In the Name of the Compassionate and Infinitely Merciful Precious Beloved

As a Muslim, Easter Sunday is just like any other Sunday. Indeed, I am not working on this Easter, but that is due to happenstance rather than religious devotion. In fact, I hope to catch some of the Masters golf action on Sunday. Yet, I know that, at the very same time, millions of my fellow Americans who are Christians will be celebrating the most important holiday of the Christian calendar: the commemoration of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. I wish them blessings on this day.

But, I will not be celebrating. Still, there is something great about Easter for me, despite my “non-celebratory” status: the candy. That is, the candy that will go on sale Monday morning.

Just like every year, there will be TONS of Easter candy that will go on sale the very next day, April 9, and that will be a great thing. I have watched, patiently, as the Easter displays went up soon after St. Patrick’s Day without so much as reaching for the heaps of luscious Easter candy that I love to eat. I pass by them every time I happen to go shopping for this and that…and not do a thing.

When I was 16, I worked as a cashier at a grocery store and would see the same thing: loads of candy, all wonderfully on display for the buyer to scoop up, that I would not touch. I waited until the day after Easter…when the candy would be 50% off, and then I would get my employee discount. Bonus!

And that is what is great about Easter for this Muslim. The candy all goes on sale after Easter is finished, and I get to enjoy it at a reduced price: all the chocolate bunnies, Cadberry eggs with the cream inside, and my absolute favorite: Cadberry Mini Eggs. I LOVE those things…and they are very cheap starting April 9. Bonus!

Back when I was a teenager, Ramadan was around the time of Easter, and when the candy all went on sale, I stocked up on bags of those Cadberry Mini Eggs. I still remember the joy of eating an entire bag after a Ramadan post-fasting feast. What fond memories. Now, of course, I can’t do that now…I am much older with a MUCH slower metabolism.  Still, I hope to be able to scoop up a few bags (at a deeply discounted price) and stash them away in my cupboard to slowly enjoy, 2-3 at a time, for the next several weeks to months. Yum. Yum.

Now, of course, Easter is much more important than the candy: it is a very important Christian holiday with themes of sin and redemption as well as victory over death and evil. But, although I respect it, I do not share in this theology as a Muslim. But, one thing I can share in is the great and various candy…and it all goes on sale the day after Easter!

In fact, I am on the only one who does this: a lot of my Christian friends and colleagues also take advantage of the post-Easter sales and stock up on candy. And many times, they bring them to the hospital to share…and I get to indulge – again, a few pieces at a time – at work as well. Yum. Yum.

So, no, I won’t be celebrating this Sunday: it will be like any other Sunday for me. But, one thing that will be great for me is the tons of Easter candy…that will be on sale on Monday. Yum. Yum. Yum.