Surprises.

Yesterday, was Boxing Day and also junk mail day at our place.   

I really enjoy junk mail day.  We get heaps of it each week and just before Christmas it was at its peak.  Each week, I trawl through it.  I make lists and plans.  Not all the plans come to fruition and not all the shopping lists are completed, but I enjoy the process.  It gives me meal ideas, keeps me up to date with new products and often gives me ideas for gifts,

Yep ... I love junk mail.

Yesterday, however, the junk mail gave me a nasty surprise.  I was leafing through the brochures for Coles and Woollies and what should be featured but
HOT CROSS BUNS!!!!!
Yes really.   There they were, large as life .... gorgeous, golden, fruit filled, spicy, slightly sticky hot cross buns.   On Boxing Day!!!!!   
Yes really .... Boxing Day!!!!!!!!

I was shocked and horrified.

Now I am not naive.  LOML works in a supermarket, so I understand commerce and trade, but I cannot see any good reason for hot cross buns to be advertised on Boxing Day other than plain, pure greed!!!

I was mulling it over today and I decided what it made me mostly feel was, sad.
I feel sad for the kids and parents of today.
It made me realise, once again, the huge difference between my childhood and those of today's little people.

When I was a child (back in the dark ages!!) we had hot cross buns ONCE  a year.  By that I mean, we ate them on one day a year, Good Friday. 
I understand not everyone enjoys these delicacies, but I really like them (smothered in butter which is slowly melting into the dough).  But we had to wait to eat these each year, and the wait was always worthwhile.

They were bought that morning from the local bakery (or homemade).  There were no plastic wrapped versions at the supermarket then.  We feasted on them and then they were gone for another year.  

One the same note, the Easter Bunny, only brought eggs on Easter Sunday.  They were not around in the shops for months before.  Easter was a time of culinary delights.  Much anticipated and enjoyed.   The anticipation was often the best part of it.   We counted down the days, we got excited and we loved the build up.

So I was thinking how difficult it must be for parents these days to share that anticipation with their children.  Special events no longer seem so special.  Delayed gratification is a thing of the past.   The teasing, the build up and the excitement.
Is there anything that replaces that?