As The Area News is reporting, supermarkets across the city and, indeed the country, have been selling hot cross buns.

This has of course started what has been an interesting debate. 

Many have groaned at the sight of hot cross buns hitting the shelves in early January. 

This is for good reason. 

Easter this isn’t until the middle of April, that’s quite a way off.

Easter eggs have also been spotted for sale. 

Of course there are those that have professed their love of the hot cross bun and were keen to get their hands on them as soon as they came out of the oven. 

The bigger issue is supermarket giants aren’t really doing this for any other reason than to make money. 

As we see each and every day, for big business it’s all about the mighty dollar and consumerism. 

In defense of the supermarkets, the “need” for hot cross buns must be there. 

I doubt they would be wasting their time or money on baking these goods if customers weren’t eager to be picking up a half-dozen every so often in the lead up to Easter. 

Most believe it’s breaking with tradition.

This is also true, particularly for those that mark the religious element of Easter each year.

They could have at least waited until after Australia Day. 

There’s plenty of unique items bakeries within these big supermarkets could be cooking up. 

Who doesn’t love an Anzac biscuit? 

At the end of the day, whether residents like to admit it or not, we’re all to blame for hot cross buns coming out early. 

We vote with our money and, if we’re buying them, they are going to keep making them. 

I know there would be many out there that have snuck the odd Easter egg into their shopping already. 

After all, chocolate is chocolate. 

The problem is, supermarkets are playing us and we’re falling for it. 

The best advice would be to just ignore it if you don’t agree with hot cross bun sales so early. There are worse things out there to worry about.