Last year's Covid-19 lockdown put paid to Easter holiday plans and religious gatherings, so this year Easter is shaping up to be extra special. We ask the experts for their top tips to make the occasion memorable.
1) Take time to learn Easter's history
Easter is the single most important holy day of the Christian Church and celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Religious expert and Professor in history at Massey University Peter Lineham says the early history of Christian celebrations is unclear, but Easter was most likely observed from the second century.
There were different customs in Western and Eastern churches in the days leading up to Easter, but for westerners they included no flowers on display in churches in the 40 days before Easter (Lent); the stripping of the altar; and lighting the fire early in the morning, or sometimes even the night before, to break the fast.
When it comes to Easter eggs, these were originally boiled and painted.
Chocolate eggs are a more recent development (1875 from Cadburys).
"As for the bunny, that is from pagan sources, but given a Christian gloss in some traditions.
"Personally, I like Easter as a lovely break with some Christian commemoration," Lineham says.
"One church I go to lights the Easter fire before the service and has a foot-washing service on the Thursday."
When it comes to Easter's date, it's complicated as to why the date changes every year, but in short, it stems back to Jesus being crucified during the Jewish Passover, and their celebration is based on the lunar calendar.
Christians wanted to celebrate Easter always on a Sunday, so they abandoned the Jewish calculation, and based Easter on the solar calendar.
"Then, the Western and Eastern churches got out of sync," explains Lineham.
"The old solar calendar had an extra part quarter day, and so today, it is 13 days out."
In an effort to fix this, the Gregorian calendar was introduced in the West, altering the number of leap years, but the Greek and Russian Orthodox church did not agree to this, so they celebrate Easter 13 days after us.
For Kiwis in the southern hemisphere, Easter is "upside-down" considering that we're heading into winter, not spring.
Fun fact: The term Easter is derived from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. In other parts of the world, it's known as Pasch.
Top tip: At the heart of it, the history around Easter's date is simply "a symbolic reservoir". Pull out of it the parts that help you remember the point of the holiday.
2) Get organised
By planning how you want to spend Easter and informing your children so that they won't be disappointed, everyone will be on the same page come the weekend, says Massey University psychologist Kirsty Ross.
She adds it's important to set realistic expectations and embrace any harmless chaos.
"If your plan is to have a big Easter egg hunt with lots of chocolate, with lots of kids, it's better to expect that the kids will argue over who saw that hidden egg first and who found the most.
"Competitive behaviour can really emerge with an Easter egg hunt.
"And a post-chocolate crash can mean squabbles later."
Top tip: Feeling that an occasion has measured up to what is meaningful to you and your family values can be considered a success and means more in the long term.
3) Pause and reflect
After a tough year, consider your blessings.
"Giving yourself time to be mindful of where you are, and who you are with, can help you connect back to the things that are important to you," Kirsty Ross says.
If loved ones can't be physically with you, connect with them online, but remain realistic.
"Small children will be interested in FaceTiming Grandma for a few minutes at best, and then typically wander off and play.
"Small amounts of meaningful time based on age and stage [of life] is better than trying to draw it out and have everyone get frustrated."
Top tip: Spend some time on self-care and rest. If you cram the long weekend with lots of activities, you might return to school or work exhausted, rather than rested and with your emotional bucket full.
4) Don't overspend
It's tempting to spoil your family with lots of treats, but consider making memories instead.
A small Easter egg and a special movie-watching afternoon, or family walk together, create memories that children will treasure.
Putting pressure on yourself and stretching yourself financially will create stress that can mean less enjoyment of the weekend, rather than more.
Top tip: Create family rituals and traditions around Easter that are about making memories - not about spending money.
5) Be productive
There's a lot that you can jam-pack into four days off work, but only if you're organised.
Heather Brett of home organising business Simply Happy Spaces Professional Home Organising suggests making to-do lists, a meal plan, a grocery list and a "take with you" list if going away.
If you're staying home, it can be a great time to get stuck into DIY projects or home organisation.
Brett suggests tackling those "frustration zones" like your fridge, pantry and linen cupboard, or hiring someone like herself to do it for you if you'd rather spend the time relaxing.
Top tip: If you're hosting, delegate some responsibilities to other guests - whether that's food preparation, family games, or minding the "hyperactive" children while you cook.
6) Skip traffic queues
Autumn is a beautiful time to get away, but why fight the traffic when all you need to "restore your body and mind" is in your own backyard.
Destination marketing manager for Tourism Bay of Plenty, Loretta Crawford, says if the weather is fine why not visit Pāpāmoa Hills; the rushing Whataroa waterfall at Ōtanewainuku; or the giant kauri tree on the Tuahu Kauri Track in the Kaimai-Mamaku Conservation Park.
With the evenings getting crisper, a soak in one of the Bay of Plenty's many natural outdoor hot pools is the perfect complement to a hike. Mount Hot Pools is one example and will reopen on April 1 after undergoing renovations.
Rotorua is also jam-packed with options - many of them free - including an evening concert by Matt Barnard on Saturday, April 3 at Waimangu Local Store and Cafe; and Sunday Farmers Market at Te Manawa (intersection of Hinemoa and Tutanekai Sts) from 9am to 1pm.
Top tip: Easter brings Tauranga's 58th National Jazz Festival. Take in the music, the vibe, or try a jazz sunset cruise for ultimate relaxation. Visit: jazz.org.nz
7) Get baking
If ever there's a time to bake, it's Easter.
Chef Peter Blakeway says most of New Zealand's food culture is rooted in the northern hemisphere, but their reason for celebrating was the end of a long, dark winter and new edible growth.
"For us, we are at the end of a long, hot summer with the garden giving up its late summer harvest before we prepare for the cooler months."
That being said, why not enjoy the early autumn sunshine and make afternoon tea with homemade scones, jam and clotted cream.
"This is one of those recipes that is rooted in the history of food, and let's be honest, who doesn't love a 'cream tea'," Blakeway says.
"Clotted cream is incredibly hard to find in New Zealand and it takes a long time to make, so I'm sure it's only a one-off, but it is worth trying," he says, sharing that there's also a cheat's method which takes a fraction of the time.
Top tip: Clotted cream can be spread on bread, or spooned on top of fresh fruit or desserts. The recipe is a specialty of Devonshire, England, which is why it's also known as Devonshire, or Devon Cream.
8) Get crafty
Make your Easter feast stand out with these table-setting ideas from Alina Johnston, owner of event planning company Wild & Whim.
Easter centrepieces
Create some colour on your dining table by adding flowers, scattered mini eggs and a bright tablecloth or napkins (have fun tying them in a knot, rose, or fan).
Grasses and other greenery from the garden can be placed in a little pot plant for decoration.
Dyed eggs
Dye eggs with pastel colours, and have them, or chocolate eggs, on display in a little vase.
Alternatively, use a marker to write your guest's name on the dyed egg and place it in a small nest or napkin.
"You'll most likely have a lot of these items at home which can make it cost-effective," advises Johnston.
Top tip: Think outside the square and be creative.
9) Support local businesses
There are a number of specialty chocolate shops in the Bay if you want to be extra decadent this year.
Chocolatier Sabine Ford from Germany, owns Rotorua's Dangerous Chocolate, hand-making Easter chocolates onsite, many of which are expertly hand-painted with a brush and sponge using Cocoa butter and oil-soluble pigments.
She works with Callebaut Chocolate - a Belgian couverture - creating delicate, freshly made Easter treats.
Her eggs this year include the hand-painted "Faberge" eggs, laughing eggs, and of course, rabbits, from "the little Velveteen Rabbit to the stately Mr O'Hare".
She also does "super-large" eggs on order.
"These are not your standard supermarket Easter egg and bunnies, these are all small batches, handmade personal little gifts, and treats for those that ask for a bit more of their chocolate," she says.
Elsewhere in the Bay, you can visit Scilla Chocolates in Whakatāne or Swiss chocolatier Ines Haster of Chez Moi in Waihi Beach.
Top tip: If you, or someone in your family, has special dietary requirements, your local chocolatier can help make a specialised treat.
10) Make it fun
What would Easter be without an Easter egg hunt?
To organise the perfect hunt for your little bunnies, design site Houzz suggests creating a sense of atmosphere by making a handwritten sign pointing the way to the hunt starting place.
Then, give your hunt the feel of a properly planned event by picking a theme and using coloured eggs to add interest.
Add some fun clues; provide cute baskets for egg collection, and don't forget to make sure the eggs are easy enough to find.
To make it more exciting, consider hiding extra surprises like fairies.
Another idea, from Johnston at Wild & Whim, is tying different-coloured strings throughout your house and giving each child their own colour that they have to follow.
Let it lead them all around the house to different chocolates, books, and stickers.
Top tip: After the hunt is over, if the kids are still hungry for action, create your own Easter craft corner, or try other games. How about an egg and spoon race? Or a jellybean guessing game?
