Today is Good Friday, the legal and Christian religious holiday of sorts commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Sunday is Easter, celebrating the resurrection, concluding Holy Week, and also culminating in the end of the religious period known as Lent. These events have been recognized throughout the Christian and secular world for over 2,000 years.

Easter is also big business. From “Easter eggs,” to chocolate bunnies, to special pastel-colored clothing for Sunday church services, the holiday has been commercialized. Not surprisingly, there are multiple registered trademarks that are Easter-themed. Here are just a few:

“Easter”

There have been 319 different “easter” trademarks that have sought registration through the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Currently, there are 103 existing applications and/or registrations where EASTER is a part of the mark.

Among these applications is EASTER EGG (Application Serial No. 86/651,888) for computer and video games, slot machines for gambling, and game services provided online. Easter and gambling? Yes. There is also another gambling-themed Easter trademark for EASTER BUNNIE$ (Reg. No. 47/99,181), for “Entertainment services, namely, providing online casino, gaming, and gambling services.”

EASTER EGG HUNT has also been registered for ice cream (Reg. No. 46/28,627) as of 2014.

EASTER BRUNCH has been registered for… pet food? Yes. (Reg. No. 38/73,237)

For more traditional uses, EASTER JUBILEE has been registered for plastic gift wrapping paper, artificial plastic grass, molded plastic Easter eggs, and wooden baskets (No. 43/03,536).

THE EASTER BUNNY has been registered for charitable services (Reg. No. 31/26,975).

“Good Friday”

There have been eight applications for “Good Friday” themed marks, with one existing registration for FEEL GOOD FRIDAY… which may not be particularly Easter-themed.

“Lent”

There are 31 applications and registrations for “Lent,” though given the multi-purpose meaning of the word, most do not apply to the Easter event. For example there is an abandoned application for LENT… for cigarettes (Application Serial No. 74/369,540) from 1993.

Nevertheless, there is a pending application for LENTSANITY (Application Serial No. 86/783,073), for “Providing a web site featuring information about religion; Providing a web site featuring information in the fields of personal relationships, personal growth and motivation, and self-fulfillment; Providing a web site featuring information on love, romance and interpersonal relationships.” Essentially, it appears this is for a future-planned online dating website for Catholics. Happy Lent, indeed!

“Palm Sunday”

There is only one application for PALM SUNDAY in any context, and it has since been abandoned. This application was for HE IS RISEN! AND IT IS FINISHED… BETTER TOGETHER PALM SUNDAY TO EASTER. This mark was proposed for conducting religious prayer services. The application for a certification mark was abandoned in 2012.

While not technically a trademark, there is the famous “Palm Sunday” tornado outbreak in 1965… a well-known shorthand name in meteorological contexts.

Meanwhile, it should not surprise anyone that there are thousands of trademarks and applications for JESUS in all contexts. Too many to enumerate here.

But what does this all mean? Well, even though Easter has been commercialized and there are a series of registered trademarks – your use of the word “Easter” to describe a party, event, church service or celebration is most likely going to be protected as either nominative or descriptive fair use. Just be careful if you try to get into the Easter egg or chocolate bunny market. Also, stay away from certain malls in New Jersey… I hear the Easter Bunny was once accosted there. Just kidding…

HAPPY EASTER!