Credit crunch hits Greek Easter traditions
(16 Apr 2009)
Athens - 14 April 2009
1. Wide of shoppers on Ermou street with church seen in background
2. Wide of meat market with shoppers holding bags
3. Butchers standing near their stalls selling lamb
4. Close-up of butcher hanging lamb
5. Close-up of sign reading (Greek) Fresh lamb - 6.99 (per kilo) - Romanian
6. Close-up of meat on chopping block
7. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Name not given, butcher:
They don't have money. This week we've sold 70 lambs, which is nothing. Huge crisis.
8. Wide of lamb hanging in stall with sign reading (Greek) Whatever you buy - 5.99 (per kilo)
9. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Name not given, male shopper:
They're asking for a lot of money. We can't buy anything. We must find something else to eat. Not lamb.
Athens - 15 April 2009
10. Set-up of Charalambos Delintadakis, member of the administrative council of INKA-General Consumer Federation of Greece, sitting at desk
11. Close-up of INKA brochure
12. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Charalambos Delintadakis, member of the administrative council of INKA-General Consumer Federation of Greece:
Shopping traffic is down. We estimate that at the end of the Easter shopping period, we will have a reduction in traffic, compared to last year, of about 20 percent. This is happening not because prices have risen, but because peoples' income has dropped because of the bad financial situation.
Athens - 14 April 2009
13. Wide exterior of shop selling candy and Easter goods
14. Close-up of traditional fabric eggs that contain chocolate eggs
15. Decorative Easter objects
16. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Name not given, male shopper:
They will spend money. Greeks are people who truly want to have a good time, so I believe they've saved up some money.
Athens - 15 April 2009
17. Wide of Aristokratikon chocolate shop
18. People in chocolate shop
19. Workers inside shop helping customers
20. Close-up of handmade, weaved chocolate eggs
21. Close-up of melted chocolate being mixed
22. Worker dipping chocolate bonbon into melted chocolate and placing on tray
23. Wide of workers making chocolate candies
24. Close-up of worker dropping hazelnuts into melted chocolate and forming into shape
25. SOUNDBITE (Greek) George Bitsopoulos, owner of Aristokratikon Confiserie:
It is a tradition in which surely the godparent will buy a chocolate egg, a bunny, a chicken. Anything chocolate. It has remained a tradition.
26. Wide of store selling Easter goods
27. Close-up of wreath with bunnies reading (English) Happy Easter
28. Close-up of decorated candles
29. Wide of shop with man paying
STORYLINE:
Greeks geared up for the upcoming Easter holiday by hitting the streets for traditional holiday goods despite the financial crisis.
Butchers at the meat market shouted their prices in an effort to lure customers to buy lamb and entrails for traditional Easter meals.
Despite the huge crowds, one butcher blamed the economic crisis for very few lambs being sold just days before Orthodox Easter, this Sunday, April 19.
One buyer complained the prices were too high and said he would look to something other than lamb for his Easter meal.
According to Charalambos Delintadakis, who is a member of the administrative council of the INKA-General Consumer Federation of Greece, the prospects for the Easter market are not good.
He said that while prices haven't gone up significantly, Greeks' purchasing power has dropped because of the financial crisis. He added that prices should have dropped by about 30 percent in order for Greeks to have the buying power they had this time last year.
But other Greeks cast their financial problems aside in favour of tradition.
He says the custom of godparents buying chocolates for their godchildren still holds strong.
You can license this story through AP Archive:
Find out more about AP Archive: