A sweet tooth for Easter is alive and well on both sides of the Atlantic — but the methods (and sugar levels) vary.

If there’s one thing Swedes and Americans can agree on during Easter, it’s this: forget moderation, it's time for Easter Candy Mania. While one nation celebrates with gelée bunnies and chocolate-covered everything, the other dives face-first into a candy avalanche stored in pastel-colored paper eggs. Both countries have developed full-blown Easter candy rituals — but how did Jesus's resurrection turn into a national candy binge?

Let’s start with the Swedes.

Sweden: Where Easter Means Candy... and More Candy

In Sweden, Easter has become THE weekend of candy-eating. Yes, even more than Christmas and Halloween. This sweet tradition is rooted in a centuries-old combination of religion, rebellion, and refined sugar.

“Historically, Easter followed a fasting period — and when the fast ended, people celebrated with sweets,” he explains. “That idea has stuck around, while the religious parts... not so much.”

Today, Swedes associate Easter with big family gatherings, egg hunts, and giving away large decorative eggs (påskägg) stuffed with candy — from sour gummies to licorice so salty it could knock out an unsuspecting tourist. Sugar has made the full-class journey too: once a luxury item reserved for royalties and the rich, it’s now the cornerstone of a widespread treat culture. Candy isn’t just candy; it’s fika fuel, a reward system, and an emotional support snack rolled into one.

America: Land of Chocolate Bunnies and Sugar Debates

Meanwhile in the U.S., candy takes center stage too. According to the National Confectioners Association, Americans spent over $5 billion on candy during the Easter season in 2023 alone. That's a whole lot of marshmallow Peeps and hollow chocolate bunnies.

Some essential stats:

• 92% of Americans who celebrate Easter include candy.
• 85% of Easter baskets are stuffed with sugary seasonal staples.
• Americans eat chocolate or candy 2–3 times a week

And the great existential question isn’t whether to eat candy, but how. According to the association, 78% of Americans start eating their chocolate bunny by biting off their ears first. 16% go for the feet. A rebellious 6%? They start with the tail. Madness.

The Verdict: Sweetness Wins

So what unites Sweden and America at Easter? Candy—lots of it. Swedes may have perfected the art of “lördagsgodis” (Saturday candy) and transformed Easter into a national candy fiesta, but Americans turn candy into a sport too—with strategy, seasonal packaging, and chocolate bunny debates.

Happy Easter!