Discover the significance of Easter 2026 date and Lent observance, based on lunar cycles and ecclesiastical calculations.
* Easter is on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
* Most churches use the Gregorian Calendar to calculate Easter while some use the Julian Calendar.
* While the Bible makes no mention of the Easter Bunny, it is a widely accepted Easter Tradition.
Whether you celebrate Easter or not, many people are familiar with the holiday typically associated with the Easter bunny, candy and the start of spring.
However, the most confusing part about Easter is what day it falls on. The holiday is more unusual than most in that sense, because Easter is never on the same day two years in a row, which can be a little confusing if you are not familiar with its origin.
Many traditions, like the Easter bunny and eggs, are not directly linked to the Bible or its Christian celebrations but are widely accepted as part of the holiday.
To help with any confusion about Easter and its celebrations, here's an explanation of why the date always changes and the origins of its many celebrations.
When is Easter 2026?
This year, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 5.
Why does Easter change every year?
Easter is considered a "movable feast"; it does not correlate with a specific date, but rather with the lunar moon cycle.
America uses the Gregorian Calendar, which says Easter is always the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is always on or after the spring equinox, which is set on March 21.
The Paschal Full Moon will take place on April 2 this year, meaning Easter Sunday will occur on April 5 this year.
However, the Eastern Orthodox Church calculates Easter a little differently; it uses the Julian Calendar introduced by Julius Caesar. The Julian Calendar places Easter on April 12 this year. While neither method is considered wrong, Russian and Serbian Orthodox churches typically use the Julian Calendar, while the Gregorian Calendar is internationally recognized.
What does Easter celebrate?
While the holiday has become more mainstream and is often associated with Easter eggs and the Easter bunny, Easter is a religious holiday.
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his death by crucifixion. Easter is the basis of Christianity and gives Christians hope of salvation and eternal life.
Where did the Easter bunny come from?
Although the bible makes no mention of the Easter bunny, the character is a widely expected part of most Easter traditions.
It's not entirely clear where this tradition comes from, but it's widely believed that the Easter bunny was brought to America in the 1700s by German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania. These German immigrants brought their folklore tradition of an animal called Osterhase, or Oschter Haws, who lay colorful eggs on Easter for kids who had been good. Children would make baskets for the Osterhase to lay its eggs in.
This tradition eventually evolved to the more common Easter bunny we know today.
Why do we celebrate with Easter eggs?
It's unclear exactly where the tradition originated, but many historians believe it was adopted by the Christian church from pagans.
Regardless, eggs have historically been a symbol of new life and beginnings, so it makes sense that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated with eggs.
Eggs were also one of the foods that weren't allowed to be eaten during Lent, so digging into a boiled egg at the end of Lent was a treat.
