Easter Is Early This Year

As we say in the "retail biz", Easter is early this year.
What that really means is that Easter is in March and not in April.  From a retailer's point of view, that means "early".
In years like 2013, the months of February and March are overloaded with special occasions.  We start out with Valentine's Day (not to mention Mardi Gras) and then in a matter of 4 weeks we have St. Patrick's Day.  You already know, if you are tuned into this blog, that St. Pat's is a BEER holiday.  Even though Sweet Tooth doesn't sell BEER, the idea of celebrating another holiday so soon is contrary to the usual build up for special occasions.
Only 2 weeks after St.Pat's, we have Easter (and Passover, actually).
Our retail minds have been working on this situation for months, but non-retail folks are just waking up to the fact that there is another holiday around the corner.
Making the switch from reds and pinks, to greens, to pastels is a strange color chart.  We simply aren't always ready to tackle this quick path of holiday after holiday.
And then there is the practice of observing Lent.  Believe it or not, in my unofficial survey, giving up candy for Lent is one of the most popular rituals every year.  We understand the practice and respect it, but why can't folks give up green beans or Oreo cookies or hamburgers??  Why does it always have to be candy?
And what about those folks who declare a "free day" and decide on that one day to indulge in the item which they have given up for Lent?  The day picked for "free day" always seems to be on a Sunday when Sweet Tooth is closed!!
The countdown to Easter is happening now.  There are eggs to color, Easter baskets to prepare, candy to buy, new outfits to purchase and a big dinner to prepare.  There are religious services to attend and prayers to be said.
We expect a big rush of candy purchases to take place on the day after Easter.....Monday April 1..... for all those folks who gave up candy for Lent.  But holy cow!!  April 1 is April Fools Day!!  Don't tease us, people....we are looking forward to seeing you at Sweet Tooth on that day.