Blooming flowers and warming temperatures conjure thoughts of springtime, the ultimate season of rebirth. And Easter, a well-known springtime holiday, is also a celebration of rebirth. Each year, North Carolinians put on their Sunday best to join family and friends in the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Christ. However, many of the common customs and traditions associated with Easter have little religious bearing. The Easter Bunny and colorful Easter eggs originated as symbols of fertility and new life, and as part of a celebration of the vernal equinox.

Children often look forward to the Easter morning visit of the Easter Bunny, delivery of Easter baskets filled with sweets and gifts, and a search for hidden Easter eggs. These traditions have roots in early folklore.

“It’s the best guess that the Christian faith borrowed the Easter Bunny from festivals going on around Easter time,” says Wake County Farm Bureau Member Steve Wright, associate pastor at Providence Baptist Church. “It was easy for Christians to incorporate the bunny because it was viewed as an innocent creature, like the lamb, as a representation for Christ.”

Easter eggs came about in much the same fashion. “The egg represents new birth,” says Wright. “Originally, when the eggs were used as teaching tools, they were painted red to remind the children of the blood of Christ.”

While children are celebrating with whimsical games and traditions, adults are often celebrating with the end of the Lenten season. Lent is the 40-day observance of fasting and repentance that leads up to Easter Sunday. During this time, adults typically give up something of indulgence. The roots of this can be traced back to Jesus’ 40-day wandering in the desert, where he faced numerous temptations from the devil.

There are additional Easter-like celebrations outside of the Protestant observances. Orthodox Christians also celebrate Easter, although it frequently falls on a different day than Western Easter. Protestant and Catholic Easter is observed on the first Sunday after the full moon on or before March 21—the spring equinox. Orthodox Easter coincides with the date of Passover. Incidentally, both Easters fall on the same Sunday in 2010.

Passover is the traditional eight-day Jewish celebration of the freedom of Israelites from slavery in Egypt.

Whether a religious observance or not, Easter is often a time of springtime celebration for many families. Parents hide eggs for their children, the Easter Bunny delivers baskets of goodies and families gather for decadent brunch feasts. Check out the following page for a sampling of Easter celebrations occurring across the state this spring.

Easter Eats
Easter Brunch at the
Ballantyne Resort, Charlotte
Sunday, April 4 in the Ballantyne Ballroom from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Advance reservations are required. Call (704) 248-4100. $55 plus tax and gratuity per adult; $28 ages 5 to 12; complimentary for children ages 4 and younger.

Easter at the Biltmore, Asheville
Sunday, April 4. Easter brunch will be available at the Deerpark Restaurant or the Inn on Biltmore Estate, and Easter lunch at the Bistro or Stable Café. For Biltmore information, call (800) 411-3812.

Egg Hunts and Activities
Alligator Egg Hunt at the North Carolina Aquarium, Fort Fisher
Saturday, March 27, Friday, April 2, and Saturday, April 3 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Kids get to see a live baby alligator and learn about these fascinating animals. They create their own special alligator egg basket and then go search for candy filled “alligator eggs.” Recommended for kids ages 3 to 10. Limited space is available. Ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Fee: $8 per child plus admission. Adults will need to pay admission to Aquarium. Pre-registration required by March 24 for March 27 programs and March 31 for April 2-3 programs. Call (910) 458-7426 for registration.

Battleship North Carolina Easter Egg Hunt, Wilmington
Friday, April 2, 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Join us for a fun-filled Easter egg hunt in Battleship Park. Children will find fun, eggs, candy, games and the Easter Bunny. This wonderful holiday activity is only $5 per child. Pre-registration is required. Call (910) 251-5797 for more information.
Easter Egg Hunt at Historical Latta Plantation, Huntersville
Saturday, April 3. Children ages 1 to 10 can hunt for toy- and candy-filled eggs across the plantation! Hunts will be at 11 a.m. (ages 1 through 3), 12:30 p.m. (ages 4 through 6) and 2 p.m. (ages 7 through 10). There will be grand prize eggs hidden for each age group. Children can also visit the farm animals, tour the plantation house and see the Easter Bunny on the covered wagon. The cost is $5 per child (two free adults per child, additional adults pay regular site admission.) Pre-registration is required.

Kitty Hawk Kites Easter
Eggstravaganza, Nags Head
Saturday, April 3. Kitty Hawk Kites, Nags Head. Largest Easter egg hunt on the Outer Banks. More than 2,000 candy and toy-filled eggs are waiting to be collected. Call (877) FLY-THIS, (252) 441-4124 or visit kittyhawkkites.com for more information.

Easter at the Biltmore, Asheville
Sunday, April 4. Easter egg hunts at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Registration begins at 9 a.m. and ends 15 minutes prior to each hunt.) Festivities are open to children ages 2 through 9. Visits and photos with the Easter Rabbit from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Children’s music and storytelling at 9:45 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Magic shows at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Coloring pages, word finds and crafts from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For Biltmore information, call (800) 411-3812 or (828) 225-1333.

Special Easter Celebrations
Easter “Bunny” Drawn Tours, Wilmington
April 2-4, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The world’s largest “Easter bunnies” offer Easter “bunny” drawn tours from Horsedrawn Tours in Wilmington. Experience the picturesque beauty of spring in historic downtown Wilmington. Departs from Water & Market Streets. Free surprises for children. $12 per adult, $5 per child under 12. No reservations. Call (910) 251-8889 for more information.

The Message of Easter:
An Outdoor Drama, Piney Grove
Saturday, March 27, Sunday, March 28 and Wednesday, March 31 through Sunday, April 4 at 8 p.m. in Piney Grove. The Message of Easter is a 90-minute outdoor drama taken directly from the scriptures and interpreted to glorify God. Presented by Piney Grove Baptist Church. Call the Drama information line at (252) 792-2954 for more information.

Special Easter Services
Easter Sunrise Service of the Moravian Church, Winston-Salem
Sunday, April 4 at 6:30 a.m. The Easter sunrise service of the Moravian church begins in front of Home Moravian Church on Salem Square in Winston-Salem and concludes in God’s Acre, the Salem Moravian Graveyard. The service includes a liturgy, and the congregation procession will be accompanied by the Salem Congregation Band. Visit www.home-moravian.org for more information.

55th Annual Easter Sunrise
Service, Chimney Rock
Sunday, April 4 at 6:30 a.m. Celebrate the glory of Easter at this interdenominational community worship. This special service will be filled with song, scripture, music and spectacular sunrise views over beautiful Lake Lure and Hickory Nut Gorge. John Mason, the park’s featured hammered dulcimer player, will perform. Arrive early, dress warmly and bring a flashlight. Gates open 5-6 a.m.; service 6:30 a.m.