Easter 2025: When Is Easter Sunday? Know Date, History, Significance And More About This Christian Festival

Easter is just around the corner. This Christian festival is not just a religious celebration but a powerful symbol of renewal and hope. Whether you're decorating eggs, attending sunrise services, or gathering around the table with loved ones, Easter continues to be a moment of reflection and joy for millions around the world. Keep reading to know everything about this beloved festival.

When is Easter 2025?

In 2025, Easter Sunday falls on April 20. Easter does not have a fixed date on the calendar like Christmas. Instead, it's celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, which typically occurs around March 21. This method, known as the ecclesiastical approximation, means Easter can occur anytime between March 22 and April 25.

For 2025, the Paschal Full Moon appears on April 13, placing Easter exactly one week later, i.e., on Sunday, April 20, 2025.

History behind Easter

The Easter story is central to Christianity, commemorating the rebirth of Jesus Christ, believed to have occurred around 30–33 AD in Jerusalem. According to the Christian tradition, Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose from the dead three days later, on what is now celebrated as Easter Sunday.

The celebration as we know it today was formalised much later. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea set guidelines for determining the date of Easter, landing it on the lunar calendar rather than the solar one. This decision established the "floating" nature of Easter that we still follow centuries later.

Ancient roots & springtime symbols

Though Easter is now widely known as a Christian festival, many of its symbols and traditions are rooted in pre-Christian spring festivals that celebrated rebirth, fertility, and the return of warmer days:

Eostre (or Ostara): A pagan goddess said to be linked to fertility and the dawn of spring. Some believe the name "Easter" itself derives from her.

Eggs: Universally recognised as a symbol of new life, eggs were once part of pagan rituals and were later adopted by Christians as a metaphor for Jesus' resurrection.

Bunnies: Known for their incredible reproductive abilities, hares were also associated with Eostre and eventually became part of Easter lore, symbolising abundance and renewal.

Seasonal Celebrations: Many cultures held grand festivals around the vernal equinox, marking the end of winter with feasts and ceremonies to welcome back the vitality of nature.

Significance of Easter

For Christians, Easter is the culmination of Holy Week, following the solemn observances of Good Friday and celebrating the victory of life over death. It’s a time of spiritual reflection, gratitude, and renewed faith.

But beyond its religious roots, Easter has also become a universal celebration of hope. In many parts of the world, it marks a time to reconnect with family, indulge in traditions both sacred and playful, and embrace the fresh start that spring offers.

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