Who doesn't love an egg hunt? Or at least watching the kids enjoy the egg hunt? Ahead of Easter on Sunday, March 31, there will be plenty of opportunities for egg hunts and visits with the Easter Bunny. There is even an Easter-themed cookie decorating class.

Here are some of the events taking place on the South Shore:

Starland Sportsplex and Fun Park will host an Easter party from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 30. The event will include bounce houses, crafts, face painting, cornhole, pictures with the Easter Bunny and an egg hunt. Starland Sportsplex and Fun Park is at 637 Washington St., Hanover.

The United Church of Christ in Norwell will host an egg hunt from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 30. The egg hunt is rain or shine, and will include a DJ, a petting zoo, face tattoos and Easter crafts. Tickets must be reserved for children and bring a basket for the egg hunt. The United Church of Christ is at 460 Main St. in Norwell.

The Plimoth General Store will host an Easter-themed cookie decorating class from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, March 30. In addition to learning the basics of sugar cookies, there will also be a visit from the Easter Bunny. Plimoth General Store & Eatery is at 44 Main St. in Plymouth.

The Irish Cultural Centre will host an Easter family breakfast and egg hunt from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30. The Easter Bunny will be on-site alongside a full morning of arts and crafts, music, song and dance and a buffet-style breakfast, followed by an egg hunt. Tickets are required. The Irish Cultural Centre is at 200 New Boston Drive in Canton.

First Parish of Cohasset will host an egg hunt from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23. The Easter egg hunt will take place on the grounds of the Parish House, or inside, depending on the weather. There will be games, crafts, pictures with the Easter Bunny and prizes. Individual registration is required. Parish House is at 23 North Main St., Cohasset. 

The Arc of the South Shore will host its second annual Easter Bunny Bash in partnership with the Derby Street Shops on Friday, March 29. The event will be offered in two sessions, the first starting at 10 a.m. and the second at noon. Both sessions will be held on the Derby Street Green between REI and Kohl’s.

The Bunny Bash will feature an egg hunt, face painting and photos with the Easter Bunny. The rain-or-shine event is bring your own basket. Registration is required. The Derby Street Shops are at 92-98 Derby St., Hingham.

North River Church in Pembroke will host an egg hunt for ages 2 to seventh grade at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 23. There will be three age categories, prizes, candy and a petting zoo. No registration is necessary. The church is at 334 Old Oak St., Pembroke.

The Scituate Recreation Department will host its 29th annual egg hunt at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30. The egg hunt is most appropriate for ages 3 to 6. Bring a basket and expect a special visitor. Registration is not required. The egg hunt will take place at Widow's Walk Golf Course, 250 Driftway, Scituate.

Paragon Carousel will open Easter weekend with two days of fun. Saturday, March 30, will include photos with the Easter Bunny from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Easter, the carousel will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and an egg hunt will take place at noon. The carousel is at 205 Nantasket Ave., Hull.

Ryan's Hanover Crossing will host an egg hunt and buffet breakfast from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 30. There will be a massive egg hunt throughout Ryan's, where eggs will be stashed among the games. Each plastic egg will hold a treat, ranging from candy to $10 and $25 Ryan’s cards. There will also be photos with the Easter Bunny and a buffet breakfast. Tickets can be purchased at RyanFamily.com or at Ryan's Hanover Crossing. Ryan's is on Route 53 in Hanover Crossing.

Easter egg huts and egg rolling have no religious significance, although some have said egg rolling may be symbolic of the stone being rolled away from the front of Jesus' tomb, according to History.com.

The first White House Easter egg roll took place in 1878. It's an annual event that takes place the Monday after Easter.

But the eggs themselves perhaps have more significance.

Easter eggs, are likely linked to pagan traditions, History.com said.

"The egg, an ancient symbol of new life, has been associated with pagan festivals celebrating spring. From a Christian perspective, Easter eggs are said to represent Jesus’ emergence from the tomb and resurrection." 

Decorating eggs goes back to at least the 13th century.

"One explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during Lent, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration," according to History.com.

Easter arrives Sunday, March 31.

Easter for Western Christians can never occur before March 22 nor later than April 25, according to the Astronomical Applications Department.

Easter varies every year because the date depends on the moon, sort of. The holiday coincides with the first Sunday after the paschal full moon, which is the first full moon after the vernal equinox, or the first day of astronomical spring, according to Almanac.com.

The vernal equinox occurred March 19 this year. The first full moon will be March 25, making Easter on March 31, the first Sunday after the arrival of the full moon.

However, the Christian church has a fixed date − March 21, which is called the ecclesiastical date − for the full moon and March equinox. But that date doesn't always line up with the astronomical start of spring known as the vernal equinox.

Sometimes, that means a very late Easter, which is what happened in 2019. In that year, the ecclesiastical full moon occurred before the ecclesiastical vernal equinox, which meant Easter would not be observed until after the next full moon (the paschal full moon) in mid-April. So that's why Easter was celebrated on Sunday, April 21, in 2019, according to Almanac.com.  

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