Easter Sunday holds a very special place in the hearts of chocoholic children.
However, when Easter Sunday happens to cross over with April Fool’s Day, mayhem inevitably ensues as parents take advantage of the coincidence to dupe their young ones.
Children everywhere expecting to be treated to mounds of chocolate have been tricked by fiendish adults, who have shared their savage exploits on Twitter.
Many parents have had the same idea of presenting their youngsters with large grapes encased in Creme Egg packaging.
However, one parent has taken their commitment to their April Fool’s Day Easter prank to the next level.
A mother from Albuquerque has shared photos on Twitter that show her dipping brussels sprouts in a chocolate, covering them with nuts and then displaying them as perfectly wrapped Ferrero Rocher confectioneries.
Other Twitter users have commented on her ingenuity, with one writing: “That step by step photo montage. A visual insight of pure evil.”
It maybe Easter but it's also #AprilFoolsDay at our house - kids got these special Easter eggs pic.twitter.com/wcrGvEnKBP — Saman Shad (@muminprogress) March 31, 2018
Easter Sunday on April fools day....an opportunity too good to miss he he he he pic.twitter.com/onjjNGWJiK — Ellie Valentine (@ellievalentine1) March 31, 2018
One of the grandest hoaxes of all has been sending children out on Easter egg hunts… where there are no eggs to be found.
A woman has posted a photo on Twitter in which children are pictured happily foraging in bushes for Easter eggs.
“How long do you think it will take them to realise there are no Easter eggs hidden #AprilFools,” she wrote.
How long do you think it will take them to realise there are no Easter eggs hidden #AprilFools pic.twitter.com/jtqvPekxAm — kylie cox (@silverstarzzz) March 31, 2018
"Happy Easter, kids. The Easter Bunny has hidden loads of eggs throughout the house for you to find."
"Yay!"
"Actually... April Fools!" pic.twitter.com/kvNUmK0I2n — Sam H. (@Star_Chasm) March 31, 2018
They made us brownies (brown-E's) in return 😂 pic.twitter.com/KpPkCSUndR — Saman Shad (@muminprogress) March 31, 2018
While parents may have had their fair share of fun hoodwinking unsuspecting youngsters, they’re not the only ones who can play at that game.
One woman who gave her children grapes wrapped as Creme Eggs was served her just deserts shortly afterwards.
“They made us brownies (brown-E’s) in return,” she wrote, as she shared a photo of a couple of ‘E’s cut out of paper and coloured in with brown felt tip.
Never underestimate the imagination of the next generation.
The royals are celebrating Easter in style!
Kate Middleton and Prince William arrived late for Easter church services alongside Queen Elizabeth on Sunday, stepping out together as the expectant mom’s due date quickly approaches.
William and Kate, who is due to welcome her third child later this month, pulled up in a royal car to join the Queen and other members of the family at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle —which is also the historic venue for the May 19 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Kate, 36, looked elegant in a classic dark coat (shop similar styles here and here), matching hat and nude pumps as she made her way into the 14th century Gothic chapel inside the castle walls. Now on maternity leave, the outing is likely to be the last time Kate is seen in public before she gives birth.
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Karwai Tang/WireImage
The couple’s children — Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, who will be 3 on May 2 — were not with them for the second year running. Also absent were Meghan and Harry, who have private plans elsewhere, palace officials said.
Prince Philip, 96, who had to pull out of a high-profile church service on Thursday because he was suffering from a hip problem, did not join the family again on Sunday.
Tolga Akmen - WPA Pool/Getty Images
TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Andrew and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie attended the Easter service, along with Eugenie’s fiancé Jack Brooksbank. Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence led the royal family down the hill to the chapel.
Anne’s son Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn, as well as Prince Edward, the Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise Windsor, 14, and James, Viscount Severn, 10, also attended the service.
The Queen was presented with posies by Madeline Carleston and Amelia Vivian, two six-year-old girls whose parents work and live in the castle, when she arrived. William and Kate told the girls that George and Charlotte had been on an Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning.
Madeline’s mother, Deborah Carleston, told reporters: “The Queen asked: ‘Have you had lots of Easter eggs?’ “
“Prince William and his wife asked: ‘Have you lost any Easter eggs yet?’ ” Carleston added. “They said there had been great excitement in their house this morning. They said their children will probably still be finding eggs around the house in six months time.”
On May 19, all eyes will again be on the steps of the magnificent St. George’s Chapel, when Meghan will sweep in — and emerge a princess.
Easter is always on a Sunday, so the stock market, most government offices, and many banks are closed for Easter—as they usually are on Sundays.
Still, since the Easter is a widely celebrated religious holiday but not a national holiday, it can be hard to tell what’s open and what’s closed on Easter.
As you’d probably guess, Walmart and many other major retailers are open with normal hours on Easter—as are the vast majority of locations for national restaurant chains like Starbucks, McDonald’s, Burger King, Waffle House, and Taco Bell. Many restaurants have special menus and Easter brunch and dinner deals as well.
Here are more specifics on what’s open and what’s closed on Easter 2018.
What stores are closed on Easter Sunday?
Easter is not an official federal holiday, but several major retailers shut down for the holiday regardless. Some entire malls are closed on Easter 2018 too: The Orange Park Mall in Florida and the Monmouth Mall in New Jersey are closed, for example, as are many Simon malls around the country. Note that even if a mall’s stores are closed on Easter Sunday, the mall’s restaurants and movie theaters are still probably open.
There are also several national retailers that are closed nationwide for Easter 2018. Stores that are closed on Sunday, April 1, include:
• Best Buy
• Costco
• Dillard’s
• J.C. Penney
• Macy’s
• Publix
• Sam’s Club
• Target
• T.J. Maxx and Marshalls
What restaurants are open on Easter?
The vast majority of restaurants are open on Easter Sunday. Among the national chain restaurants, exceptions are Chipotle, which keeps most locations closed on Easter, and Chick-fil-A, which is closed in every location on every Sunday—so that obviously includes Easter. Some independent restaurants may be closed on Easter as well, so it’s smart to check ahead of time.
Are banks open on Easter?
Banks that are normally closed on Sundays will of course be closed on Easter. As for banks with branches that are normally open on Sunday, some of them are closed on Easter as well. For example, most TD Bank and Wells Fargo locations are closed on Easter, even though they have teller hours on other Sundays.
Among the few banks that are open with normal hours on Easter Sunday 2018 are KeyBank, First Citizens, PNC, and U.S. Bank.
In Photos: Easter Around The World
For Christians around the world, the Holy Week and Easter are a time to celebrate Jesus Christ's return to Jerusalem, his crucifixion and his resurrection.
In some countries, that can mean lighting candles, attending ceremonies and watching solemn processions go by. In others, it can be a chance to dance, make music and eat special foods.
From a balcony in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, above a sea of eager faces, Pope Frances spoke of how "Christians believe and know that Christ's resurrection is the true hope of the world, the hope that does not disappoint."
He said, "It is the power of the grain of wheat, the power of that love which humbles itself and gives itself to the very end, and thus truly renews the world."
As Christians everywhere partake in Easter festivities, he called for "fruits of peace upon the entire world," especially in countries like Syria, Yemen and Venezuela where suffering endures.
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