Posted by: Richie Bernardo

You know it’s Easter when grocery stores have special aisles just for chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps while their dairy sections keep running out of eggs. Beside Valentine’s Day, it’s the other big “consumer” holiday that’s expected to rake in billions and give every American a toothache. But candy and big meals are just one part of the celebration. Most people dye their eggs in bright colors, and hide plastic ones around the home for the kids to hunt on Easter Sunday. At least that’s the Easter tradition that’s familiar to the roughly 80 percent of Americans who celebrate the occasion in some way.

For Christians, however, Easter is less of a commercial event than a holy experience. It not only marks the end of Lent — a 40-day period of fasting, reflection, prayer and repentance followed directly by Easter Sunday — but it also celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and represents the “new covenant” between God and humanity. In observance of the holiday, many families will attend services, feast and continue to share the messages of Christ.

But some Americans will feel the Easter spirit more than others, depending on where they live. To identify those areas, WalletHub compared the 100 largest cities based on 12 metrics that speak to an ideal Easter celebration. Our metrics range from “number of egg-hunt events per capita” to “share of Christian population.” Read on for the full ranking, money-saving tips from experts and our methodology. Make sure to also check out WalletHub’s Easter Facts & Stats – Church, Candy & Cash infographic for fun facts about the holiday.

1. Main Findings
2. Ask the Experts
3. Methodology

Main Findings

Embed on your website<iframe src="//d2e70e9yced57e.cloudfront.net/wallethub/embed/19774/geochart-easter.html" width="556" height="347" frameBorder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <div style="width:556px;font-size:12px;color:#888;">Source: <a href="https://ift.tt/2pHiFTZ>  

Best Places to Celebrate Easter

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Total Score	‘Easter Observers’ Rank	‘Easter Traditions’ Rank	‘Kids’ Easter’ Rank	‘Easter Weather’ Rank
1	New York, NY	62.28	4	1	9	90
2	St. Louis, MO	59.54	2	16	6	52
3	Chicago, IL	58.69	5	5	44	78
4	Pittsburgh, PA	57.94	3	15	48	59
5	Los Angeles, CA	57.86	15	4	64	21
6	Birmingham, AL	57.58	1	49	69	90
7	Atlanta, GA	56.64	14	9	7	34
8	Houston, TX	56.04	10	14	12	29
9	Cincinnati, OH	55.48	9	17	14	41
10	Orlando, FL	53.04	31	2	52	55
11	Las Vegas, NV	52.96	55	3	18	7
12	Philadelphia, PA	52.83	8	21	68	35
13	Dallas, TX	52.31	16	18	3	79
14	San Antonio, TX	51.36	21	13	84	25
15	San Diego, CA	50.92	46	6	77	13
16	Miami, FL	49.40	48	11	19	31
17	Cleveland, OH	48.53	6	33	96	59
18	Oklahoma City, OK	47.79	13	35	15	43
19	Minneapolis, MN	47.05	17	24	55	89
20	San Francisco, CA	47.01	56	8	72	64
21	Buffalo, NY	46.18	12	25	93	99
22	Washington, DC	45.91	22	23	90	46
23	Portland, OR	45.52	76	7	66	79
24	Memphis, TN	45.48	7	64	71	90
25	New Orleans, LA	44.36	37	28	25	40
26	Honolulu, HI	43.94	69	12	73	90
27	Austin, TX	43.65	53	20	62	46
28	Seattle, WA	43.62	81	10	89	74
29	Louisville, KY	43.48	18	41	97	50
30	Denver, CO	43.26	66	19	99	24
31	Detroit, MI	43.24	11	62	98	59
32	Sacramento, CA	42.97	61	22	70	32
33	Tucson, AZ	42.68	62	29	60	13
34	St. Paul, MN	42.67	25	39	24	79
35	Charlotte, NC	42.66	28	32	51	86
36	Tulsa, OK	42.63	23	40	27	90
37	Baltimore, MD	42.62	26	37	81	46
38	Omaha, NE	42.40	32	44	21	42
39	El Paso, TX	42.28	36	50	80	7
40	Jacksonville, FL	41.74	29	42	35	71
41	Nashville, TN	41.61	34	36	65	58
42	Indianapolis, IN	41.60	35	34	75	59
43	Albuquerque, NM	41.58	57	30	92	12
44	Long Beach, CA	41.54	45	51	47	15
45	Fort Worth, TX	41.50	24	45	63	79
46	Milwaukee, WI	41.46	20	57	91	68
47	Tampa, FL	41.43	63	31	11	44
48	Kansas City, MO	41.17	27	58	88	39
49	Boston, MA	41.07	41	48	4	79
50	Bakersfield, CA	40.79	47	67	13	20
51	Phoenix, AZ	40.61	83	26	17	7
52	Corpus Christi, TX	40.34	33	86	29	27
53	Fresno, CA	40.26	39	63	49	30
54	Columbus, OH	39.80	54	27	95	53
55	Anaheim, CA	39.50	50	70	39	21
56	Laredo, TX	39.33	43	73	8	36
57	Lubbock, TX	38.43	40	84	42	33
58	Baton Rouge, LA	38.38	38	83	61	37
59	Wichita, KS	38.27	30	75	82	69
60	Irvine, CA	38.16	60	60	83	15
61	Santa Ana, CA	37.75	67	82	23	15
62	Colorado Springs, CO	37.59	87	56	38	1
63	Raleigh, NC	37.45	65	53	28	71
64	Newark, NJ	37.27	19	97	36	79
65	Jersey City, NJ	37.05	42	77	50	74
66	Fort Wayne, IN	36.97	49	80	31	54
67	Riverside, CA	36.89	79	65	43	21
68	Lexington-Fayette, KY	36.80	52	61	94	49
69	Oakland, CA	36.79	59	54	74	64
70	Toledo, OH	36.76	44	78	40	79
71	Greensboro, NC	36.59	51	66	46	95
72	Madison, WI	36.45	68	55	59	70
73	Boise, ID	36.07	78	43	56	64
74	San Jose, CA	35.88	74	47	85	63
75	Scottsdale, AZ	35.67	92	52	34	2
76	Lincoln, NE	35.63	58	85	45	51
77	San Bernardino, CA	34.80	84	79	26	15
78	Chula Vista, CA	34.60	86	69	37	15
79	Chandler, AZ	34.08	96	59	32	5
80	Winston-Salem, NC	33.94	64	92	33	86
81	Plano, TX	33.89	71	72	57	96
82	Mesa, AZ	33.78	90	74	41	7
83	Arlington, TX	33.46	73	81	30	98
84	Irving, TX	33.32	70	89	67	74
85	Virginia Beach, VA	33.22	85	38	87	77
86	Durham, NC	33.14	72	76	86	86
87	Garland, TX	33.14	75	91	22	96
88	Stockton, CA	32.83	77	96	20	37
89	Aurora, CO	32.19	91	68	76	28
90	Chesapeake, VA	31.96	82	95	2	67
91	Norfolk, VA	31.73	80	93	58	71
92	Henderson, NV	31.37	97	90	54	2
93	St. Petersburg, FL	31.28	88	71	78	44
94	Reno, NV	31.21	100	46	53	55
95	Fremont, CA	30.05	89	94	10	55
96	Gilbert, AZ	29.54	94	98	16	5
97	Anchorage, AK	29.37	95	88	1	100
98	Glendale, AZ	29.04	93	99	79	2
99	Hialeah, FL	28.58	98	87	100	26
100	North Las Vegas, NV	27.82	99	100	5	7

Ask the Experts

Easter can be an expensive holiday to celebrate. According to the National Retail Federation, the average U.S. consumer will spend roughly $150 — the second highest figure in the history of the NRF’s consumer trends survey — on celebration expenses this year. For tips on staying within budget, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?
2. What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?
3. Has Easter in America become too commercialized?
4. What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter holiday?

< >

• Carlin Nguyen H. Jean Waldrop Endowed Professor of Marketing in the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Los Angeles
• John D. Rossi, III Associate Professor of Accounting at Moravian College
• Melissa D. Cinelli Assistant Professor of Marketing in the School of Business Administration at The University of Mississippi

Carlin Nguyen H. Jean Waldrop Endowed Professor of Marketing in the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Los Angeles

What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?

To alleviate some of the costs, you can divide and conquer and share the expenses with other friends and family members. Plus, you can celebrate together. For instance, you can provide the food while the other folks can provide the festivities and the costs associated with them. Think about your core competencies and leverage that to reduce your costs. Let’s say you’re really creative -- perhaps you can be the one to help the kids decorate the eggs and organize the “best friggin’” egg hunt the kids will ever have. If you don’t want to divide and conquer, then another tip would be to celebrate Easter with your local church or community center. They are bound to have some activities and treats for the kids and, possibly, something “special” for the adults (just kidding). At the end of the day, Easter brings families together. So, whatever you do, it doesn’t have to cost much (or anything at all, in some cases), and I am confident that the kids, including you and your spouse/partner, will have fun regardless.

What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?

As a general rule of thumb, if you can easily make something that you may otherwise purchase at the store, then I would suggest doing so, especially if it helps you and your family bond. From that perspective, if you can save money by making something rather than buying it at full retail price, then that item would consequently be considered a “money waster.” But, I suggest the aforementioned with a caveat. There is also the opportunity cost that you need to consider. For instance, you could spend time making a basket or decorating your own eggs versus buying one of each at the store, but you’d also have to spend extra time buying all the materials, putting them together, and then cleaning up the mess. If you spent a few hours doing that, then you would have to consider such questions as, “What is my time worth?” and, “What could I have done with that time?”

Has Easter in America become too commercial?

I don’t think so. It’s true that Easter is likely strongly associated with the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, and, of course, the egg hunt. I think those are necessary to make Easter more engaging and fun for the kids. And because the kids are participating, Easter ultimately brings families and communities together. Now, once the kids become willing participants, I think it is then up to the parents to educate the children on the meaning behind Easter and why we celebrate Easter (i.e., the day of Jesus Christ’s resurrection). So, at the end of the day, kids have fun, they learn the true meaning behind Easter, and families bond. It’s a win-win.

What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday?

Take a road trip and pack your own food. What better way to bring the family together than a long road trip. Of course, you’re going to have to make the kids put away their phones and tablets and you’re going to have to talk to them (eek!). I suggest you stick with such topics as pop culture (Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez might be a safe bet) and puppies/kittens for maximum engagement.

John D. Rossi, III Associate Professor of Accounting at Moravian College

What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?

• Business -- time off (the cost for salaried employees is often nominal) for everyone, not just Christians;
• Personal -- church, followed by a meal (avoid eating out).

What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?

The biggest is candy. Avoid live animals (bunnies and chickens) because people quickly tend to get bored with them, and it is not fair to the animal. Eating out is also a big money waster.

Has Easter in America become too commercial?

No -- Easter is still a religious holiday and not overly commercialized. Most people who celebrate Easter want to keep it about religion and family.

What money-saving tips do you have for people planning to travel for the Easter Holiday?

Due to heavy demand, prices are often higher. If you are looking for a better deal, you may be able to save money on travel by celebrating the week before (Palm Sunday). If you must travel over the Easter Holiday, book early and ask or check if any discounts (such as AAA) are available.

Melissa D. Cinelli Assistant Professor of Marketing in the School of Business Administration at The University of Mississippi

What tips do you have for celebrating Easter on a budget?

I celebrate everything on a budget, so Easter is no exception. For our family, Easter celebrations revolve around two things -- a meal and an Easter egg hunt. We like to have Easter brunch instead of Easter dinner. Brunch is delicious (and trendy), and even fancy-seeming brunch fare, like Eggs Benedict, costs a fraction of what a full ham dinner would cost. We like to host our friends for brunch potluck-style, which reduces the costs even further. Our friends love to cook and share a meal, and we are always looking for a reason to get together.

Of course, Easter does not feel complete (if you have children) without an egg hunt and Easter baskets. For the egg hunt, we take advantage of a city-wide event held in our town, where children hunt for eggs in different age groups. This eliminates the need for us to buy, stuff, and hide our own eggs (which also takes some stress out of the holiday), and admission to the event is only a canned good donation to the local food pantry. If your town does not host a similar event, consider teaming up with other families to host a group egg hunt in a local park. Each family can contribute a dozen filled eggs, keeping the cost for each family low while still making the hunt feel abundant with goodies.

Easter baskets are a potential money pit, but I do have a couple of tips to avoid blowing your budget. First, don’t buy a new basket every year. A nice basket can be costly, and who has the storage space for all those accumulated baskets? I purchased an Easter basket for each of my children on their first Easter and reuse the same basket each year. For the contents, I like to shop sales and look for Easter items where you might not expect them. Candy can be expensive, but combining store sales with coupons found in the Sunday paper will drop the price dramatically.

I buy candy from the national pharmacy chains (e.g., CVS or Walgreens). Even though their everyday prices are often much higher than discount retailers (like Wal-Mart), they offer deep sales on candy around the holidays, which can be combined with manufacturer or store coupons to make a great deal. I buy other basket-fillers from dollar stores (e.g., coloring books and stickers) or discount retailers (e.g., small toys) and have even found great inexpensive Easter items at national craft supply chains. Finally, I like to include a practical gift that I probably would have bought anyway. This year, my kids will be getting new sandals in their baskets -- an item I would have purchased anyway as the weather gets warmer.

What are some of the big money wasters on Easter?

For me, a big money waster is Easter-themed clothing that is worn only once. I try to avoid “My First Easter” onesies and children’s smocks embroidered with bunnies or chicks. The “Easter dress” is so popular for little girls, but I make sure I buy a dress that will be wearable at other points in the spring and summer. If you have your heart set on a frilly Easter dress, or Easter-themed children’s clothes, consider buying gently-used items from local children’s clothing swap groups or consignment stores. Swap groups can easily be found on Facebook and are typically brimming with holiday-themed garments and accessories that children wore once and then outgrew.

Methodology

In order to determine the best cities for celebrating Easter, WalletHub compared the 100 most populated cities across four key dimensions: 1) Easter Observers, 2) Easter Traditions, 3) Kids’ Easter and 4) Easter Weather.

We evaluated those dimensions using 12 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for celebrating the holiday. For metrics marked with an asterisk (*), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Easter Observers – Total Points: 50

• Share of Christian Population: Double Weight (~33.33 Points)Note: The percentage is based on the ratio between the total adherents of the following U.S. religions —Adventist, Baptist, Catholicism, Communal, Episcopalianism/Anglicanism, European Free-Church, Holiness, Ind. Fundamentalist, Latter-Day Saints, Lutheran, Methodist/Pietist, Orthodox, Pentecostal and Presbyterian-Reformed — and the total population of the city.
• Churches per Capita*: Full Weight (~16.67 Points)

Easter Traditions – Total Points: 30

• Google Search Interest for “Easter Celebration”: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)Note: The metrics measures the search interest for “Easter Celebration”, “Easter Sunday”, “Easter Parade”, “Easter Egg Hunt”, “Easter Activities” and “Easter Dinner”.
• Brunch Restaurants per Capita*: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Cost of Restaurant Meal: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Candy & Chocolate Stores per Capita*: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)
• Flower & Gift Shops per Capita*: Full Weight (~6.00 Points)

Kids’ Easter - Total Points: 10

• Share of Children Aged 8 & Younger: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
• Easter Egg-Hunt Events per Capita*: Full Weight (~4.00 Points)
• Acres of Parkland per Capita: Half Weight (~2.00 Points)Note: Many of the public Egg Hunt events take place in parks.

Easter Weather - Total Points: 10

• Difference Between Forecasted and Normal Temperatures on Easter: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)Note: For this metric, the city was penalized if its forecasted temperature on Easter’s Day is colder than the holiday’s average temperature.
• Forecasted Precipitations for Easter: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)

 

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Association Of Religion Data Archives, The Trust for Public Land, Yelp, Eventbrite, Numbeo and AccuWeather.

from Wallet HubWallet Hub


via Finance Xpress