When is Easter? Unlike Christmas, Easter Sunday moves every year, and the next one falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027. The countdown above shows exactly how long is left, so you can plan church services, family brunch, egg hunts and spring break travel around the right weekend.
How the date of Easter is calculated
Easter is the most important feast in the Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date is tied to the moon. In AD 325 the Council of Nicaea agreed that Easter should be celebrated on a Sunday, and the rule that Western churches use today works like this:
- Start from March 21, the church’s fixed date for the spring equinox.
- Find the first full moon on or after that date, known as the Paschal full moon (calculated from church tables, not observed in the sky).
- Easter is the following Sunday.
As a result, Western Easter always falls between March 22 and April 25. Many Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar for the calculation, so their Easter is often one or more weeks later, though the two sometimes coincide.
Holy Week and the days around Easter
- Ash Wednesday begins the 40 days of Lent, about six and a half weeks before Easter.
- Palm Sunday opens Holy Week, one week before Easter.
- Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper.
- Good Friday marks the crucifixion.
- Easter Monday follows, and is a public holiday in many countries.
Is Easter a holiday in the US and UK?
Easter Sunday is not a federal holiday in the United States, and neither is Good Friday, although a few states and many schools close on Good Friday and the stock market is closed that day. Many stores and restaurants close or shorten their hours on Easter Sunday. In the UK, Good Friday is a bank holiday everywhere, and Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland.
Easter traditions and ideas
Beyond church services, American Easter is known for pastel eggs, chocolate bunnies and spring flowers. Since 1878 the White House has hosted the Easter Egg Roll on its South Lawn on Easter Monday. Ideas for your own celebration:
- Dye eggs the day before and hide them for a backyard egg hunt.
- Put together Easter baskets with small toys, books and treats.
- Host a spring brunch with ham, deviled eggs and hot cross buns.
- Attend a sunrise service, a tradition at many churches and outdoor venues.
Want to count down with the kids? Open this page in full-screen mode, add Easter Sunday to your calendar, or share the countdown with relatives who are coming to visit. You can also create your own countdown for the start of spring break.