How to enjoy an ethical Easter, is something that you likely would do, as a child. It was quite nice, perhaps a trip to church and then a dinner, followed by an Easter egg. Of course today, people try to sell all kinds of crap, to fund what is essentially supposed to be a Christian festival, to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. No matter what your faith or philosophy, everyone can agree that the original sentiment has been lost.
- Most Easter eggs these days are made with milk from factory farms, and Jesus Christ would not have been happy about that. Make your own almond butter Easter eggs or at least choose plant-based Easter eggs. Moo-Free Easter Eggs are good (made with rice milk, taste just the same). Keep chocolate away from pets.
- Instead of spending a fortune on supermarket or petrol station Easter bouquets, send some organic posies (see make your garden safe for pets to know toxic flowers to avoid, including all bulb flowers).
- Make your own plant-based hot cross buns. This recipe uses real ingredients, so there is no palm oil involved. Again keep away from pets, dried fruits and spices are toxic.
- Donate to a bunny sanctuary!
- Go to church! That’s the whole meaning of Easter, after all.
- Watch a Passion Play. It’s a creative way for actors to do something that local people will find interesting. If you’ve never watched it, find Jesus of Montreal online. This smashing film won every award, about a young actor who is asked to put on a Passion Play, it’s quite dark (there’s a rude bit at the beginning, if you want to keep youngsters out of the room), but after that it’s a mesmerising haunting look at how playing Jesus gradually turned him into a man with similar values.
- Lent is the festival for Easter, and ties in nicely with simple living. You basically give something up for 40 days that you find difficult (chocolate, alcohol etc). Catholic writer Susan Vogt decided to give one thing away each day, that she did not need. But after 40 days, she felt so lifted and free, that she carried on and gave away more things. Then gave away her unwanted emotions like anger, guilt and fear. Her book Blessed by Less is a classic guide to simple living. Joy Tienzo has a lovely free 40-day plant-based guide to try going Vegan for Lent.