Easter traditions originate from pagan celebrations of spring, with the date being the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Eggs have symbolic meanings tied to new life and were incorporated into Christian Easter traditions in the 4th century when they began being blessed in church. The traditions of decorating eggs and the Easter Bunny originated in Germany, where a woman colored eggs as gifts for children and a story developed of the Easter Bunny laying the eggs instead of hens. For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave.

1. Easter Traditions Name and date come from a pagan feast commemorating the Spring Sun

2. Celebration Date First Sunday following the first full moon after the first day of spring Comes close to Passover, but no longer tied to that date!

3. Easter Traditions Eggs tied to Easter - also of heathen origin

4. Easter Traditions Beginning of life Most creation stories show the earth as an egg Eggs offered as sacrifices to propitiate (appease) the spirits

5. Easter Traditions Eggs were brought to the church in the 4th century to be blessed at Easter -- some Jews use colored eggs at Passover too

6. Easter Traditions Hare and eggs appear to have originated in Germany

7. Easter Traditions Christian German woman wanted to give a gift to the children of her village - eggs were all she could afford

8. Easter Traditions She boiled the eggs with roots and mosses to color them (God makes fruits and berries pretty as well as good tasting)

9. Easter Traditions The children thought that the hens laid the colored eggs, but one little girl said no, it couldn’t have been hens - it must have been a hare!

10. Easter Traditions Meaning for Christians: Rising of Jesus from the grave (resurrection)