Except for tax collection in some North American countries, Easter is a pretty joyous time of year. Most Easter cards tend to reflect this, with pictures of plush cartoon  bunnies, or spring flowers. But not all.

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From the earliest days of Christianity, the anniversary of Jesus' resurrection was celebrated after the first full moon of the first month of the Jewish calendar. Therefore, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (March 21). The Eastern Orthodox Church always celebrates Easter after Passover, so the Western and Eastern dates often are different from one another.

The name Easter is derived from Eostre, an ancient Anglo-Saxon goddess, originally of the dawn. In pagan times an annual spring festival was held in her honor. Some Easter customs have come from this and other pre-Christian spring festivals. Others come from the Jewish feast of Passover, observed in memory of the Jews' deliverance from Egypt.

The "Easter bunny" legend probably began with the hare, a symbol of the moon. It may have become associated with Easter because the moon is used to determine the date of Easter, in accordance with tenets established by the Council of Nicea in 325 A.D.

The "Easter egg" symbolism is more difficult to establish. Some have speculated that the egg's shell can be seen as a nurturing, life giving tomb, and the hatching chick represents the resurrection of Christ emerging from the tomb.

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