Easter

Encyclopedia Britannica-Easter-popular customs
"Around the Christian observance of Easter as the climax of the Liturgical Drama of holy week and good Friday folk customs have collected, many of which have been handed down from the ancient ceremonial and symbolism of the pagan spring festival brought into relation with the resurrection theme. When the medieval miracle plays of Northern and Central Europe came to an end in the 6th century, under the pressure of the reformation, the way was open for the gradual revival of the calendar customs and folk drama, in spite of puritan opposition of revels, acting and dancing. Thus the liturgical portrayal of the death and resurrection of Christ enacted in the ecclesiastical Easter plays gradually found its secular counterpart in the popular survivals of the ancient seasonal ritual connected with the spring equinox.
These took a variety of forms which Easter eggs, formerly forbidden to be eaten during Lent have been very prominent as symbols of new life and resurrection. In Lancashire on Easter eve boys and men have been in the habit of touring the town and village as 'pace eggers'. Begging for eggs before performing the 'pace egging' or pasch (Easter) play. This was the Easter version of the St George mummer's play. This death and resurrection theme recurs in the sword dances which were also of frequent occurance among the traditional ritual dances at this season. The widespread belief that the sun danced for joy on Easter morning at dawn led to the custom of going to the hills at sunrise to see and take part in this event. A practice that was still prevelent in the British Isles in the 19th century. Rolling colored eggs down slopes on Easter Monday remains a popular observance especially in the North of England. Formerly Easter eggs, sometimes were consecrated for ceremonial use in churches, and at Chester Cathedral the bishop and dean are said to have engaged in an egg- throwing match with the choir boys when the antiphon Quem Qaeritis was sung on Easter Day.
The hare, the symbol of fertility in ancient Egypt, a symbolism which is kept in Europe is not found in North America and its place is taken by the Easter Rabbit, the symbol of fertility and periodicity both human and lunar accredited with laying eggs in nests prepared for it at Easter, or with hiding them away for children to find. But it was not until the later part of the 19th century, especially during the civil war, that Easter customs were observed in the U.S. except in a few states, such as Louisianna and Virginia, not dominated by the Puritan element. Then those who had died in the war were commorated in the churches which were decorated with flowers on Easter Day. This brought the festival into prominence and gradually some of the folk customs were revived, notably under Irish influence."

Funk and Wagnall Encyclopedia- Easter
"Annual festival commerating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principle feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on Sunday on varying dates between Mar 22nd and Apr 25th, and it is therefore called a moveable feast. The dates of several ecclesiastical festivals, extending over a period between septuagesima Sunday (the ninth Sunday before Easter and the first Sunday of Advent, are fixed in relation to the date of Easter.)
Connected with the observance of Easter are the forty-day penintential season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding at midnight on holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday; holy week, commencing on Palm Sunday, including Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion and terminating with holy Saturday and the Octave of Easter, extending from Easter Sunday through the following Sunday. During the octave of Easter in early Christian times, the newly baptized wore white garments. White being the liturgical color of Easter and signifying light, purity and joy.
Pre-Christian tradition -Easter, a Christian festival, embodies many pre-Christian traditions. The origin of its name is unknown. Scholars however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th century English scholar, Saint Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April, her festival celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter Rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colored Easter eggs, originally painted with gay hues to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Eaaster- egg rolling contests or given as gifts.
Such festivals and myths and legends that explain their origin, were common in ancient religions. A Greek myth tells of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day; her return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolatiion of winter. Many ancient peoples shared similiar legends. The Phrygians believed that their omnipotent deity went to sleep at the time of the winter solstice and they preformed ceremonies with music and dancing at the spring equinox to awaken him. The Christian festival of Easter probably embodies a number of converging traditions; most scholars emphasize the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pasch. The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commeration of the advent of the Messiah foretold by the prophets."