While the spring equinox may say otherwise, many agree that spring isn't in full swing until Easter comes. With its pastel-colored Easter eggs and iconic symbols like the Easter Bunny, the holiday is deeply intertwined with the spring season. And that's only the beginning! Easter is packed with meaningful traditions that bring families together during the springtime, such as Easter brunch and Easter egg hunts, just to name a few.
Speaking of all these Easter activities, you should definitely know when Easter falls on the calendar. It always lands on a Sunday; however, the date itself changes every year. So, how is it determined?
Before you start baking hot cross buns or filling Easter baskets, make sure you know whether the holy day falls early or late this year. Read on for more information on when Easter is in 2025, as well as the dates for Lent. (And if you've ever wondered about the origins of the Easter bunny, we've got information on that, too!)
When Is Easter in 2025?
Easter falls on Sunday, April 20, 2025. This may feel a bit late for some, but it's just the way things worked out this year! On the bright side, the later date practically guarantees the weather will be warm enough to take all your outdoor Easter photos!
Also, for reference, the range of dates in which Easter could fall on each year is pretty large. The absolute earliest it could fall on is March 22, but you won't have to worry about that for now—because the next time it'll be that early is in the year 2285! 😂 As for the latest it can take place, that would be on April 25. (Though, that hasn't happened since 1943.)
How Is the Date for Easter Determined Every Year?
Okay, so we know that Easter Sunday moves around. But more specifically, there's a direct range of dates where Easter will take place. Easter can only happen between March 22 through April 25 (and that's if we're talking the Gregorian calendar). But why does is this the case? And how is the date picked out from this range each year?
Well, believe it or not, it all has to do with the moon! The simplified version is that Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. And if you're wondering what that means, it's the first full moon after the vernal equinox. On years during which the first full moon of spring falls on a Sunday, Easter is observed the following week.
The moon's cycles played an important role in ancient times, and it remains the way the date of Jewish holidays are determined, including Passover. Eventually, Christians decided to observe Easter during the same time as Passover, with early celebrations occurring on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring.
When Is Lent in 2025?
Easter's rotating date is why Lent also changes every year. In 2025, Lent will begin on Wednesday, March 5, and will last until Thursday, April 17. The Easter date is decided first, and then the season of Lent is determined from that day. That means that Ash Wednesday is on March 5, Holy Thursday is on Thursday, April 17, and Good Friday is on Friday, April 18. (All that's left to figure out is what to give up on Lent this year.)
What Is The Most Common Easter Date?
Last year, Easter was in March, this year it's in April, and in 2026, it will fall in April once again! Given that, you might be wondering what the most common Easter date is. Since Easter is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. However, historical calculations show that April 16 is the most frequent Easter date in the Gregorian calendar, occurring more often than any other date.
Erin Cavoto is the Editorial Assistant at ThePioneerWoman.com, covering food, holidays, home decor, and more.
