When Is Easter Sunday?

About Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the central feast of the Christian year. The date changes every year because it is tied to the first full moon after the spring equinox, worked out with a fixed church table rather than by watching the sky. In Western churches it always lands between March 22 and April 25.

Easter is not a federal holiday since it always falls on a Sunday, yet many families plan around it with church services, egg hunts and a big meal. Some schools line up spring break with Easter week, so it helps to know the date early. Orthodox churches often celebrate on a later Sunday because they follow the Julian calendar. The dates on this page are for Western Easter.

How the Date Is Set

Easter Sunday is held on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March equinox, using the church calculation. Because the rule is based on a weekday, the calendar date changes from year to year.