As the colors in the window of The Gap get progressively brighter and more pastel, and the threat of getting lost in a snowdrift becomes a joke instead of a reality, it's OK to assume that spring is coming this year.

And with the warmer weather and widening sidewalks have also come the other traditional indicators of spring -- brightly colored eggs and foil-wrapped, animal-shaped chocolates.

But there is more to these spring traditions than a few clucking rabbits and unnaturally colored marshmallows -- spring's celebration in religious circles has come this week with the observance of Passover and Easter.

Many Jewish students went home last weekend to be with their families for the Seder meal that marks the holiday's beginning, and many Christian students are going home this weekend to be with their families for Easter.

Passover is a biblical festival celebrating the Jewish slaves' exodus from Egypt, and the diet restrictions are a remembrance of that flight, said Rabbi David Mivasair from the Jewish Community Center, 620 E. Hamilton Ave.

The practice of eating unleavened bread, or matzos, is to remember the slaves who left with bread dough that didn't have a chance to rise.

"It's a way of simplifying our own lives to recall what it is like to live without the bounty we have," Mivasair said, adding that Passover has also become something of a spring celebration.

Passover, traditionally beginning with a full moon, began at sundown last Saturday and will end at sundown tomorrow. Some Jews celebrate Passover until sundown Sunday.

Josh Glastein (freshman-mining engineering) said although Jewish students think Passover is an important holiday, he doesn't think it significantly affects their lives, except for the food restrictions.

"In general, I don't keep kosher, but for Passover I try to keep as kosher as I can," he said, adding that he still manages to eat in the dining halls, but avoids bread and pasta.

And although Easter is also traditionally associated with spring, strictly speaking, it does not have anything to do with it, said Rachel Larson, a pastor for the Lutheran student parish.

Christians saw pagan cultures celebrating the coming of spring and the vernal equinox at the time that they celebrated the resurrection of Christ and adopted the name Easter, Larson said. The correlation between spring and Easter is more of a cultural thing, she added.

"It's probably because it's an Easter holiday and it usually gets warmer around then," said Chad Miller (junior-biology), explaining why he associates Easter with the onset of spring. Easter is a very family-oriented holiday for his family, Miller said, adding that members have a traditional meal of ham, potatoes and corn.