Easter-themed decorations are flying off shelves as Brits gear up to celebrate on April 4

Easter is becoming a second Christmas as Britons flock to buy festive decorations to mark the festival.

Sales of bunny-themed ornaments, door wreaths and felt buckets for Easter egg hunts have surged as people seek a way to lift the lockdown gloom and celebrate the coming of spring.

This year, Easter falls on April 4, shortly after lockdown rules are set to relax in England to allow six people or two households to meet outdoors.

Indoor celebrations are still off limits but people have taken to social media to share pictures of their homes and tables decked out in pastel-coloured adornments.

Brits are following in the footsteps of several of our European neighbours who have long revelled in Easter festivities. 

In the Netherlands, homes are adorned with willow branches and tiny wooden eggs, while the dinner table is dressed with spring flowers and candles, with an Easter tree at the centre.

Easter trees are also a feature of celebrations in Sweden, where they are known as paskris. The tree has been adopted by some in the UK, who have taken to arranging twigs in vases, while others have bought readymade options.

Others have simply gotten the artificial Christmas tree down from the loft and kitted it out in Easter garb. 

Retailers have reported a rise in demand for indoor decorations including egg-shaped baubles, bunting and crockery featuring rabbits, lambs or chicks. 

The Sunday Times reported that Waitrose has seen double the sales of Easter-themed decorations compared to last year.

Artificial tree sales have risen by a third, and card sales are up by 2,315 per cent.

Online home goods retailer Wayfair has also seen a rise in interest, selling 175 per cent more white artificial Christmas trees this month than in March 2020, the paper reported.

Several ornaments featuring rabbits and chicks have sold out on Wayfair’s website and smaller companies are getting involved too. 

Many retailers are selling Easter-themed decorations on e-commerce site Etsy, where egg-shaped decorations and wreaths can be personalised with the names of children or families.     

While gift-giving around Easter has tended to be limited to chocolate eggs, many retailers are offering more options, with Marks & Spencer selling chocolate sausage dogs, koalas and Star Wars storm troopers alongside eggs this year.

As with Christmas, retailers have previously come under fire for commercialising a traditionally religious holiday, but some smaller retailers – such as those selling their wares through Etsy – are incorporating Christian-themed items such as decorations bearing a cross and others with Bible verses.

Have you decorated your home for Easter? Send a picture of your creations or best ideas and tips for Easter decorating to [email protected] or [email protected]