Easter
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Easter
I must confess to rather enjoying Easter as a holiday. It’s long enough that it feels like a holiday, not just a day off, but short enough that you don’t waste it – every day counts. Similarly with the weather – if it’s terrible, we hunker down into early woolly slipper winter comfort, if it’s beautiful we bask in summer’s last hurrah. Throw in easter eggs and hot cross buns and the Easter break is an all-around convivial winner.
The only real Easter dilemma is whether to go away – and of course, this rather depends on the weather. The problem is that weather in New Zealand is about as predictable as your husband’s reaction to his birthday present. Therefore, heading to beachy spots is a bit of a gamble, so that just leaves visiting friends or relatives – the Easter visit.
This is where the unexpected can happen.
Take Mary Magdalene for example. Like us, Mary was looking forward to the Easter break. There she was, scrolling through scrolls looking for available accommodation in Jerusalem when she finds out that on Easter Friday her friend Jesus is going to be crucified. Well, that put an end to any ideas of a holiday. Holiday break spoiled.
It gets worse.
After what must have been a pretty stressful Friday and sad Saturday, on Sunday she goes to visit her friend’s body. But no, she gets there only to find that the tomb is empty – now that’s a turn-up. No doubt she was pretty pissed off at the thought that some thieving Roman had decided to engage in a spot of grave robbery. Disheartened at Easter now being completely ruined, she heads off, head down, only to be confronted by a very familiar pair of sandals. Would you believe it, there he was – a tad bruised and battered but otherwise no worse for wear. And just like that, her Easter was resurrected.
My point is, that family Easter visits can go in unexpected ways. While copious lashings of food and drink often start off well, one mention of anti-vaxers or Jacinda can turn the mood faster than a Lion’s lunch at the Colosseum. Such are the risks of family gatherings. However, just as they did for Mary Magdalene, things usually end well thanks to more food, more wine and an afternoon nap.
By the time the car is packed on Easter Monday, hugs abound, and life moves on – all under the serene gaze of a full moon.
Happy Easter.
Richard Alexander Bain
self-confessed historian