When is Easter Sunday?

Why do we observe it?

Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus in Christianity. Its date follows a church calendar calculation, so it changes each year.

Traditions and celebrations

Church services, family meals, eggs and spring gatherings are common; practices vary by family and denomination.

Planning tips

Book travel and brunch early. Good Friday and Easter Monday schedules differ by employer and state.

Is it a federal holiday?

No. It is a widely observed occasion, but it is not a U.S. federal holiday. School and business schedules depend on local policies.

Is it a bank holiday? What’s open and closed

Easter always falls on a Sunday, so banks, government offices and schools are closed the way they would be on any Sunday; the notable date to watch is Good Friday, when U.S. stock markets close even though it isn’t a federal holiday. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment.

The history behind the day

Easter is the central holiday of the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date is calculated using a lunar-based formula set by the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE: the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, which is why the date shifts between late March and late April each year.

Many Easter customs predate Christianity and were absorbed from spring fertility celebrations, including the symbolism of eggs and rabbits as signs of new life and renewal.

How it’s marked across the country

In the U.S., Easter blends religious observance with secular traditions: sunrise church services, Easter egg hunts, baskets of candy, and the White House Easter Egg Roll, a tradition dating back to 1878. Many families also treat the surrounding week as a school spring break.

One thing you might not know

Because Easter’s date depends on the moon, it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25 — a five-week window that makes it the most variable major holiday on the U.S. calendar.

How the date is calculated

Western Easter falls on the first Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after March 21. The ecclesiastical calculation uses a fixed church calendar rather than the instant of the astronomical full moon. In the Gregorian calendar, Western Easter can fall from March 22 through April 25.

Many Orthodox churches use a different calendar calculation, so Orthodox Easter may fall on another Sunday. If a gathering includes people from different traditions, confirm which Easter date they observe.

Plan the weekend

Check Good Friday hours separately. It is not a U.S. federal holiday, although some states, schools and employers close. Easter Sunday itself is not a federal holiday either, and Easter Monday is not generally a U.S. public holiday.

For a shared meal, ask about dietary needs and the timing of services before choosing a reservation. Spring travel and popular brunches often fill early; confirm hours directly with the venue.

Easter weekend planning checklist

• Three to four weeks ahead: check service times, brunch reservations and ticketed community events.
• One week ahead: confirm store, transit and attraction hours for Sunday.
• Two days ahead: review weather and any outdoor egg-hunt backup plans.
• Good Friday: remember that U.S. stock markets close even though it is not a federal holiday.