traditions

Distaff Day, also called Roc Day, is 7 January, the day after the feast of the Epiphany. In many European cultural traditions, women resumed their household work after the twelve days of Christmas. The distaff, used in spinning, was the mediaeval symbol of women's work.

Some modern women's craft groups have taken up the celebration of Distaff day as part of their new year celebrations.

Santa Claus with two children sitting on his lap and four children gathered around him for a photo in a room in Chicago in 1929. DN-0090223, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago Historical Society.

Several rituals have developed around the Santa Claus figure that are normally performed by children hoping to receive gifts from him.

Serbian Easter eggs

Easter eggs are specially decorated eggs given out to celebrate the Easter holiday. The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute eggs made from chocolate, or plastic eggs filled with candy such as jellybeans.

The Easter Bunny (also known as Spring Bunny in the United States) is a fantasy or mythological rabbit which leaves gifts for children at Easter (or at Springtime). It originates in Western European cultures, where it however is a hare rather than a rabbit.

In many European countries, there are various traditions surrounding the use of bread during the Easter holiday.

A Bermuda kite

As with many other Christian dates, the celebration of Easter extends beyond the church. Since its origins, it has been a time of celebration and feasting. Today it is commercially important, seeing wide sales of greeting cards and confectionery such as chocolate Easter eggs, marshmallow bunnies, Peeps, and jelly beans.