Connectnigeria Articles

By Ada Arinze

Easter, like every other holiday, can get stressful if not handled carefully. Even worse, it could drain your finances. It might not be Christmas, but with two working-day holidays set nice and snugly around a weekend, it is the next biggest thing. There will be dinners, there will be chicken and cow “slaughters”, there will be avenues to spend money. Don’t be caught unawares. Easter stands for happiness, and overall joy at the saviour’s victory over death and sin. Here are some don’ts to ensure you enjoy just that.

Don’t Shop! What are you buying again on the day of Easter? It’s an all-round bad idea. There might be traders willing to attend to you, probably because of their contrasting religion. They will be few, however. Not to mention pricey. Please do not shop on Easter day. Try to get all you need a few days before. Besides, Easter is on a Sunday, and you’re charged with keeping the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t Buy New Clothes. Okay I have to laugh at this one. You have to agree with me. Why are you buying new clothes for Easter? The Christmas ones are just a few months old. Now is even the time to bring them out of the wardrobe and dust the cobwebs off them. There will be other things to spend your money on, trust me.
If invited for a lunch/dinner, don’t go empty-handed. It is the least you can do, asides being an overall nice guest. If not something for the table, then something for the kids. Think about it: the hostess has probably been in the kitchen all day making sure you don’t leave her house hungry, leaving her sweaty, cranky and with barely enough time to slap a smile on her face to greet you when you arrive. Turn that smile into a genuine one. A bottle of wine is a great idea, it would help ease the flow of conversation after the meal.
Don’t forget your manners. Just because there is chicken does not mean you should crack the bones open, suck it noisily and spit out the pieces back into your plate. The bottles of wine are plenty, yes, but please don’t cork one open and chug it straight from the bottle into your mouth. Don’t belch loudly. Don’t chew loudly. Teach your children to not fret for Coke if they are offered Fanta. It might make for a good joke, but refrain from telling Nkechi that she ‘gained weight’, or asking ‘Kemi’ why she hasn’t given birth yet. You want to be invited for another party, don’t you?
Don’t forget to honour God: Most important of all. Even if you commit all the former atrocities, they can be forgiven. Remember the reason why we celebrate, remember to teach your children why we celebrate. Today you were given a new life, a clean slate, and you must find time to express your gratitude to He who gave.