The purpose of Easter is to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the definition of the holiday. It can seem controversial to some that meat, eggs and animal exploitation can so commonly become a part of a holiday meant to celebrate Jesus who said, "Blessed are the merciful."
Vegan Candy
Let's start with the chocolate bunnies and candies themselves, the things bought in bulk to fill the ever-increasing Easter basket. One usually tends to think that candy is a safe bet for a vegetarian. After all, there can't be meat sneaking in your flavored candy, can there? In a way, yes. There very well may be an animal by-product. A lot of candy has gelatin, a substance that comes from the hooves of horses, cows, pigs, and other animals. Consuming this can be just as bad as eating meat in terms of how it supports cruelty to animals.
Vegan Treat List
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), candy that is safe for vegans includes Airheads taffy, Atkins peanut butter bars, Blow Pops, Charms lollipops, Cracker Jacks, Dots, Dum Dums, Fireballs, Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, Hot Tamales, Hubba Bubba bubblegum, Jolly Ranchers, Jujubees, Lemonheads, Mambas, Mary Janes, Mike and Ike, Now and Later, Pez, Twizzlers, and Ring Pops. Fill up your little one's basket to the brim with these kindness-inclusive goodies.
The Easter Egg Hunt
Since eggs are an obvious no-no for a vegan, get sophisticated with plastic eggs filled with the vegan candies mentioned above. You could also dye clay Easter designs that your children make--or even try dying playdough eggs. Have fun with your artist when it comes time to providing the "eggs" for the hunt.
A Humane Consideration
If you're buying a lot of plastic eggs in bulk for a party for vegans and the eco-conscious, you might want to check where they were made. Make sure the country has labor laws that protect their workers and isn't prone to human rights abuses. Fair trade and human rights are typically issues for vegans as well. Yes, humans are animals, too.
Easter Prizes
All games and parties won't be complete without prizes. Consider giving gift memberships to animal rights and animal welfare organizations, a bag full of vegan goodies from vegetarian companies like Amy's, Tom's of Maine, Tofutti, and Tofurky. Vegan and fair trade arts and crafts are also great prizes, particularly if they are given from children to their parents after an Easter party craft time!
A Vegan Easter Dinner
For Easter dinner, you may be contemplating having both meat and vegetarian dishes. However, you might want to reconsider, if you take into account the For the party aspect of Easter, it's best to err on the side of caution if you have lots of vegetarian friends. While meat eaters can enjoy vegetarian dishes, the same cannot be said in reverse.
Vegan Holiday Manners
When it comes to looking out for the welfare of your fellow earthlings, you have to be prepared to ruffle some human feathers now and again. Meat eating has been occurring for a long time, and people aren't easily shaken from a lifelong diet of meat. It's important to phrase things politely if you find yourself at an Easter egg hunt that uses real eggs and serves complimentary ham after the Sunday service.
"It's just not for me. Enjoy!" That's one of the most polite, simple things to say when you don't want to confront someone about your ethical choices. A holiday is not the typical time when you want to engage others in a great debate over your ethics. You may not be invited back to the next party. You may embarrass your host. You may do harm to the cause you support by accidentally coming off as preachy when everybody is looking for a good time. Don't choose a holiday party to debate or engage in deep conversation about why you aren't eating that slaughtered animal that everybody is devouring. Simply state, "No, thanks," and continue on enjoying your guilt-free holiday. .
