've never celebrated hte 4th of July as a ward. In Utah we celebrated Pioneer Day since it was on the 24th. In Texas it's too hot in July to celebrate anything outside, plus no one is around since they all go back to Utah to see their family.

[myboynoah]

We didn't do anything for the 4th; no one even mentioned it during F&T meeting. Location and make up of the branch probably has something to do with it, but we are mostly Americans.

As I recall, my past wards in the U.S. have treated Easter more importantly.

I suspect it's because of the importance that Christ's atonement plays in the Plan of Happiness.

[pellegrino]

We didn't do anything for the 4th; no one even mentioned it during F&T meeting. Location and make up of the branch probably has something to do with it, but we are mostly Americans.

As I recall, my past wards in the U.S. have treated Easter more importantly.

I suspect it's because of the importance that Christ's atonement plays in the Plan of Happiness.

MBN, I would hope that such would be the case for all wards. It hasn't been the experience in any ward I've been in, or at least any ward that I can remember. We've always had some sort of 4th of July picnic/breakfast, and of course the talks around that time of the year have often been on patriotic themes and the National Anthem is always sung the Sunday before the 4th.

I can't say the same about Easter for any of the wards I've been in. One ward I was in neglected Easter so badly that one year there wasn't even a choir number or Easter themed talks, just an intermediate hymn. I think it was "We are all Enlisted". At any rate, I recognize that my experience may be an anomaly, which is what prompted the poll.

[Sizzle]

Outside of the hymns, I don't think there was much mention of the 4th yesterday. Gospel Doc was even on the Atonement. So, basically, I disagree with your premise.

[pellegrino]

Outside of the hymns, I don't think there was much mention of the 4th yesterday. Gospel Doc was even on the Atonement. So, basically, I disagree with your premise.

that's one year. what about past years?

[myboynoah]

MBN, I would hope that such would be the case for all wards. It hasn't been the experience in any ward I've been in, or at least any ward that I can remember. We've always had some sort of 4th of July picnic/breakfast, and of course the talks around that time of the year have often been on patriotic themes and the National Anthem is always sung the Sunday before the 4th.

I can't say the same about Easter for any of the wards I've been in. One ward I was in neglected Easter so badly that one year there wasn't even a choir number or Easter themed talks, just an intermediate hymn. I think it was "We are all Enlisted". At any rate, I recognize that my experience may be an anomaly, which is what prompted the poll.

I can see that. I remember one ward that had a July 4 picnic/activity. It was so hot and quite the bust so it never happened again. Naturally the U.S. wards I've attended have sung the patriotic hymns during July and maybe had a Sac Mtg dedicated to freedom, etc.

As for Easter, I think all my wards and branches have had Easter-themed Sac Mtgs. Maybe I notice more because of our efforts to keep the secular elements of the holiday in check, so we're emphasizing that with our children. I can see how it can get spotty across The Church as we leave that up to local preferences.

[Sizzle]

that's one year. what about past years?

I can't remember specific instances but I would definitely say that Easter has been a more important holiday in my church experience.

[SCcoug]

In my ward there was no 4th of July activity.We did sing the usual patriotic hymns and I think a couple testimonies had a patriotic theme (although a couple others had more of a pioneer theme). GD and PH were on what ever the lesson was on. I can't remember what was done for Easter this year.

In the past there have been 4th of July breakfasts but I also remember Easter themed sacrament meetings too. Although to be fair I do recall years where not much was done for either. I'd have to say about equal for SM whereas SS and PH are luck of the draw depending on what the next lesson happens to be. I feel like I should expect more for Easter but this is a church where most of the talks begin by telling the congregation how the second councilor called them to speak on "insert name of talk from last general conference" and as often as not all the speakers will have been assigned the same "topic". There is definitely much that could be improved in our worship services.

[wuapinmon]

My wards have always gone crazy for Christmas. However, given the question, I'll have to say that my wards in the South, save New Orleans, do a lot more for the 4th than for Easter. My Utah ward was big on Easter, and did nothing for the 4th, other than the scouts coming around and hanging flags for a donation. In New Orleans, the only holiday we celebrated was Mardi Gras, which was epic in scope and fun.

We've done "Trunk or Treats" everywhere I've been.

[Slim]

My ward did a huge breakfast at the park this morning. I had to "work" (ie paying my school to let me see patients at the hospital) this morning so I don't know how successful it was.

I DO know that they went door-to-door handing out fliers for it earlier this week. I know this because my wife went outside to the garbage cans in her short-shorts and was surprised by a relief society sister out delivering the invites. We had a good laugh about that.

117* is too hot for garments and too hot to be out delivering fliers door-to-door.

[Surfah]

Our ward has never done anything for the 4th. Like Sizzle, we sing patriotic hymns during Church but that's it. The prayers offered that day thanked Heavenly Father for our country, freedoms, and asked for blessings for our troops. It was fast Sunday and because of a baby blessing the theme was families as several members of that family bore testimonies. I helped Gidget teach her primary lesson and it was on tithing. I taught joint EQ and High Priests. Being the 1st Sunday it was presidency's choice so I adapted a lesson on priorities and slowing down from President Uchtdorf's talk on the subject from October last year and Elder Oaks' Good, Better, Best talk.

Even in Utah or California our wards never did anything on the 4th. We have had a ward pancake breakfast on Pioneer day the last couple of years.

[LA Ute]

In the three L.A. wards we have lived in over the last 25+ years Easter has always included a special sacrament meeting, with one main speaker and a choir program. Sometimes the Stake has done something special as well, on Saturday night.

July 4th at all three wards has involved a flag-raising and breakfast on the 4th. Usually it starts at 8:00 a.m. and we are out by 9:00 a.m. It's well-attended and people seem to enjoy it. People from the neighborhood come as well. We don't do anything special for the 4th on Sunday. Teachers may sometimes gear their lessons toward a July 4 theme.

EDIT: Yesterday at our flag-raising we had a reading of the Declaration of Independence. It always surprises me how much people enjoy such readings. Maybe that's because so many people have never read the whole thing. Anyway, a group of 4 people took turns doing the reading. One was a man who had immigrated from Colombia and another was a woman who'd immigrated from the Philippines. It was pretty inspiring to see them reading the Declaration aloud, in their second language, while at the same time standing as living manifestations of what the Declaration promised.

[jay santos]

I've been in wards in the past that did a breakfast/devotional thing on the 4th. Current ward doesn't do it. Have never been in a ward that does an Easter party, but have seen like primary easter egg hunts.

As for attention to the holiday devoted on Sunday, Easter wins by a long shot.

[Surfah]

I've been in wards in the past that did a breakfast/devotional thing on the 4th. Current ward doesn't do it. Have never been in a ward that does an Easter party, but have seen like primary easter egg hunts.

As for attention to the holiday devoted on Sunday, Easter wins by a long shot.

I forgot our primary does an Easter activity. They had a multi-station thing this year that included an egg hunt, Easter basket decorating, etc.

Really our ward doesn't do many activities. In fact, this year we have only budgeted a couple activities with the activities committee going bye-bye. We're doing the Pioneer Day breakfast, a Trunk or Treat, and Christmas. Our bishop has encouraged more activities at the quorum/auxiliary level instead. As a good EQP we have had exactly one. And that was to go shooting. And I don't have any others planned.