We’re fresh out of the weird period between Christmas and New Year when some of us go back to work and the rest get to enjoy freedom for a little while longer.

It’s at about this time every year that we start to see the slightest hints of Easter pop up in our lives. A few eggs here and there and maybe some hot cross bun advertisements for what it’s worth.

Now, with this information and your reaction to it, you probably fall into one of two camps.

You either loathe it or love it.

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You either vocally bemoan the presence of a certain shape of chocolate on the store shelf or god forbid a hot cross bun. Or, perhaps more reasonably, you’re either excited or at worst, indifferent to it.

Personally, I think it’s awesome. Hot cross buns should be available all year and we shouldn’t let some weird societal imaginary rules get in the way of a good time.

I mean, is it really that big of a deal? Is it worth expending energy to get upset that a product you won’t buy yet is available to others? What will  happen if I eat an Easter egg before Easter? The answer is nothing, except my sugar intake will take a sharp spike.

Same with Christmas trees. People are quite emotional when it comes to telling others when it’s finally okay to put their tree up, like there’s some cosmic law that dictates this.

I mean, you’re literally not going to see or be affected by the tree in any way, so why do you have any stake in it?

It kind of comes in a trio of sour grapes for some, with Halloween rounding out the triumvirate of petty gripes.

I was away for Halloween in Australia last year but my message fits in this overall message and that’s that if people really want to enjoy some or all parts of a holiday outside your ‘accepted’ time frame, then it really isn’t any of your business what they do.

Who cares that it’s an ‘american’ tradition; because huge parts of our lives come from cultures other than our own, and the world is a better place for it.

I’d gladly eat spooky versions of my favourite snacks all year, because it’s way more fun!

As much as you’re free to moan and complain about something that doesn’t change your life in any way, the rest are free to relax and not worry so much about pretend social conventions and just enjoy life.

Maybe you should try it sometime.