EASTER celebrations are a moveable feast that take place on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox on March 21 - usually any time between March 22 and April 25.

Easter began as a pagan festival when Saxons celebrated their goddess of offspring and springtime, Eastre.

As this coincided with the early Christians' observance of the Resurrection of Christ, Easter eventually became a religious commemoration and changed to its modern day spelling, although many of the pagan traditions are still evident today.

Eastre was worshipped as her earthly symbol, which was a rabbit representing fertility, hence the Easter bunny.

Another symbol of rebirth and fertility, eggs were originally exchanged by lovers as a gift.

In medieval times they were thrown between choirboys with whoever was left holding the egg as the clock struck 12 being declared the winner.

The Romans also gave eggs as prizes in their Easter races and hunting for eggs or rolling them down hills is a modern day version of these games.

Although these days the cross represents the crucifixion, the tradition of eating hot cross buns dates back to pre-Christian times when pagans baked the cakes with a cross to represent a bull's horns or the moon and four quarters. Hot cross buns were said to have miraculous powers and were hung on doors to protect homes from evil. They were also used in powdered form to treat all sorts of illness and baked hard so they would never go mouldy.

The origins of Simnel cake are equally diverse with the Romans and Athenians both developing a taste for its dried fruit and fragrant spices.

In Britain, the Shrewsbury Simnel was formerly enjoyed on Mothering Sunday.

Now it is traditional Easter fair decorated with almond paste and 11 dough balls to represent the apostles excluding Judas.