An egg-cellent celebration

Easter is celebrated in many households, especially among people of the Christian faith.

Easter is a Christian holiday, celebrated this year on Sunday, April 16. The date of this celebration is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon. The holiday features many different traditions for religious families who celebrate it.  

Natasha Ilievski an employee at Walmart Canada, said Easter time is one of the most popular holidays for candy sales.

Research in an article published by Canadianconnection.com shows that Canadians buy around 120 million pounds of Easter candy, with 70 per cent of the candy being chocolate. The total spending on Easter candy is over $2 billion.

Ilievski said her family also spends a lot of money on Easter as a whole.

“Our family spends around $200 to $250 a year on Easter dinner,” said Ilievski.

“Some of our Easter traditions include colouring eggs, going to church at night and having dinner afterwards.”

Easter to many, people however, represents more than chocolates and colouring eggs. Riham Misho, a member of the Holy Family Chaldean Church community, said she does not celebrate Easter like she used to but it is still important to her.

“Easter to me symbolizes the separation of life and death,” said Misho.

“I believe Easter, like Christmas, has been losing its religious meaning and people are focusing on materialistic things more than the true meaning.”

Part of the importance of Easter is the 40-day fasting celebration of Lent. Mariam Yousif, an 18-year-old member of the Holy Family community, said she is fasting from meat for all 40 days until Easter.

“The importance of Easter to me is the Resurrection of Christ, “said Yousif.

“I feel most people don’t see it as a religious holiday anymore but instead as a way to sell things in stores.”

Yousif said Easter is still her favourite holiday.