- A Sunday between 22 March and 25 April (Western)
- Follows 40 days of Lent
- Ends Holy Week
Where it began
The Gospels tell that women who went to the tomb of Jesus on the Sunday morning found it empty, and that he then appeared to his followers. Christians have kept this day with great joy from the earliest times.
In 325 CE the Council of Nicaea set Easter on the Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Western and Orthodox churches use different calendars, so their Easter dates often differ.
How it grew over time
1st century
The first Christians gather on Sundays to remember the resurrection.
4th century
The Council of Nicaea agrees a shared rule for the date of Easter.
Medieval period
Easter vigils with new fire and candles, and the sharing of eggs after Lent, become part of the feast.
Today
Easter Sunday is kept by churches worldwide with services at dawn and family meals.
How it is celebrated in different places
Kerala and Goa
Churches hold night services, and families share a festive breakfast after the long fast.
Europe
Painted eggs, spring flowers and church bells mark the day in many countries.
Philippines
Salubong, a dawn procession, shows the meeting of the risen Jesus and his mother.
UK, US and Australia
Sunrise services, egg hunts and hot cross buns are well loved customs.
Easter moments
Easter today
Many Christians go to a late night vigil or a sunrise service, then share a special meal with family. Eggs, a sign of new life, are painted, given and shared, and churches are decked with lilies and spring flowers.
