Easter -- like many holidays around the world -- combine religious and secular celebrations. For Christians, Easter celebrates the resurrection of Christ following his crucifixion and redemption of mankind from sin, and is the most important of the religious holidays.

But the holiday also occurs in the Spring, a time of natural renewal following Winter. This was a holiday celebrated by many non-Christians and pre-Christians, as it still is. The renewal of Spring is symbolized by many fertility symbols, including eggs and rabbits.

The two celebrations -- both dealing with renewal -- have merged in secular Western societies.