Happy Easter from the Jefferson County Post!

Three in four Americans identified themselves as Christians in a December 2014 poll. A little over 50% of Americans will find their way to church service on Easter. Though the celebration of Easter is very old, the tradition of the sunrise service is relatively new and came to America about the same time that the tradition of the Easter Bunny made his way from Germany. In fact, the Easter Bunny in his more traditional form, arrived in America in the early 1700s and the first sunrise service is credited as taking place in North Carolina in 1773.

Though the tradition of attending church service is longstanding, other accessories of the holiday have changed over the years. Easter is now the second candy consuming holiday in the United States, following only Halloween in sales. It has been estimated that over 16 billion dollars will be spent on Easter 2015, with an average of $140.62 per person in America. Much of that money will be spent on Chocolate Easter Bunnies, 90 million of which will be sold this year, and jelly beans, which will total 16 billion, because it is nearly impossible to eat just one. Peeps, which take around six minutes to make, will top the 700 million mark, meaning much man power and hours go into each of the marshmallow creations. While Americans often tout their differences in religious philosophy, sports teams and political affiliations, 89% agree that when eating a chocolate Easter Bunny, the ears are the first to go.

Happy Easter from the Jefferson County Post Family! May your holiday be blessed, the true meaning a cause for great celebration and your Chocolate Bunny ears be especially long!