I tell you one thing I love about New Zealand. They don’t get carried away with any of the holiday periods.
Take Easter for example. It’s a recognised public holiday time, same as most other places. There are a few stands with Easter eggs etc in the shops for the past month or so, and Easter Friday and Monday are public holidays. Like Australians, Kiwis love a good public holiday no matter what the reason, so many nick off to some other part of the country for a long weekend.
And that’s about it.
Kiwis are a laid-back bunch, as I said before. If some were any more laid back they’d be horizontal. That can be annoying sometimes (like when you have to wait FOREVER to get your furniture delivered when moving here and keep being told that “it’ll be there soon bro”).
It takes a fair bit to get the average New Zealander to get excited. Really, it’s only All Blacks matches, or the very rare occasion that NZ manages to beat the Aussies at something. Or an Australian blogger who says anything other than that NZ has the best scenery, the best lifestyle, the best rugby team, and is the best country on Earth.
But in the case of festive or holiday seasons, this laid-back approach is pretty refreshing.
Compare this to Easter in Australia. There are eggs in the supermarkets by early February. Leading up to Easter the catalogues for eggs and stuffed bunnies fill your letter box.
And then the ads on TV start. You know those ones on “the meaning of Easter”? The vox-pop style ones filmed in 1987 with the wonky-looking buck-tooth cross-eyed kids crapping on about how they can’t wait to scarf a bunch of chocolate eggs, and then the finger-wagging message to not forget it’s a Christian holiday?
There’s no escaping them, and they drive you up the wall, and this is from someone that doesn’t really even watch TV.
Not here though. It’s just Easter, big deal. Have a few days off, head away to the bach, and that’s about it.
And it’s the same for Xmas, Mother’s and Father’s Day, Valentines Day, and any other designated “Day” where you’re compelled to buy things for others.
So Happy Easter and all that, but really, just enjoy the holiday.
figjam said
Hot cross buns were actually in safeway supermarkets in Melbourne as of Jan . True bro.
admin said
I’d believe it.
They were probably baked in November too :-)
Ryan said
Hey just that small update about how the supermarkets not in open in NZ on good friday. They supermarkets AREN’T open in Aussie either, they also aren’t open on Easter sunday or Easter Monday. So suck it you fucking loser we all in same boat not matter what country you’re in!
Kenzo said
Yo Ryan….Your hilarious – Bro, Admin before you start to “suck it”, supermarkets were open on both Sunday and Monday, trading times were changed but still open. Thanks for the colourful blog Ryan, it sure was funny!
Adrian said
My work mate offered m a hot cross bun and asked if I know what they where. He was totaly shocked to find out that we also get hot cross buns in South Africa.
He was under the impression that it was a kiwi thing only.
Marita said
I wonder if he knew what it meant, given that you can buy them in February…