Students and community members shouldn’t be surprised if they see a few eggs lying around this weekend. While the city hosts morning Easter egg hunts, several local churches also provide opportunities for students to celebrate the holiday.

Kevin A. Codd, priest of Saint Thomas More Catholic Student Center & Catholic Newman Association at Washington State University, said the Saint Thomas More church will hold an Easter Vigil for students Saturday night.

“It’s beautiful and the mother of all services for us,” he said.

Easter is the great feast, which starts the night before when the church welcomes new Christians and Catholics through baptisms and confirmations, Codd said.

“(Easter) celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord and his victory over not just death itself but also the powers of evil and injustice that were so manifested in his passion and his Crucifixion,” Codd said.

Even though not everyone celebrates the religious meaning of Easter, some still enjoys the holiday.

The City of Pullman and Kiwanis Club will host the town’s 54th Annual Easter Egg Hunt Saturday morning. Parents can bring their children ages 1 to 9 to Kruegel Park for the egg hunt. Areas will be roped off for specific age groups.

Recreation Superintendent for the City of Pullman Kurt Dahmen said the hunt is a fun event for the community to come together rain, shine or even in the snow, which actually happened once, he said.

“It’s pretty great to watch some of the kids, they’ll just hone their eyes onto one egg and go straight for it, all while passing about 10 eggs in their path,” Dahmen said.

The volunteers and people who put on the event try to have age-appropriate candy while being mindful of allergies, he said. Following the annual egg hunt, a team of five WSU sport management students will host EasterFest 2015 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the park.

The free event will include a carnival, raffle tickets and crafts. All the money raised during the event will be donated to the Pullman Parks & Recreation Care-to-Share program that helps low-income families participate in recreation programs, Dahmen said.

Those looking for a traditional service or meal can visit one of the many Pullman churches, which hold celebratory dinners, get-togethers and services throughout the weekend leading to Sunday.

However, students who aren’t able to travel home for Easter dinner but still want to celebrate can participate in the tradition when Saint Thomas More hosts its student-geared feast, Codd said.

Even though candy wasn’t a part of the traditional religious celebration, eggs, rabbits and chicks have made their way into the commercial version of the Easter basket.

Like in every society and culture, religious pieces sort of get blended into secular stuff, Codd said. Eggs and rabbits have symbolized fertility during the spring season, and have become a part of people’s traditions.

“I think, especially after the long fast and penitence season of Lent the whole candied sweet chocolate stuff is fitting because it’s a celebration,” Codd said. “You get to eat again. You enjoy life again. You’re celebrating life in its fullness, so a little bit of chocolate, maybe too much chocolate, is fine.”