The festival of Easter is celebrated to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after crucifixion. It is one of the holiest Christian festivals. The Easter Day also traditionally heralds the advent of the spring season after the gloomy months of winter. As such Easter festival is associated with joyous merriment and gaiety.
Like many other Christian festivals, Easter has also emerged from ancient pagan roots. It is an amalgamation of a myriad of Pagan, Hebrew and Christian traditions. Easter incorporates pagan symbology of fertility in the shape of the Easter bunny and Easter eggs. The name of the festival, Easter, itself may be a offshoot of Eostre, pagan Goddess of Spring.
Notwithstanding the religious flavor, the celebration of Easter festival transcends the confines of Christian church. Easter celebration has always been synonymous with merry-making and enjoyment. Because of this aspect, the recent years have witnessed increasing commercialization of the Easter festival. Today during Easter holidays, sale of greeting cards and confectionery such as chocolate Easter eggs, marshmallow bunnies, Peeps, and jelly beans prove to be big hits.