Easter time – for Shopping, Chocolate, Bunnies, Holidays

This is Easter time, arguably the most important celebration for Christians around the world. But in these modern and diverse times it’s no longer just a religious festival. Retailers view it as a time to ramp up the promotions again. Internet Retailing looked at predictions of how we are going to spend the long week-end shopping. Those engaged with tourism or entertainment tend to look at Easter time as the start of the season. Because it’s the end of Lent, we associate Easter with family feasts and treats – hence the tradition of chocolate eggs. In those days when most people did manual work and struggled to get enough calories, Easter marked the end of the lean winter months. Now we are more likely to be concerned about eating too many calories so NBC reassured us that eating candy in moderation is OK. They also brought us a list of the more healthy chocolate eggs with at number one Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs; it has only 90 calories and 8 grams of sugar per serving. Easter egg hunts have become increasingly popular for young kids, but increasingly competitive too? From the USA  Detroit News reported that, in an attempt to avoid parental pushing, hurt feelings and even potential injury, several Detroit parks and event organisers have started to enforce strict egg-gathering rules. Rather depressingly, they also reported that in Oregon a Rachel Townsend is suing the venue of an overcrowded egg hunt for $112,411 after suffering injuries last year which she alleges was down to negligent organisation. ABC brought us a segment which showed how little some kids understand about the Christian Easter tradition while in the UK the Daily Telegraph published the results of a poll which asked what people associate with Easter. Jesus was the fourth most common Easter association – behind chocolate Easter eggs (76pc), bank holidays (67pc) and hot cross buns (62pc). Also on the list were the cuties – chicks, lambs, and Easter bunnies. After all Spring is the time for new life, re-birth, the return of light etc. And talking of lambs, or baby goats which are more or less the same, how about volunteering to cuddle goats in pyjamas? This farmer in Canada got an overwhelming response to his request for baby goat cuddlers some of which he dresses in flannel pyjamas. A baby goat in a coat – does it float you boat?