Easter goods 2024: what are people buying for the holiday?

Ukrainians have long considered Easter to be one of the main holidays of the year. Although not all people follow the traditions, almost every family prepares a festive meal for Easter Sunday, cleans and decorates their homes, and gathers around the table to celebrate this important day. 

During the Easter Lent, a few weeks before the holiday, shops in Ukraine, like in other Western countries, hold festive sales. Some of them organise egg painting workshops for children and create an atmosphere of joy, renewal and faith in the victory of good over evil.

Easter 2023 is celebrated all over the world. People prepare for it in advance, buying the necessary products and things for the Easter table. Others simply go to the shops or shop online to get seasonal and gourmet products at good prices.

According to the International Retail Federation (NRF), 80% of US consumers celebrated Easter last year, with total spending of around $20.8 billion. Shoppers with children are expected to spend an average of $35 on Easter sales, even if they do not celebrate the holiday.

Most stores organize Easter sales to boost sales or to get rid of illiquid goods that have been sitting in the warehouse after the winter. Shoppers keep a close eye out for special offers and promotions during this period. The assortment in stores is usually diverse, so everyone can find what they need most, and often at a lower price.

Here are some typical items that can be included in an Easter shopping list:

In addition to its primary importance, Easter is associated with the release of believers from a long fast. Traditionally, people prepare or buy Easter cakes, Easter eggs, various dishes and desserts for the Easter table. The table is dominated by meat, fish, and sophisticated Easter dishes: jellied meat, homemade sausage, ham, fresh and pickled vegetables, salads, pies, roasts, etc.

The products needed to prepare these dishes are more relevant than ever, but their prices tend to rise in the weeks ahead.

And in Zakarpattia, hostesses have already started thinking about the Easter menu, which will be traditional for their region. For example, Irma Kish from Vynohradiv will be serving her family Hungarian dishes: 

Easter is about beauty and symbols of the Resurrection of Christ. Many housewives decorate their homes and festive tables with handmade or bought souvenirs, such as Easter eggs, wreaths, candles, decorative hares, chickens, bouquets of flowers or sweets, embroidery paintings, religious beads, topiaries and other Easter attributes.

On Easter Sunday, some people exchange gifts with friends and family. This is especially true if relatives, children, grandchildren, or neighbours are visiting. Popular gifts can be the same decorations we mentioned above, as well as books, sweets, food baskets, decorative and handmade items: embroidery, towels with festive ornaments, egg stands, frames. 

Original Easter gift ideas include authentic Ukrainian products such as nochva, the utensils used by our grandmothers to knead dough, and knitted Easter baskets. For example, the Nesamovyto brand offers handmade wicker baskets made in the Carpathians.

And the vintage_garage_antiques brand offers unique antiques and home decor in the Ukrainian style. 

This year, Easter is celebrated on 5 May - the time when spring is in full swing. So, obviously, it is during this period that people will be looking for light spring clothes that will finally replace winter fleeces and kufaykas in their wardrobes. As always, dresses of different lengths, blouses, trousers made of thin fabric, light sweaters and accessories such as scarves, buffs, hats, caps, scarves, stoles, beanies, headbands are in trend in spring. For the holiday, you can also wear embroidered shirts from Ukrainian craft designers. 

5. Flowers.

6. Children's goods.

7. Things for a picnic and going outdoors.

Symbols and ideas for celebrating Easter Sunday