A new survey on Easter in Romania reveals that most, but not all, know that the religious festival marks the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Christian belief. However, some Romanians, 5 percent, thought that Easter celebrated the birth of Christ.

The results also show how Romanians mark, or not, Easter. Some 75 percent of Romanians surveyed said they would work over Easter, more than the 59 percent who said they would go to church, according to local news agency Mediafax.

A third of those surveyed said that traditional Easter events are celebrated in their local area and of them, 78 percent said they would join in the local festivities.

Around 20 percent of those surveyed said they had already been to confession ahead of Easter, a further 40 percent said they intend to confess their sins while the remaining 39 percent indicated that they do not go to confession.

When it come to fasting for Lent, some 70 percent say they follow the tradition, but only 9 percent fast for the entire period. Some 14 percent of respondents say they will fast on Good Friday, while 29 percent say they do not fast for Lent – a higher figure than in previous years.

When it comes to food, a little under half – 45 percent – said they would be eating lamb for Easter.

Meanwhile, home-brewed wine appears to be the most popular drink for the religious festival, being the Easter drink of choice for 48 percent of those interviewed. Beer comes a distant second – 15 percent – and 9 percent are looking forward to a nip of brandy. But alcohol isn't for everyone and 16 percent said they do not drink over Easter.

The most popular Easter activity, ahead of going to church, confession or local festivals, is painting eggs, with a whopping 95 percent saying they do so. On the other had, only 6 percent said they will go on holiday trips; the vast majority spend Easter at home with family.

On the financial side, the situation appears more optimistic, with 38 percent of respondents saying they have enough money to cover everything they want for Easter, compared to only 22 percent in 2011. Those who buy presents for friends and family and those who don't are split almost exactly half and half. Among the respondents planning on buying gifts, 48 percent said the presents would be more modest than in previous years. A third of those surveyed said they always make some kind of charitable donation for Easter, half said they sometime donate, while 11 percent said they never give money to charity during Easter. This year, 67 percent of those surveyed plan on giving to charity.

The survey was carried out between April 24 and April 25 by the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy (IRES) on 1,500 people aged 18 or over.

editor@romania-insider.com