Post updated: March 2026.
This year, Easter falls on 5 April (Sunday) and 6 April (Monday). We’ll be celebrating it on the very first weekend of April. Why that particular date? Find out how the date of Easter is determined and what traditions and customs go with it!
How is the date of Easter determined?
The date of Easter is determined by the phases of the moon. It is calculated from the first full moon of spring, which falls after the astronomical start of spring. Why? According to the apostles Luke, Mark and Matthew, Jesus was crucified the day after the feast of Passover. Passover falls on the last day before the full moon that follows the spring equinox.
At the Council of Nicaea it was established that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring following 21 March. In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on 5 April and Easter Monday on 6 April.
The date of Easter also determines the dates of other feasts:
- Ash Wednesday, which begins the period of Lent
- Lent, which lasts 40 days,
- the Paschal Triduum,
- the Ascension,
- Pentecost,
- Corpus Christi.
Orthodox and Catholic Easter – what are the differences?
Easter commemorates the Paschal mystery of Christ – his passion, death and resurrection. It is the most important Christian feast in the entire liturgical year. Jesus Christ’s agonising death on the cross and his resurrection symbolise the victory of good over evil, since he conquered death and brought salvation to the faithful. All of this also fulfilled the promise of the coming of the Messiah, who was to save humankind.
In the Orthodox Church, Easter in 2026 falls on Sunday 12 April. This is due to the different way of determining Pascha in the Eastern tradition, which relies on the Julian calendar for its paschal calculations. In practice, this means that Orthodox Easter often falls later than in the Catholic Church.
The Resurrection procession in the Catholic Church proclaims the resurrection of Christ. It usually begins early in the morning, with the faithful walking around the church once or three times. In the Orthodox Church, the liturgy begins at midnight between Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday, and candles, icons and banners are carried in the procession. After returning from the service, both Catholic and Orthodox families sit down to a festive breakfast – though the dishes served differ.
On the Easter table in a Catholic home you’ll find the święconka (the blessed basket of eggs, bread, sausage, pepper and salt), while in an Orthodox home the faithful share sweet bread. Polish tables also feature żurek (sour rye soup), white sausage, horseradish, cold meats, eggs, mazurek tarts and Easter babka cakes, whereas in Eastern European countries you’ll find kulich (a tall yeast cake), kulebiak (a pie filled with cabbage and mushrooms), yeast dumplings and borscht.
How long does Easter last?
In Poland, the Easter holiday covers two days: Resurrection Sunday, i.e. Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday. The week before Easter is known as Holy Week, and its last three days make up the Paschal Triduum. In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on 5 April and Easter Monday on 6 April.
The Easter season lasts 50 days and ends on Pentecost Sunday, also known as Whitsun, which in 2026 falls on 24 May. It is preceded by Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday – 18 February in 2026.
Easter traditions
Palm Sunday – always falls a week before Easter, and on this day people go to Catholic churches with a palm, which symbolises rebirth – the beginning of new life. A palm blessed by the priest is believed to protect against misfortune.
Holy Week – commemorates the last days of Jesus’s life; it is a time of reflection and quiet. Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are a time of reconciliation and forgiveness.
The Sacred Paschal Triduum – the last three days of Holy Week, i.e. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, celebrate the passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus.
Święconka – the Easter basket that is taken to church on Holy Saturday so that the food inside can be blessed. The basket holds eggs, bread, salt, pepper, cold meat, horseradish, an Easter babka cake, a butter lamb and sometimes cheese as well. Each food has its own meaning:
- eggs symbolise birth, the triumph of life over death and the beginning of new life. They are the most important Easter symbol.
- bread is a symbol of life,
- pepper and salt stand for purification, truth and a life of simplicity,
- cold meat is a metaphor for prosperity and abundance,
- cheese represents the friendship between humankind and nature,
- horseradish is a symbol of health and physical strength, and also a reminder of overcoming the bitterness of Jesus’s passion,
- a babka or a piece of another cake symbolises skill and perfection,
- the lamb symbolises the Lamb of God, who was offered as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind.
Easter breakfast – shared with your nearest and dearest, it is a ritual feast in honour of the empty tomb and the Resurrection. The shared meal is meant to unite the living and the dead. During breakfast, family members share a blessed egg and exchange good wishes.
Pisanki – decorated eggs that symbolised new life. Once painted exclusively by women and treated as small works of art, they remain a much-loved tradition today and adorn festive tables and baskets.
Wet Monday – also known as Śmigus-Dyngus, when people splash each other with water. The custom dates back to Slavic times and originally expressed joy at the arrival of spring.
Easter gifts – small presents brought by the Easter Bunny. Looking for ideas? Be sure to take a look at our Easter gift guide and get inspired!
