In Ukraine, the celebration of Easter is one of the most important religious events of the year, and Ukrainians call this day “Great”. An integral part of this festive day is a beautiful and rich basket. What exactly do Ukrainians put in these baskets and how do they decorate them, taking into account their traditions?
Among the basic Easter set, which has remained unchanged throughout the centuries, are:
– paska (cake) and krashanki;
– dairy products (hard cheese, soft cheese, sour cream) as a symbol of happiness and health;
– meat products (pork, lard, home-made sausages, kebabs, boiled ham, etc.) are considered sacrificial food (referring to the sacrifice of a lamb to the gods);
– salt as a symbol of cleansing from negativity for family well-being. It has long been recognized as a talisman and indicator of well-being;
– sweet red wine (kahor) as a symbol of the blood of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for people;
– church candles. They are usually lit during religious services and when consecrating the contents of the Easter basket;
However, in 2024, the price of such a classic set for a Ukrainian family of four will be about UAH 1,500, which is almost 18% higher than last year, when the price was about UAH 1,200. Traditionally, on the eve of Easter, the prices of products used for the preparation of festive dishes increase, but an analysis of expected trends allows us to highlight several categories in which prices are likely to decrease. The first of them concerns traditional products that are used to prepare festive dishes.
- Current approximate prices for the ingredients used to make paska:
– flour – UAH 23.23 per kilogram;
– butter – UAH 72 for 200 grams;
– milk – 39 hryvnias for half a liter;
– eggs – 46 hryvnias for 8 pieces;
– dry yeast: 13 hryvnias for 12 grams;
– raisins 39 hryvnias for 200 grams;
– sugar: UAH 8.6 per 300 grams;
– powdered sugar: UAH 6.5 per 100 g;
– vanillin UAH 7.1 per bag.
This is without taking into account candies, nuts and other Easter decorations.
Infographics/ IA “FACT”
The relatively small increase in prices for Easter symbols is associated with a significant decrease in the prices of eggs (by almost 30%), sugar (by 15%) and flour (by 5%). However, other ingredients included in paska, such as: butter (+16.4%), milk (+13.6%), yeast (+9.6%) and raisins (+15.6%), increased in the price
- Meat prices:
Meat products make up the largest part of expenses in Easter baskets. For example, half a kilo of homemade sausage costs 200 hryvnias (the price per kilogram is 380-420 hryvnias). Half a kilo of pork costs 250 hryvnias (the price per kilogram is 500-540 hryvnias). The price of lard has hardly changed over the past year and is 110 hryvnias per half kilo (price per kilogram is 210-280 hryvnias).
- The cost of dairy products:
The most expensive products in the Easter basket were half a kilo of hard cheese – about UAH 250 (price per kilogram: from UAH 450 to UAH 550), half a kilo of butter – UAH 194.7 (price for 200 g: from UAH 73 to UAH 80.5), half a kilo of soft cheese – 107.5 UAH (the price for 200 g varies from 37 UAH to 45 UAH). Hard cheese rose in price by 31.9%, soft cheese by 23%, and butter by 16.4%.
- Additional products for the Easter basket:
Tomatoes, cucumbers, apples and red wine (kahor) increase the total cost of the basket, as the average price of a bottle of church wine “Kahor” is 150 hryvnias (from 100 to 180 hryvnias).
- Other decorations:
Adding candles (10-50 UAH depending on the size), festive towels (50-100 UAH) and other decorations to the basket will also change the total cost.
Market prices for food products fluctuate depending on a number of factors, such as: seasonality, production costs, logistics and global economic trends. The rise in Easter basket prices was certainly caused by the consequences of the military conflict in Ukraine. There are a number of factors contributing to the rise in prices: significant financial and material losses to the national economy and Ukrainian households, reduced production, high energy prices, difficulties in transporting products across the country, and for many people, even contingency plans.
But the most important question is how to get out of this situation.
IA “FAKT” recommends monitoring market trends, promotions from stores and shopping centers, and stocking up on products that are likely to increase in price closer to the holiday season. There is a list of what you can “order” in advance so as not to overpay before Easter: meat, lard, sausages, cheeses, they can be stored in the freezer. At the same time, flour, sugar, vegetable oil, confectionery decorations, candied fruits, prunes, raisins and nuts can be purchased much earlier, since they can be stored for a long time and do not spoil.
