Easter Eggs

When we talk about Easter Eggs, people assume they are just the big, Oval Chocolate Eggs.

To some, that's what they are, but Easter gifts are different for me.

I love chocolate, but I don't like Easter Eggs. I don't like large bars of chocolate either.

People think I'm strange because I kindly ask them to buy Mini Eggs, biscuits or cakes for Easter.

The problem is Easter Eggs have become so traditional, and chocolate is extremely popular.

Everybody assumes that because it's chocolate, and because it's Easter, everybody wants it.

I find myself in a position where I am given Easter Eggs every Easter, and it makes me feel awkward.

A refusal causes upset, and giving them to somebody who might appreciate them makes it worse.

People think I'm being ungrateful when I give them away.

The point is, I am honest with everyone about my dislike of the Eggs, and I have asked people to kindly not buy them as gifts for me. I have recommended alternatives such as biscuits and mini eggs, but they take offence.

Easter Eggs are bulky, and even when I eat them in small quantities, they don't sit well in my stomach, often making me feel sick.

Easter Eggs are often associated with religion, and it is often those who practice religion who take offence when I refuse them.

I understand that the tradition of Easter is chocolate, and I have nothing against chocolate.

When they make a person unwell, then that person's refusal should be respected.

I celebrate Easter as much as everyone else who celebrates it, but I also have friends who do not celebrate it, and I respect their decision without question.

I even buy Easter Eggs for those people who like to be given them for Easter, but not everybody likes them.

Why should I be forced to accept them as gifts just because it's a tradition to do so?

There are many other gifts you can give someone for Easter. My Dad's mum used to knit cardigans and give me dolls as a little girl. I will also gladly appreciate cakes, savoury bakes, and even a well-cooked Easter dinner, but I cannot accept something that impacts my health.

When we look at celebrations such as this one, we need to be more mindful because some of the foods given might not be appropriate for a person due to health needs and allergies.

I have a friend who can't eat Turkey on Christmas Day because she has an allergy to it. I deal with it by finding alternatives.

It's good and healthy for people to celebrate certain events in traditional ways, but please respect the people around you.

When friends and family say no to something you want to give or have already given them, it isn't always about them being ungrateful for the gifts you have offered.

They may have an allergy or other health condition, or they may simply not like the product.

It pays to show kindness and respect by finding out about people's likes and dislikes, or beliefs, before offering traditional gifts.

Your family and friends will thank you for it, and there is no reason to accuse someone of being ungrateful or selfish for refusing it.

Imagine yourself at a party where the food on offer is something that you can't eat, because you know that you have an allergy to it. You told your friends who are hosting the party about this before you attended, and they ignored you anyway.

How would you feel if you tried explaining that allergy to your friends, and they ignored what you told them?

How would you react if they constantly tried forcing that food down your throat, simply because it was their tradition?

I'd be deeply upset, and I'd never attend their parties again.

Tradition might be a popular thing, but when it comes to food, your respect matters the most.

It could save somebody's life.