Easter 2025 brings a special occurrence. Both Western and Eastern Orthodox Christians will celebrate Easter together on April 20, 2025. The next shared celebration won’t happen until 2028.
The calendar year 2025 marks a notably late Easter Sunday. The Council of Nicaea, 1700 years old, created the foundations of calculating Easter’s date. The formula determines Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the spring equinox. This timing makes the Easter 2025 celebration particularly unique, and we can learn about the special significance of this specific date.
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When is Easter in 2025 and Why is it So Late?
“This movable feast shifts annually depending on lunar patterns, and in 2025, the alignment places Easter Sunday toward the latter half of April, giving believers ample time to journey through Lent and Holy Week in spiritual preparation.” — The Economic Times Editors, Editors at The Economic Times, a major international news publication
Easter 2025 comes later than most years, and many people want to know why. Let’s look at what makes this date special and why it changes every year.
Easter Sunday 2025 falls on April 20
Easter Sunday lands on April 20, 2025. This date comes much later than last year’s March 31 celebration. The holiday never happens before March 22 or after April 25, which makes this year’s date close to the latest possible.
Something unique happens in 2025 – Western and Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on the same day. This doesn’t happen every year because both traditions use different calendars. The 1,700 year old formula from the Council of Nicaea guides both groups, but Eastern churches follow the Julian calendar while Western churches use the Gregorian calendar.
The next April 20 Easter won’t come until 2087. The last time it happened was back in 2014.
The full moon and equinox timing explained
Easter’s date changes each year because it follows the moon’s cycles instead of our everyday solar calendar. The Council of Nicaea created a simple rule: Easter happens on the first Sunday after the first full moon that appears on or after the spring equinox[73].
Here’s why Easter 2025 comes so late:
- The spring equinox happens on March 20, 2025
- The first full moon after the equinox (Paschal full moon) shows up on April 12-13
- Then Easter falls on the next Sunday, April 20
The Church uses “ecclesiastical” dates rather than astronomical ones. March 21 always marks the ecclesiastical spring equinox, whatever the actual astronomical equinox date might be.
The “ecclesiastical full moon” that determines Easter might not match the full moon we see in the sky. It marks the 14th day of the lunar month in Church calculations.
There’s another reason for the 2025 date. The Paschal full moon appears on Saturday (April 12) in North America. European observers (including the Vatican) see it after midnight, early Sunday morning (April 13). Since Easter comes on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon in the “Old World,” we celebrate on April 20 instead of April 13.
This time zone difference explains why Easter happens a week later than what North American sky watchers might expect.
Key Dates to Know for Easter Weekend 2025
Easter weekend 2025 is coming up, so here are the most important dates of Holy Week. A clear timeline will help you plan celebrations, arrange travel, and observe spiritual traditions.
Palm Sunday: April 13
Palm Sunday on April 13, 2025 kicks off Holy Week. This most important day celebrates Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Western and Eastern Christian traditions will observe Palm Sunday on the same date this year. Christians consider this the start of their most sacred week in the liturgical calendar. Many churches across the United States hold special services with palm branches and processions, though it’s not a public holiday.
Good Friday: April 18
Good Friday falls on April 18, 2025. The day honors the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Several states recognize Good Friday as a state holiday: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, North Dakota, New Jersey, Tennessee, and parts of Texas. Kentucky marks it as a half-day holiday. Christians attend special services that can last three hours and include Bible readings about the crucifixion.
Holy Saturday: April 19
Holy Saturday takes place on April 19, 2025. People know this day as Easter Vigil, which remembers Jesus lying in the tomb. The Church remains quiet until the Easter Vigil celebration after nightfall. Slavic traditions include blessing Easter food baskets filled with eggs, ham, lamb, sausages, and Easter breads.
Easter Day 2025: April 20
Easter Sunday ends the week on April 20, 2025. This joyous celebration marks Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Easter Sunday stands as the most important Christian feast, though it’s not a public holiday in the United States. The next Easter Sunday won’t fall on April 20 until 2087, which makes this date special.
How to Prepare for Easter 2025?
Easter Sunday 2025 falls on April 20, making this the right time to start your holiday preparations. A good plan will help you avoid rushing at the last minute and create memorable celebrations with your family.
Planning travel and family gatherings
The timing of your Easter travel plans makes all the difference in 2025. Almost half of travelers (49%) make their Easter arrangements 1-3 months ahead. You should book your accommodations and transportation by January or February. Family visits drive most Easter travel (40%), and young adults between 18-24 show even more interest (48%).
Hosting a gathering? Here are some popular options:
- Traditional Easter Sunday brunch featuring breakfast favorites or lunch items
- Backyard or park picnics when the weather cooperates
- Fish fry events as a tasty alternative to classic ham dinners
Families who love camping or visiting special places should book early. This strategy helps secure better rates and preferred spots at popular springtime locations.
School and work holiday considerations
Most schools include Easter weekend in their spring break schedules. Good Friday (April 18, 2025) often serves as a student holiday or teacher development day. Easter Monday isn’t a federal holiday in the U.S., though some areas celebrate it.
Easter Sunday isn’t a federal holiday for working adults either, but businesses often adjust their schedules. Most salaried staff get the day off, and some companies let hourly workers spend time with family too. More businesses now offer flexible time-off options that respect various religious practices during Easter. The best approval chances come when you ask for time off 8-12 weeks ahead.
Shopping and meal prep timelines
Easter meal planning starts earlier than most people realize. Research shows 32% of shoppers plan their Easter menus 2-3 weeks early, while 27% start the week before. People move quickly after finding recipes – 57% buy their groceries within a week of discovering an Easter recipe online.
Your Easter meal deserves careful planning. Start with a detailed shopping list and menu. Many dishes can be prepared the day before, especially desserts. The secret to a relaxed Easter celebration lies in creating a realistic schedule that lets you enjoy time with your guests.
Traditions and Celebrations Around the World
Image Source: AloneReaders.com
“The week is observed globally with both solemn reflection and celebratory liturgies that chronicle the final days of Christ’s life, crucifixion, and resurrection.” — The Economic Times Editors, Editors at The Economic Times, a major international news publication
Easter traditions around the world paint an array of customs that celebrate this most important Christian holiday in 2025.
Easter foods and customs by region
Mediterranean and European Celebrations showcase unique culinary traditions. Greeks consider Easter (Pascha) their most important religious holiday. They dye eggs bright red to symbolize Christ’s blood. Florence’s spectacular “Scoppio del Carro” (Explosion of the Cart) brings good luck to the coming year.
Each European country celebrates with its own special foods:
- United Kingdom: Hot cross buns and Simnel cakes with 11 marzipan balls that represent Christ’s faithful disciples
- Italy: Colomba di Pasqua (dove-shaped sweet bread)
- Poland: Easter baskets blessed at church on Holy Saturday
Beyond Europe, Australians have replaced the Easter Bunny with the Easter Bilby to help protect native wildlife. Bermuda’s families fly colorful kites that symbolize Christ’s resurrection. The Philippines follows dramatic traditions where some participants get nailed to crosses during reenactments.
How Orthodox and Western Easter differ
Orthodox and Western Easter celebrations usually happen on different dates because they use different calendars. Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar while the Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar. Easter 2025 stands out as special because both traditions celebrate on April 20.
Orthodox traditions put emphasis on religious processions and ceremonial foods. Greeks attend church Saturday evening. At midnight, they light candles and greet each other with “Christ is risen!”. A feast follows with roasted lamb and magiritsa soup.
Modern vs. traditional Easter activities
Easter worldwide still centers around traditional egg decorating. Ukraine’s intricate “pysanka” eggs might be the most beautiful version. Many families prepare special Easter breads and attend religious services.
Modern celebrations add new twists to old customs. Norwegians now associate Easter with reading murder mysteries (“Påskekrimmen”). Swedish traditions look like Halloween as children dress up as witches and collect candy. Americans enjoy unique egg hunts with glow-in-the-dark eggs, egg rolling competitions, and adult hunts that offer prizes beyond candy.
Conclusion
Easter 2025 will be a special celebration that unites Western and Eastern Orthodox Christians on April 20. This unique timing and shared observance create an extraordinary moment for believers around the world.
Traditional calculations rooted in lunar cycles and ecclesiastical dates still determine this movable feast. The timing’s significance helps people value both classic elements and modern ways of celebrating this key Christian holiday.
Religious customs naturally blend with cultural traditions to create beautiful patterns of regional practices. People gather with their families for special meals and follow unique local customs that show Easter’s lasting importance in today’s society.
Easter 2025’s timing gives everyone a good chance to prepare well. Good planning for travel, festivities, and traditional customs will give families and communities meaningful experiences. Christians won’t see Western and Eastern celebrations come together again until 2028, which makes Easter 2025 a truly special date in the Christian calendar.
