From the New England Historical Society:

“Easter Sunday traditions in New England have long included dying eggs, wearing new clothes, baking hot cross buns and attending sunrise services. They are based on pagan superstitions, which of course is why the Puritans didn’t celebrate the holiday. (The Puritans didn’t like Christmas, either.) For the early Puritans, celebrating the Lord’s Day 52 times a year was quite enough.

“Others brought traditions from Europe. Germans believed, for example, that rabbits laid beautifully colored eggs on Easter.

“Franco-Americans rose before the sun came up to fetch water, which they called Peau de Paques (Easter skin) from a stream. They believed it had miraculous qualities, staying pure indefinitely. They washed with it, drank it and saved it.’’