Wow, Mark! I never knew it was "popery" to celebrate such a monumentous thing as the death and resurrection of my Savior. For all these years I have been wallowing in sin, setting aside time on a particular day to think specifically on Jesus' atoning substitutionary work on the cross.
Oops! My sin is not in celebrating it, but I'm celebrating on the wrong day. You see, I don't know the exact day when Jesus was crucified or ressurected. So I choose the one most commonly accepted, because it would be kind of wierd to celebrate it on, say, June 18th.
Wrong again! I'm wrong for celebrating it because Pagans used to celebrate some god(dess) around this time, and the church, not wanting to cause a big riot, celebrated Easter (that pagan holiday) around the same time. I don't know if you are terribly familiar with it Mark, but we here in the States celebrate July 4th every year. Pagans and Christians, alike. Am I sinning because I refuse not to recognize this holiday? Because I have a barbecue every year on that day, I am guilty of "popery"?
Of course, wrong AGAIN! My fault is that I celebrate, though God has not commanded such celebration! God has not commanded us to breathe in and out, yet we continue (most of us) to do so. Therefore we are all wallowing in sin, and worse, we thank God that we may continue to do so! We are all as unconverted heathens! Really, Mark, how can we keep our celebration in? The praise and adoration of a God who could concieve of such a plan should burst from our lips involuntarily! "39And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." 40He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out." Luke 19:39-40

Mark, to celebrate Easter cannot be construed as "popery" no matter how much you want it to.

In the midst of your sadness and woe, when you are tormented and afflicted, have comfort! God's will is done.