[afarah]

I was wondering if Easter is a big thing in New Zealand, over here it is a big thing even more important than Christmas. Prayers and celebrations start from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday going through Maundy (Holy) Thursday, Good Friday (we call it Sad Friday),Staurday of light (I don't know what you call it in English) and then Easter. Kids really enjoy Palm Sunday where they carry Palm branches decorated with roses, flowers, carnations and crosses. As you probably have figured it out we follow the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Calendar, so Palm Sunday is this coming Sunday. I will post some pictures of Palm Sunday when thay are available especially the Palm branches.

[Mrs Pony]

IMO it seems like it's pretty important since everything is closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday! However, I haven't been here for Christmas yet. In the US we didn't have those days as mandatory days off... Christmas you always had off... and Christmas Eve IF you worked you would get time and a half for pay... I've never heard of a place getting fined for being open on a holiday....

[Ramo]

Yeah, the fact that shops were closed in Welly on Good Friday threw me a bit - but tourist attractions were open, and it was a lovely day. In the UK, shops pretty much open every day, and I'm sure they'd view Good Friday as a shopping bonanza. Quite glad they properly observe bank holidays over here, so families can get away and enjoy some time together.

On the other hand, does anyone know whether shops are also closed on Monday? :laugh

[Sam B]

It doesn't sound like it's celebrated anywhere like as much as you celebrate it, and Christmas is definitely a much bigger festival here.

[afarah]

It doesn't sound like it's celebrated anywhere like as much as you celebrate it,

We are after all the Land of the Prophets ;)