Easter customs, traditions and, of course, a bit of statistics

We wish you a happy Easter!

Although everyone approaches Easter preparations individually, in their own way, there are some customs that have become established among the people. For example, many start the morning of Palm Sunday by washing their faces with flower petals. In 2021, flowers and ornamental plants covered 181 hectares of land, which is significantly less than ten years ago, when these fragrant plants covered 409 hectares of land.
 
Another symbol of Palm Sunday is olive branch. In 2021, the production of olives, and thus of olive oil, fell. The graph below best illustrates the changes in the production of olives and olive oil in the last 20 years.
   
In Holy Week, preparations for Easter are more intense. Traditionally, ingredients for the festive table are being prepared, as well as Easter eggs. In 2021, a total of 3.2 million laying hens were bred and 736 million eggs were produced. However, what certainly worries many households is the price of eggs, which has been increasing throughout 2022, and continues to increase in 2023 as well. In February this year, the price of eggs in Croatia went up by 64.7% compared to February 2022.
   
The prices of other products that are often found on the holiday menu also increased.  
On Good Friday, fish will be prepared in many homes. According to fisheries statistics, the catch and production of sea fish is much higher than the production of freshwater fish. Some of the most common sea species are pilchards and seabass, while carp is the most common freshwater species. The graphs below provide a better insight into the catch and production of fish in 2021.
     
In addition to a rich festive table for the loved ones, Easter preparations also include decorating our homes. It often coincides with the spring cleaning and refreshing of the place for family gatherings. In 2021, we produced 52.8 thousand tonnes of cleaning preparations. In the same year, the export value of cleaning preparations amounted to 44.2 million euro, mostly to Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the import value of these preparations amounted to 93.0 million euro, mostly from Austria.
 
Easter morning brings a sweet surprise for the youngest members of the family. Colourful wrapping paper hides various forms of chocolates and pralines. According to the domestic industrial production data, 20.2 thousand tonnes of chocolate confectionery were produced in 2021.
 
Whether you prefer sweet or salty snacks, do not forget that Easter celebrates rebirth and hope, togetherness and family gathering. We wish you a happy Easter!