The 2,000-year-old Christian holiday marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ—but some of its modern traditions have pagan origins as symbols of new life.

The Easter Bunny, with its eggs and baskets, has little to do with the biblical story of Jesus’ resurrection. This might make many wonder where the odd tradition began.

“When we get to celebrate the two of them, Friday and Easter, we get the full picture. Jesus died for our sins so that we could be saved and if we trust in him we have eternal life,” said Kraus.

Kraus says for Christians, Easter is a day of reflection on Jesus rising from the dead. But is the word Easter in the bible? “There’s one spot in the King James Version which is 400 years old.

In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the date of Easter also varies. This branch follows the Julian calendar, meaning Orthodox Easter falls between April 4 and May 8, the History Channel reported.

For Christians, the Easter holiday signifies the end of the Lenten season and the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. But the spring celebration is so much more than that for young children. It's ...