<P> In Commonwealth nations Easter Day is rarely a public holiday, as is the case for celebrations which fall on a Sunday . In the United Kingdom both Good Friday and Easter Monday are bank holidays . However, in Canada Easter Sunday is a public holiday, along with Easter Monday . In the Canadian province of Quebec, either Good Friday or Easter Monday are statutory holidays (although most companies give both). In some countries Good Friday is a public holiday as well . </P> <P> In Australia, because of its location in the southern hemisphere, Easter takes place in autumn . Hence, Australian Easter is associated with harvest time, rather than with the coming of spring as in the northern hemisphere . The religious aspect of Easter remains the same . Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays across all states and territories . "Easter Saturday" (the Saturday before Easter Sunday) is a public holiday in every state except Tasmania and Western Australia, while Easter Sunday itself is a public holiday only in New South Wales . Easter Tuesday is additionally a conditional public holiday in Tasmania, varying between award, and was also a public holiday in Victoria until 1994 . </P> <P> In the United States, because Easter falls on a Sunday, which is already a non-working day for federal and state employees, it has not been designated as a federal or state holiday . Easter parades are held in many American cities, involving festive strolling processions, with the New York City parade being the best known . </P> <P> The egg is an ancient symbol of new life and rebirth . In Christianity it became associated with Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection . The custom of the Easter egg originated in the early Christian community of Mesopotamia, who stained eggs red in memory of the blood of Christ, shed at his crucifixion . As such, for Christians, the Easter egg is a symbol of the empty tomb . The oldest tradition is to use dyed chicken eggs, but a modern custom is to substitute decorated chocolate, or plastic eggs filled with candy such as jellybeans . </P>

When did easter become a holiday in the us
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