Easter Sunday is coming and churches are preparing for special services, whether it's a traditional sunrise service or the big service at the Ford Center.

But where do our Easter traditions come from? The day is exciting for kids who search for hidden eggs and place them in seasonal baskets. But that tradition goes back 2,000 years before Christ when Babylonian families celebrated the resurrection of their god, Tammuz.

First, the date. Easter can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25. The date is determined by the Jewish Passover and the Jewish holiday calendar is based on solar and lunar cycles. The easiest explanation of the date is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Where does the name come from? It's based on the name of the ancient goddess of fertility.

The Easter Bunny and Easter Eggs are symbols of fertility. So the common Easter experience is based on Pagan traditions.

I've joined many of my friends in abandoning references to Easter and instead calling this Sunday "Resurrection Day." After all, that's really what the day is supposed to be about, right? Sunday is less about the traditions and more about the hope that comes from the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Have a great "Resurrection Day."

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