Easter is a springtime festival. In Christian countries Easter is celebrated as the religious holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the son of God.
But Easter celebrations have many customs and legends that are pagan in origin and have nothing to do with Christianity.
Scholars believe the word Easter comes from the Scandinavian 'Ostra' and the Teutonic 'Ostern' or 'Eastre', who were mythical goddesses who repre sented spring and fertility. Their festival was celebrated on the day of the spring equinox.
Traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colours to represent the sunlight of spring.
The Christian celebration of Easter embodies a number of converging traditions with emphasis on the relationship of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover or Pesach.
Passover is an important feast in the Jewish calendar which is celebrated for eight days and commemorates the flight of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land.