| Easter spending is reaching a record high this year due in part to an unprecedented marketing blitz by retailers. Many Christians are cringing at the marketing efforts because they fear it will interfere with the message of Christ's resurrection. They argue that the Easter Bunny has taken over the true meaning of the holiest day on the Christian calendar, according to Michele Combs of the Christian Coalition. In recent years, Easter has become second only to Christmas in terms of gift giving. Overall Easter retail spending in the United States is projected to reach $12.63 billion in 2006, a 32 percent increase from the $9.6 billion spent last year, according to National Retail Federation. KB Toys has joined the Easter rush by selling shrink-wrapped Easter baskets filled with toys at its 660 stores this year.
Easter greetings in Eastern Europe:
Since Easter night and down to the completion of Easter, it is accepted to welcome each other with the sentence: “Christ has arisen!” – “Truly arisen!” by kissing (christening) three times. This custom comes from apostolic times “Welcome each other by kissing"
Religious procession
Just before Easter orthodox people gather in a temple, from where a religious procession takes place by singing the festival rhymes loudly. By midnight the procession approaches the doors of a temple and the divine service of morning Easter begins.
In the Roman Catholic Church the religious procession also is conducted in the divine service in the evening of Easter, however not before the Liturgy, but after it. The religious procession on Easter should not be confused with the divine service of the God way, a special Catholic great fasting divine service in memory of the Passions of God.
Folk customs
In the evening of Easter, public strolls take place in the church courtyard. In Russia, public round dances and games take place in different districts from one day to two – three weeks and referred to as the Red Hill. Under folk music people drive a huge round dance - "colo" in Bulgaria, "varosh" or “Public council” in Serbia, "tapherich" (in Turkish manner) in Bosnia. The culmination of dances - "chorus" (Bulgaria "People") – the strongly linked round dance takes place with speed music, and the direction of movement varies quickly.
In Bulgaria hundreds of big and small clay pots prepared before the festival and decorated with kind wishes are dropped from the top floors in commemoration of an Easter victory above evil. Any person passing through can take piece of broken crockery fortunately.
In Russia and Serbia people "christianize" with Easter eggs by breaking in sequence the different ends, as well as people christianize three times on the cheeks. Children arrange "competitions" – whose egg rolls to the maximum distance. Painted Easter eggs in the Russian culture mean new life and revival. Easter eggs in Russia were rolled on the ground for fertilization, put in the right hand of people who died on Easter; painted eggs were preserved for an entire year for the protection of the house against a fire and crops against hailstones.
Family of Easter hares. In Europe and America, there is a custom to hide Easter eggs in the morning of Easter. Children after awakening on the spot rush to search all around the house. As children do not know from where the eggs are coming from, finally they find out the Easter rabbit with set of multi-colored eggs has left them. The Easter hare, as a symbol of fertility and richness became a symbol of Easter in Germany since the 16th century and since then it has became famous worldwide. Whole families or different trades make toys and sweets, and also make souvenirs in the shape of hares.
Well in advance, prior to Easter, in the main areas of European cities, Easter fairs are organized where it is possible to buy hand made things. Bridges and fountains are decorated with greenery and multi-colored eggs, symbolizing Easter – renovation and the Spring of Pleasure. In many courtyards it is possible to see bushes and trees decorated with eggs and different characters, like the Christmas fur-tree.
In the Ukraine on Easter Monday guys pour water on girls, girls take "revenge" on Tuesday. In France on Monday, wives can beat husbands, and husbands can respond on Tuesday.
In the Soviet time in a number of cities of Russia there was a custom to visit the tombs of relatives on Easter day. For taking people to remote cemeteries, municipal authorities have organized public transport. At the same time as per the tradition of the Orthodox Church in connection with the joyful day of Easter, the commemoration of the deceased is stopped for the entire duration of Bright Sedmitsa. On the tenth day after Easter, the Universal (common Church) parental day – Rodonitsa is celebrated.
In the majority of the European countries the Holy Week and the week after Easter are school and student's vacations. Many European countries, and also Australia celebrate Easter and Easter Monday as state holidays. Good Friday is also celebrated as state festival in Australia, Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Portugal, Croatia and the majority of Latin American countries. All the three days of Easter are state holidays in Spain.
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