Easter is the celebration of springtime. It is celebrated to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is believed that the name Easter comes from "Eastre," the Godess of fertility whose festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox. Easter is observed on the first Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox (March 2I). Easter can thus fall anytime between March to April.

Inspite of being a Christian festival Easter has many associated customs and legends that are pagan in origin. A tradition associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring.

Of all the symbols associated with Easter the egg, the symbol of fertility and new life, is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries. Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were given away as gifts.

Different cultures have developed their own ways of decorating Easter eggs. In Greece the celebrations begin on On Holy Saturday evening when the Resurrection mass takes place. At midnight the ceremony of lighting of candles is held, this is a deeply significant moment. The lighted candles are then taken home to keep the light burning throughout the year. The Lenten fast ends on Easter Sunday with the cracking of crimson eggs and an outdoor feast of roast lamb followed by dancing.

In parts of Germany and Austria green eggs are used on Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday). Slavic peoples decorate their eggs in special patterns of gold and silver.In Austria the decoration of the eggs is an elaborate custom where considerable effort goes into decorating the eggs with ferns and plant designs around the egg.

The Poles and Ukrainians decorate eggs with simple designs and colors. A number of eggs are made in the distinctive manner called pysanki which means to design.

In Germany hollow eggs were dyed and hung from shrubs and trees during the Easter Week. The Armenians would decorate hollow eggs with pictures of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and other religious designs.

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