Alternative Easter traditions
- Family get-together. If you usually celebrate over a family lunch or dinner, decide on a menu for a ‘virtual’ get-together and cook the same meals simultaneously. You could share photos of your culinary creations, have a video call or regular phone call while you toast each other, and know you’re eating the same food even though you’re apart.
- Church. Many churches are now streaming their services live. If your local church doesn’t offer this, the ABC will broadcast livestreams of religious services from here and overseas. This is a good way to hold onto your traditions and incorporate what’s important to you.
- Easter egg hunt. If you usually watch your grandkids hunt for Easter eggs, you could join in the fun via a video call (such as FaceTime, Skype or Zoom). You could even be given advance notice of where some eggs are hiding so you can give your grandkids clues over the phone if they get stuck. Closer to home, you could arrange an Easter egg hunt for your village community, a friend or a neighbour.
- Easter bonnet parade. You could have a driveway hat parade with your fellow residents. Don your finest hat (hand-made or one you already own) and celebrate your best millinery from a safe distance at the end of your driveways.
- Travel. If you usually travel over Easter or would love to do so, why not take a virtual trip? Kruger National Park in South Africa is broadcasting two game drives a day live online. The sunrise safari starts at 2pm AEST each day. Otherwise, you could take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about past adventures. Get your holiday snaps out and mull over them with a nice cuppa or a glass or two of wine.
Get crafty
- Make. You could dye eggs a kaleidoscope of colours, using natural ingredients you already have at home, like red cabbage and onion skins. If you have flowers in your garden or a stash of craft materials at home, think outside the box and create a memorable ‘alternative’ Easter wreath to take pride of place on your front door.
- Decorate. You might want to make paper, knitted or crocheted Eggs and decorate your home, street and village with hand-made ‘alternative’ Easter eggs.
- Share. You could also surprise and delight your neighbours with a home-made Easter card, egg or baked treat popped in their letterbox.
If admiring others’ creative pursuits is more your style, you could explore a stunning exhibition of Faberge eggs online courtesy of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
Celebrate the little moments
If you usually have your friends and family over for Easter brunch, you could still maintain elements of this tradition. Dress up in your favourite outfit and decorate the table as you usually would, even if it means foraging for flowers in your garden or putting out crockery and cutlery you usually save for special occasions. This is the time to bring out that wedding set! Find joy in the little things, and share photos with your family.
Relax and take it all in
If you can’t bear the thought of tweaking cherished Easter traditions into something new, that’s ok too. If you want to stay in your PJs, pop the telly on, and delve into your favourite show, go for it! Or perhaps pick up a much-loved book – let’s face it, this can be as deliciously satisfying as popping on a cosy pair of slippers. If you need some inspiration, the New York Times asked 20 authors for their favourite comfort reads. Above all, be kind to yourself and listen to what your body and mind are craving.
Stay connected
Staying connected with friends, family and support networks will help you not just survive, but thrive during this time. Use the phone, FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or Facebook – or all of these! Put pen to paper and write to your loved ones. If there’s someone important that you haven’t been in touch with for many years, why not use this time to reach out to them?
