ASundaybetweenMarch22andApril25

　　ThemeaningofmanydifferentcustomsobservedduringEasterSundayhavebeenburiedwithtime.Theiroriginslieinpre-ChristianreligionsandChristianity.Allinsomewayoranotherarea"salutetospring,"markingre-birth.ThewhiteEasterlilyhascometocapturethegloryoftheholiday.Theword"Easter"isnamedafterEastre,theAnglo-Saxongoddessofspring.Afestivalwasheldinherhonoreveryyearatthevernalequinox（春分）.

　　Peoplecelebratetheholidayaccordingtotheirbeliefsandtheirreligiousdenominations（命名）.ChristianscommemorateGoodFridayasthedaythatJesusChristdiedandEasterSundayasthedaythatHewasresurrected（复活）.Protestantsettlersbroughtthecustomofasunriseservice,areligiousgatheringatdawn,totheUnitedStates.

　　ThisyearEasterwillbecelebratedonSundayApril11,2004.OnEasterSundaychildrenwakeuptofindthattheEasterBunnyhasleftthembasketsofcandy.Hehasalsohiddentheeggsthattheydecoratedearlierthatweek.Childrenhuntfortheeggsallaroundthehouse.NeighborhoodsandorganizationsholdEasteregghunts,andthechildwhofindsthemosteggswinsaprize.

　　TheEasterBunnyisarabbit-spirit.Longago,hewascalledthe"EasterHare."Haresandrabbitshavefrequentmultiplebirthssotheybecameasymboloffertility.ThecustomofanEasteregghuntbeganbecausechildrenbelievedthathareslaideggsinthegrass.TheRomansbelievedthat"Alllifecomesfromanegg."Christiansconsidereggstobe"theseedoflife"andsotheyaresymbolicoftheresurrectionofJesusChrist.

　　Whywedye,orcolor,anddecorateeggsisnotcertain.InancientEgypt,Greece,RomeandPersiaeggsweredyedforspringfestivals.InmedievalEurope,beautifullydecoratedeggsweregivenasgifts.

　　EggRolling

　　InEngland,Germanyandsomeothercountries,childrenrolledeggsdownhillsonEastermorning,agamewhichhasbeenconnectedtotherollingawayoftherockfromJesusChrist'stombwhenhewasresurrected.BritishsettlersbroughtthiscustomtotheNewWorld.

　　IntheUnitedStatesintheearlynineteenthcentury,DollyMadison,thewifeofthefourthAmericanPresident,organizedaneggrollinWashington,D.C.ShehadbeentoldthatEgyptianchildrenusedtorolleggsagainstthepyramidssosheinvitedthechildrenofWashingtontorollhard-boiledeggsdownthehillylawnofthenewCapitolbuilding!Thecustomcontinued,exceptfortheyearsduringtheCivilWar.In1880,theFirstLadyinvitedchildrentotheWhiteHousefortheEggRollbecauseofficialshadcomplainedthattheywereruiningtheCapitollawn.Ithasbeenheldthereeversincethen,onlycanceledduringtimesofwar.Theeventhasgrown,andtodayEasterMondayistheonlydayoftheyearwhentouristsareallowedtowanderovertheWhiteHouselawn.ThewifeofthePresidentsponsorsitforthechildrenoftheentirecountry.Theeggrollingeventisopentochildrentwelveyearsoldandunder.Adultsareallowedonlywhenaccompaniedbychildren!

　　Traditionally,manycelebrants（司仪神父）boughtnewclothesforEasterwhichtheyworetochurch.Afterchurchservices,everyonewentforawalkaroundthetown.ThisledtotheAmericancustomofEasterparadesalloverthecountry.PerhapsthemostfamousisalongFifthAvenueinNewYorkCity.

　　GoodFridayisafederalholidayin16statesandmanyschoolsandbusinessesthroughouttheU.S.are