Chocolate, eggs and more

What’s in the Easter nests of the Viennese

16 million Easter eggs will be given away this weekend.(Bild: APA/BIRGIT EGARTER)

Lots of chocolate bunnies and dyed eggs are given away and eaten over the Easter weekend. Find out what else goes into the nests here.

On Sunday, children, and perhaps some adults too, swarm out in search of Easter nests. And the Viennese are once again showing their gift-loving side this year. "The start of spring and the warmer temperatures are having a positive effect on people's shopping mood," says Margarete Gumprecht, Chairwoman of the Retail Division at the Vienna Chamber of Commerce. According to Gumprecht, two thirds of Viennese use Easter as an opportunity to give presents, with the average spend on gifts, sweets, festive food and decorations per capita amounting to 50 euros, and 70 euros if there are children or grandchildren in the family. With a turnover of around 56 million euros, Easter is the second biggest seasonal shopping event after Christmas.

And what ends up in the Easter nest? Predominantly sweets, colored eggs, toys and cash. "An impressive 16 million dyed eggs and 5 million chocolate bunnies are given away in Vienna over the Easter weekend - that's 8 Easter eggs and 2 chocolate bunnies per person," says Gumprecht.