Aspen’s first Easter sunrise service in 1951. Photo Courtesy Aspen Historical Society/Renquist Collection Easter has its religious roots and in addition there are non-religious traditions like Easter egg hunts and school and college vacations. Aspen created a few more local interpretations. As a tourist town Aspen’s calendar is marked by seasons, not summer and winter but ski season and trout time. Once the Aspen Skiing Company opened for business it had to have a closing date, Easter was a convenient and logical one although complicated because Easter is not always at the same time each year. Snow conditions were not relevant as there is ample snow after Easter, often some of the largest storms come after.