Easter is a time of joy. Spring has come and new life awakens in nature. Even in pagan times there was a spring festival called Eastre, named for the goddess of spring and dawn.

Varied and beautiful customs, symbols, and legends have been handed down for many centuries and are a part of Easter celebrations today. Some were adopted from pagan festivals and were given a Christian meaning. Others were taken from the Jewish Passover, celebrated everywhere since Biblical times.

Here are the happy stories of Easter eggs and the Easter rabbit. Delightful customs and legends from around the world are retold in vivid detail. Children everywhere celebrate Easter in many of the same ways: There is Pace egging in England, egg rolling on the White House lawn, and egg gathering in many lands. Egg dyeing is a special art in a number of European countries. The delightful German legend of the original Easter rabbit is sure to appeal to all young readers.

Lillie Patterson weaves a wealth of bright an colorful songs and poems into this book full of Easter lore. A skilled storyteller and librarian, Mrs. Patterson is the author of Garrard's Halloween and Birthdays.

From the dust jacket