When I was younger, Easter was *almost* as exciting as Christmas. Okay, Christmas was the BIG one, but Easter followed happily behind in terms of my level of excitement the night before. In the morning, there would be the search for chocolate eggs, and there would be the eating of them. Even then, I would only be able to manage one whole egg before giving up. I’d have loads left over and they would sit on a shelf for the rest of the year, neglected. The day would come when my mum would ask me, ‘Are you going to eat those eggs?’ and I’d check the best before date and proclaim, no, there’s no chance of me eating those eggs.
The past few years I’ve said, ‘Don’t get me any chocolate, I won’t eat it.’ But there’ll always be an exception. Providing it is small, like a Malt-Easter bunny, or Reeses Pieces, I’ll eat them. Other than that, don’t bother.
This year I’ve asked for no chocolate, and so far I’ve been given £5 instead of chocolate.
Here are just some ways that Easter is different for some people:
Books instead of Eggs
Easter eggs are getting more expensive. If you want a Lindt Gold Bunny Luxury Egg then it’ll cost you (or the person buying you one) £10.99. Even Tesco’s luxury range will set you back £10, which is great if you love chocolate, but if not, then it’s time for what I like to call the, ‘well if you’d be spending that much anyway…’ frame of mind.
If someone bought me an Easter Egg worth £10, I’d more than likely be thinking ‘I’d rather you had bought me a book.’ I can get so much more pleasure from a book than chocolate.
My uni friend did just this. Instead of an egg, she asked for a book. And boy did this pay off! Her mum bought her the special Barnes and Noble edition of Dante’s The Divine Comedy, something she had been after for a while.
I asked her, why she preferred to be given a book instead of chocolate, and she said: ‘Books are far more interesting and longer lasting, chocolate only lasts until you eat it and books don’t make me feel sick, and are less calories!’
The book was £20 from Amazon, so that’s the equivalent of two luxury Easter Eggs. She says the book is ‘a specially bound book. It looks like a bible.’
It doesn’t have to be books, if you have the kind of family who will happily buy you an alternative, then ask. Or, treat yourself to an alternative.
Lactose Intolerance
If you are lactose intolerant then a chocolate filled Easter just isn’t an option. I asked my uni friend how his lactose intolerance affects his Easter experience and he told me that he ‘can eat dark chocolate, but only small amounts of milk chocolate’ and that ‘white chocolate is untouchable’.
Despite this, his grandparents have bought him a pack of mini eggs for Easter, but he says he’ll ‘have to get through them very slowly!’
Enjoying the Easter Break rather than Easter Eggs
Most students are likely to have outgrown the childhood excitement of Easter Egg hunts etc. and anticipate more the time off uni around this time of year. I’m a third year, and most of my classmates have said that this Easter break is all about getting uni work done. We welcome it, but how much we will actually get done is a different kettle of fish (or in this case, a different basket of eggs maybe?)
Whether you’re a chocoholic or not, the Easter break is good chance to catch up on uni work, indulge in some chocolate (or your chosen alternative) and give yourself time to relax as well.
Whatever plans you have, enjoy!
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