In the United States and in Germany, children excitedly go to bed, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Easter hare. In the morning they will hunt for the beautifully colored eggs the mysterious bunny has supposedly left. Popular in the United States is the famous White House Egg Roll on Easter Monday. Thousands of children roll eggs down the beautiful lawn adorning the president’s home. The rolling supposedly symbolizes the rolling of the stone away from the tomb of Christ. But the children seem oblivious to this. All they know is that egg rolling is a lot of fun.

Yes, Easter is many different things to people. Says a manager of a South African chocolate manufacturing company: “Easter presents an opportunity to make more profit.” (During the 1985 Easter season, his firm produced over five million candy eggs!) Even Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu businessmen there jump on the Easter bandwagon. Explained one Indian businessman who lives in South Africa: “Muslims and Hindus do not believe in Jesus, yet some of them promote Easter and will sell hot cross buns and Easter eggs.” Indeed, one Hindu store owner admitted: “Muslims and Hindus also buy Easter eggs.”