Every big religious holiday is known for a specific meal or dessert. Christmas is famous for its turkey and cake. Ramadan for its sweets. Easter for the chocolate eggs, bunnies and other chocolate decorations. Yes, as you can see, it all revolves around sweets, and especially chocolate. Around the world, chocolate at Easter has become a massive money making industry placing it the second highest top selling candy holiday in 2011 at $1.9 billion. But what is the relation between Easter and chocolate? And how Easter holiday serves chocolate shops in the Middle East?
The relation between Easter and chocolate
In the beginning of Easter festivities, the most famous consumption was eggs. Historically, eggs symbolized rebirth and fertility, which matches perfectly the religious purpose of Easter: the rebirth of the Christ.
In the 19th century, and with the booming of chocolate around the world, chocolate factories started to think of a way to penetrate the market during this holiday. They came up with the chocolate egg shape which was first produced in Germany and France, then started to spread in Europe and in the West.
In England, 1873, Cadbury was the first mass-producer of chocolate eggs, but were not available before early 1900s. The first chocolate eggs were small, solid and made from dark chocolate. Throughout the years, chocolate eggs started to get more and more famous on Easter, which led chocolate factories to expand these product types to milk and white chocolate flavors as well as other forms like bunnies.
Nowadays, how Easter serves chocolate shops?
Today, and with chocolate being associated with every yearly event (Christmas, Easter, Valentine…), it has become one of the most consumed edible material, and not only during festivities. It has become very popular to the point of worrying about a worldwide shortage in cocoa threatening the chocolate production.
As a result of this huge demand, chocolate shops and chocolate factories in the Middle East are doing their best to make profits, especially on Easter. When this festivity arrives, all chocolate shops prepare their chocolate decorations. Vitrine shops get loaded with Easter decoration which makes children eyes shine. All colorful chocolate eggs and bunnies lift the mood of whoever is passing by. The bright colors used, like red, orange and yellow, increase the passersby’s appetite, urging them to visit the store and shop for this holiday celebration.
During Easter period, a lot of people rush to the shops to get some chocolate for themselves and for others. The fasting period before Easter is a hard period. People usually abstain from eating and drinking what they like the most. Chocolate is one of the most common things people fast for. Therefore, after 40 days of fasting, chocolate lovers would be craving to have some and their next destination would be a chocolate shop to fulfill their needs.
On another hand, all holidays are known for one main thing: sharing the love. On each festivity, people usually tend to offer gifts for their beloved ones. On Easter, what’s better than gifting chocolate boxes? Almost everybody loves chocolate. As a preparation for Easter, all chocolate shops equip themselves with creative and attractive chocolate gifts ideasto fulfill the demand. And on each festivity, a huge amount of chocolate gifts gets sold.
In conclusion, holidays are considered the high season for chocolate shops in the Middle East and each business should set the right strategy to take advantage in a competitive market. Shops rely on their chocolate design to have a competitive edge to attract and sell during the holidays in general, and Easter specifically.
Happy Easter for all of you!