EASTER

The National Retail Federation predicts consumers will spend $24 billion on Easter celebrations this year, and rising food costs are a huge part of that expense.

Ukrainian authorities say weekend shelling by Russian forces killed at least seven civilians.

Ukrainians have marked Palm Sunday in the country's most revered Orthodox site that has been at the heart of a religious dispute playing out in parallel with the war against Russia.

A local mother who lost her son to gun violence brought the Mixon Town community together Saturday.

Pope Francis was presiding over Easter vigil Mass at the Vatican.

Friday was all about fun for children who receive care from the Community Hospice and Palliative Care Center. They were treated to an accessible Easter egg hunt, along with their parents.

There figures to be a lot of smiling faces, color and clever decorations, and we want to see it!

Here’s a synopsis of both the historical elements of Easter that people might not know about, and the modern financial windfall Easter is expected to be in 2022.

5 tips to find great steals and deals at Goodwill

Consumer Reports found something concerning during its recent investigation into dark chocolate that you should know about with Easter chocolate filling store shelves.

Whenever I hear the name Peeps, my initial reaction is always the same: why?

There’s no better excuse to try out a new breakfast recipe than Easter.

Below you will find Easter egg hunts, Easter Bunny photos, Sunday services, Easter decorating and more.

Many Christians around the world flock to Jerusalem each Easter to try and relive firsthand the events written about in the Bible on what is the most important week and day on the Christian calendar.

Whenever I hear the name Peeps, my initial reaction is always the same: why?

Easter Fun, Egg Hunts, and Brunch In & Around Jacksonville

Fasting across religions is practiced for a wide range of reasons that include spiritual purification and self-discipline.

Britain has announced a new round of sanctions against Russia.

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church has been removed from the latest round of European Union measures to punish Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the insistence of Hungary.

Far from home and unsure when or even if they will ever return, Ukrainians displaced by war gathered at churches across Eastern Europe on Sunday for the Orthodox Easter holiday.

An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the U.S. secretaries of state and defense are meeting with the Ukrainian leader in the highest-level visit to Kyiv by an American delegation since the start of Russia’s two-month invasion.

Many Ukrainian Americans are observing Orthodox Easter this Sunday, but they’re finding it difficult to be joyful when their ancestral homeland has been torn by the Russian invasion.

Dirt will be back on NASCAR’s schedule next year and likely on Easter Sunday again if Fox Sports has its way.

More than 400 Detroit families came to Faith Xperience Church to watch 10,000 eggs drop from a helicopter!

Three mass shootings in the U.S. over the Easter holiday weekend capped a month of rampant gun violence that's touched both big cities and small, rural communities across the nation.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating six separate shootings Easter weekend, one of which left two dead, following a violent night in Jacksonville.

Christian worshipers gathered in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Seplucher, the traditional site of Jesus’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection, to observe the Easter holiday.

Pope Francis has made an Easter plea for peace in Ukraine and in other wars in the world.

Pope Francis invoked “gestures of peace in these days marked by the horror of war” in an Easter vigil homily in St. Peter’s Basilica attended by the mayor of the occupied Ukrainian city of Melitopol and three Ukrainian lawmakers.

Moonrise in Jacksonville Saturday evening is at 8:03 p.m. -- this is just after sundown at 7:55 p.m.

Airports are busy this Good Friday as people travel to see family for the holiday weekend.

We did the ultimate blind taste test with an Easter candy favorite... Peeps! Here are some fun facts about Peeps that you may not know:

A trend that seems to be sweeping the internet the past few Easter seasons is naturally dyed eggs.

You don’t need any previous drawing, painting skills, or artistic talent to make beautiful fluid art! Pinspiration Jacksonville joins the show to help Mark and Rance create beautiful pieces of art just in time for Easter.

With Easter just around the corner, it is the perfect time to bake delicious coconut macaroons! A delectable treat to get into the spring season. Liberty Bakery stopped by the show to demonstrate how to make this dessert.

We have broken down the activities by state and county to ensure we have something for everyone in our viewing area.

It’s almost Easter in Ukraine, where a trio of churches on the far edges of the capital have faith, hope and charity to consider.

Pope Francis opened Holy Week Sunday with a call for an Easter truce in Ukraine to make room for a negotiated peace, highlighting the need for leaders to “make some sacrifices for the good of the people.”.

The resort is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary celebration, and now is the perfect time to celebrate the season and upcoming Easter holiday. If you plan on visiting, we have uncovered a number of fun activities for families to experience while out exploring the theme parks and nearby resort hotels.

British travelers faced more disruptions during the Easter holiday break as two major airlines, British Airways and easyJet, canceled about 100 flights Wednesday.

Easter is a few weeks away and when it comes time to filling the baskets, we’ve got some non-candy ideas that are fun and educational.

It’s hard to believe that spring is right around the corner and Lent is here.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte has tested positive for COVID-19 a few days after receiving his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

You’ll want a light jacket through the weekend.

The federally-supported COVID-19 vaccination site at Gateway Mall was set to close early on Sunday in observance of the Easter holiday, but officials later announced the site will stay open until 7 p.m.

We want to see how you’re celebrating Easter.

Easter was the first major holiday with COVID-19 shots available to many people.

Christianity’s most joyous feast day is being celebrated worldwide with worshippers spaced apart in pews and singing choruses of “Hallelujah” through face coverings for the second Easter Sunday in a row.

St. Stephen AME Church in Jacksonville hosted a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Sunday following its drive-up Easter service.

Italy has entered a three-day nationwide coronavirus lockdown to deter Easter travel and get-togethers.

French hospitals have brought in extra staff for the Easter holiday weekend to cope with growing numbers of virus patients.

For many families, Easter will be the first holiday in a year they will participate in traditional gatherings, including church services.

Easter is on Sunday, April 4, and we have some fun events you and your family can participate in this year.

The city of Jacksonville's animal shelter is hosting a three-day free adoption weekend for Easter

South Korea’s daily increase in coronavirus infections exceeded 500 for the fourth straight day, a pace unseen since January, as experts raise concern about another viral surge amid a slow rollout in vaccines.

Italy may be in a strict coronavirus lockdown this Easter, with travel restricted between regions and new quarantines imposed.

For a second year, Christians in the Holy Land are marking Good Friday without the mass pilgrimages usually seen in the Holy Week leading up to Easter because of the coronavirus.

An infectious disease specialist offers tips on ways to stay safe while celebrating Easter with your family.

“There needs to be a quiet Easter festival,” Merkel said in a video address. AdIn contrast, Britain has given one vaccine shot to 46% of its people. Health Minister Jens Spahn said routine vaccinations will begin in doctors' practices on Tuesday, with 35,000 GPs scheduled to receive 940,000 vaccine doses next week. Germany expects to receive about 40 million vaccine doses during the second quarter. AdMerkel, who is 66, says she would be prepared to take the AstraZeneca vaccine.

People wearing face masks to protect against the spread of coronavirus walk in downtown Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)MADRID – Spain’s Madrid region halted COVID-19 vaccinations Thursday at health centers for four days so medical staff can rest over the Easter holiday, despite pleas from the national government not to halt the fight against surging infections. Health Minister Carolina Darias last week urged regional authorities to keep vaccinating over the Easter break, saying it was “very important” to keep up the inoculation program. Spain, like other European Union nations, has had a surprisingly slow vaccine rollout that authorities blame on vaccine shortages. AdIt also noted that vaccine shots will still be administered at a city hospital and a city soccer stadium over the traditional Easter break.

For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. It’s a season of major holy days for other faiths as well, occurring in a brighter mood than a year ago. Jews are observing Passover this week, and Muslims will enter the holy month of Ramadan in about two weeks. AdDas said he loves the festival because it celebrates diversity: “It acknowledges that we complement each other — different ethnicities, different nationalities, different genders.

As Romania battles against a surge of COVID-19 infections authorities announced on Thursday March 25, 2021, that Easter celebrations in the deeply Christian country will physically go ahead this year. AdThe Easter Service is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. On the night of the Resurrection, Romanian Orthodox worshipers attend a service at midnight when they receive the Holy Light. “Preventing physical Easter in an Orthodox country in times when people need safety but also hope is not one of those." The prime minister also said he used Thursday's meeting to urge religious authorities to support Romania’s vaccination campaign, which has delivered more than 2.6 million vaccines shot so far.

A cyclist passes in front of an ambulance by an infectious diseases hospital in Warsaw, Poland, on Thursday, March 25, 2021. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW – Poland's government ordered stricter pandemic measures for the two-week period surrounding Easter, describing the new rules Thursday as an attempt to limit human contacts amid a deadly surge in the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said he knew the more severe measures come during a period when families traditionally spend time together for Easter, and it would require a sacrifice from Poles. “The evolution of the virus and the British mutation is leading not only to more infections, but also causing more hospitalizations,” Health Minister Adam Niedzielski said. The higher numbers in Poland come amid more testing.

New coronavirus cases and hospitalizations in Utah have been on a downward trend since January. Ad___SAO PAULO, Brazil — Brazil has reached 300,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and become the second nation to top that figure. ___BOISE, Idaho — The governor of Idaho has said COVID-19 vaccine eligibility will be open to all Idaho residents 16 and up starting April 5. ___WAILUKU, Hawaii — A hospital on Maui had to throw out nearly 1,400 vaccine doses after a refrigerator thawing the vials did not properly seal. Also, COVID-19 deaths have dipped below 1,000 a day on average for the first time since November.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the weekly cabinet meeting of the German government at the chancellery in Berlin, Wednesday, March 24, 2021. (Kay Nietfeld/Pool via AP)BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday dropped plans for a five-day shutdown over Easter, which had prompted confusion and criticism. The same group, faced with rising coronavirus infections, had come up early Tuesday with the unexpected plan for tighter restrictions over Easter. Ad“The idea of an Easter shutdown was drawn up with the best intentions, because we must urgently manage to slow and reverse the third wave of the pandemic,” Merkel said. Merkel said, even without the Easter shutdown, the decisions that she and the state governors came up with offer a “framework” to beat back the new wave of coronavirus infections.

Easter is about two and a half weeks away and for those who celebrate, you know it’s all about the baskets and the Easter egg hunt. Anne Roy joined us today to show you how to set the stage for an egg-cellent Easter! You can make an Easter egg hunt extra fun by getting eggs that have colorful designs or that are filled with unique toys. www.joyin.co/ has eggs with emojis, eggs filled with cars or trucks, and even eggs filled with adorable plush toys. Anne also has great ideas for Easter party games that you can check out by watching the video above!

Faced with a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spains Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do. But the restrictions havent stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their governments removal of the islands from a list of high-risk contagion zones. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu, FIle)MADRID – Faced with a possible flood of visitors from Germany later this month, authorities in Spain's Balearic Islands are warning hotel owners that tourists must adhere to coronavirus restrictions the same way residents do. But the restrictions haven't stopped eager German tourists who have rushed to book flights and accommodation this week following their government's removal of the Balearic Islands and other holiday destinations from a list of high-risk areas. Tourism accounted for 12% of Spain's gross domestic product before the pandemic and nearly a third of the Balearic Islands' output.

If you’re clicking around on the remote control while watching TV this weekend, odds are, you’ll stumble on som sights of Augusta National Golf Club. Yes, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, that will be the case for the first time in the history of the illustrious tournament. Paul Casey of England plays a shot on the second hole during a practice round prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 09, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Patrick Smith) (Getty Images)One of the reasons the Masters is often the most-rated golf tournament is the stunning sight of azaleas and other flowers throughout the course. No fansThis won’t be any different from any other golf tournament or major sporting event this year.

FILE - This Feb. 13, 2013 file photo shows Peeps at the Just Born factory in Bethlehem, Pa. Peeps holiday treats are going on hiatus another consequence of the coronavirus. PennLive.com reports, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, that Just Born Quality Confections says it wont be producing the popular sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentines Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Peeps treats are going on hiatus for several months — another consequence of the coronavirus pandemic. Just Born Quality Confections said it won’t be producing the popular marshmallow sweets for Halloween, Christmas or Valentine’s Day as the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-based company prepares for next Easter, PennLive.com reports. Just Born, which has been in business since 1923, said its other seasonal confections are expected to return to store shelves by Halloween 2021.

Tim Tebow delivered a message during the Passion City Church’s livestreamed Easter service on Sunday. The former Florida Gators quarterback tweeted that he was honored to join the Atlanta-area church for Sunday’s message with Louie Giglio and Sadie Robertson Huff. Their perfect relationship from eternity past. That bond was broken, so Jesus, his bond with you never has to be broken,” Tebow said during the service. It wasn’t just the sin of the world, which I can’t even imagine, but it was a perfect relationship that he was willing to sever because he wants a relationship with you that will never be severed.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Easter Bunny made a visit this weekend to several neighborhoods in the beaches area. Grant Tucker, 15, dressed up as the Easter Bunny to spread joy during this trying time. He said he came up with the idea to remind people that we are all going through the coronavirus pandemic together. RELATED | Easter Bunny pays an early visit, brings smiles to Baker County neighborhoodTucker said several people asked if they could pay him for visiting their neighborhood. He politely declined and, instead, asked people to donate to his mother’s foundation, the Tony Meduri TBI Fund.

CALLAHAN, Fla. – A church in Nassau County held a unique Easter service Sunday morning at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds. Callahan First Baptist Church held a drive-in service as hundreds of cars filled the parking lot with worshipers who continued to practice social distancing. Lynn Hyatt, lead pastor at Callahan First Baptist Church, leads a drive-up Easter service. With about 100 volunteers and the help of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office, Callahan First Baptist Church members and nonmembers came together while staying safe. Pastor Hyatt said that church isn’t necessarily the building, it’s about the community and the community really did turn out Sunday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla – The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting at the Harold House Apartments early Sunday morning. Police responded to the area on Ring Lane after reports of a person shot around 6 a.m. on Easter. A 32-year old male victim was found with at least one gunshot wound which was not life threatening. If anyone has information related to this crime, please call 630-0500, the tip line; 1866-845 TIPS; or submit a tip to jsocrimetips@jaxsheriff.org

Just because we should skip in-person church services and large family gatherings this year under social distancing guidelines doesn’t mean we aren’t celebrating Easter. There are numerous creative ways Christians will worship Sunday and families will still share a meal, even if their extended family only joins by Zoom or Facetime. Whether you put the kids in outfits you already purchased or wear last year’s clothes -- or just pulled up the photos you took of them dressed up last April -- let’s show our Easter finest in this gallery. Just to be safe, please share minimal identifying information -- just your smiles. Scroll down to begin.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Loop’s Nursery partnered with News4Jax to give out Easter lilies to everyone who drove through WJXT’s parking lot early Saturday morning. “We have extra Easter lilies that aren’t going out to grocery stores, aren’t going out to churches because of all the orders that have been canceled due to the virus," said Dee Loop with Loop’s Nursery. People drove up, popped the trunk or liftgate and the lilies were placed into the vehicle. Within one hour, all 5,000 beautiful Easter lilies were gone! “It just goes to show how people are expressing their love and gratitude to those that celebrate Easter,” said Kimberly, a News4Jax viewer.

However, many churches in Northeast Florida told News4Jax they will not open their churches. Instead, they will stream Easter service online. At University Church, lead Pastor Frank Ciresi, said they will also stream Easter Service online. In addition to streaming Easter service, other churches are bringing people together at a safe social distance. Their drive-in Easter service will be held on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the Northeast Florida Fair parking lot to accommodate hundreds of worshipers.

In Historic Springfield, residents are putting a fun social distancing spin on the neighborhood’s Easter Egg Hunt. Springfield Preservation and Revitalization announced Thursday that residents can join in for Easter Egg Hunt Bingo on Sunday and Monday. On Easter Sunday, a Bingo card will be released on the SPAR Facebook event with the pictures of the Easter eggs. Here’s how the hunt works:Once you find a matching egg on your Bingo card, write the address next to the egg. The Egg Hunt is another opportunity to highlight the neighborhood they’re so proud of.”

Whether it’s an egg hunt or brunch with family and friends, Easter is traditionally a time for gathering. Frank Esper, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s, said people, who typically attend church on Easter Sunday, should consider switching to a televised option. So, Dr. Esper recommends avoiding these events altogether. And don’t bother inviting extended family for Easter dinner – sheltering at home means only coming into contact with people who live in your house. “This very well may be a video phone Easter dinner for a lot of us,” said Dr. Esper.

In the United States, the Chicago-based business Blessed Communion, which makes pre-filled disposable communion cups, has seen a deluge of orders ahead of Easter Sunday. With pre-filled communion cups, Idonije said congregants can still fully participate in mass. Parking lot servicesDisposable pre-filled communion cups, or "Fellowship cups," for Methodist churches, have also exploded in popularity. Some churches, he said, are mailing the pre-filled communion cups to their congregants so they have them ready for a livestreamed service. He said congregants park at a safe distance from one another and participate via the radio channel and with their pre-filled communion cups.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – We know many of you haven't been able to attend church in person in a few weeks. Celebration Church will be sharing their Resurrection Sunday service with us, and it will air at 9 a.m. on Channel 4. Celebration is a local church with a main campus in Jacksonville, and several other campuses in surrounding areas. The church said if you'd like to join in communion, just grab crackers and juice -- or whatever you have on hand. We hope you’ll join us this Sunday, and we can all feel a little closer as a community, despite having to stay apart.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lowe’s Companies, Inc. announced that all stores and distribution centers in the United States and Canada will be closed on Easter Sunday, April 12. A release said this is a “thank you” to the associates who have worked tirelessly to support communities during COVID-19 pandemic. “Our ability to support communities with essential goods and services during this pandemic is thanks to our outstanding, dedicated associates,” said Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s president and CEO. “We want to provide our teams with a much-deserved day off to spend Easter Sunday with their families and loved ones and recharge. I want to personally thank our 300,000 associates who have helped families stay safely at home.

Spring break is right around the corner, and you may be dreaming of a fun family vacation -- but what if a full-fledged vacation is not in the cards or the budget? Spring break is typically right around Easter, which is seen by many as a time of renewal. An Easter morning hike would be a great way to kick off your day, so lace up your shoes and soak it all in. Spring break is a great time for a movie marathon, so queue up your favorite streaming service or break into that stack of DVDs. Hosting a staycation is a great way to spend the Easter break, especially if you can keep the kids entertained and happy.

One of the suspects in the death of Alexis Crawford spent at least one Thanksgiving and Easter holiday with Crawford's family. ATLANTA - A Clark Atlanta University student accused in the death of her roommate was a close friend who had spent holidays with the victim's family, a family spokesman said Sunday. Jordyn Jones, who is one of two suspects in the death of Alexis Crawford, spent at least one Thanksgiving and Easter holiday with Crawford's family over the past few years, the Rev. "It was a regular occurrence for Jordyn to spend time with Alexis' family and to engage with Alexis' siblings," Hutchins said. He added: "To know that someone that they welcomed into home played a role in Alexis' death is all the more hurtful."

I'm not sure why but Easter always meant carrot cake or coconut cake for me (in the shape of a lamb of course!) I'm sure the carrot cake thing somehow refers back to the Easter bunny and I'm sure there is some story to go along with it, but I'm too lazy to look! So I wanted to make a carrot cake for Easter but then I found these Carrot Cake Bars and they seemed easier than making the traditional carrot cake so I made a little trial run a few weeks ago. I don't think I'll ever make another traditional carrot cake again. Spread on top of the cooled cake bars.

SAN ANTONIO – As Easter weekend gets closer, Animal Care Services has issued a reminder to San Antonio residents that the sale of baby animals as holiday novelties is illegal. According to the city's animal laws, it is illegal for any person to sell or offer for sale, barter, lease, rent or give away baby chicks or ducklings or rabbits less than eight weeks old as pets or novelties. The dyeing or staining or baby chicks, ducklings, or rabbits is also against city ordinance, as is even possessing animals that have been colored in this way. The release from ACS reports the ordinance further restricts the sale of animals on any roadside, public right of way, commercial parking lot or at any flea market or festival. The only exception to the "Easter animal" law applies to properly licensed hatcheries or other businesses raising the animals for commercial purposes.