What is Easter Sunday?

Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most significant Christian holidays on the calendar. The day commemorates the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, who showed Himself alive after three days in the tomb. The first Easter Sunday changed everything, and every Easter Sunday after that reflects the joy, amazement, and worship those early disciples had when they first saw the risen Lord.


Luke gives the account of what transpired that first Easter Sunday as the women followers of Jesus discovered the empty tomb: “On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!’” (Luke 24:1–6).

The Bible teaches that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a physical raising of His body back to life (see Luke 24:39). Easter Sunday proved Jesus’ deity, confirmed His prophecies, validated the Scriptures, triumphed over the forces of evil, provided for our justification (Romans 4:25), and guaranteed the resurrection of all who trust in Christ.

Like Christmas, Easter Sunday is observed in various ways, religious and secular. On the secular side, Easter Sunday involves visits from the Easter Bunny (or the Easter Bilby in Australia); dyed eggs, hidden to be found later (or hung from trees in Germany); new clothes; family meals; and lots of candy. On the religious side, Easter Sunday is about worshiping Jesus, attending church—including sunrise services—singing praises, and reading Scripture. Christians often refer to Easter Sunday as Resurrection Sunday to emphasize the reason for the day’s observance.

Easter Sunday comes in the spring of each year (or in the autumn in the southern hemisphere) in March or April (or, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, in April or May). Easter always roughly corresponds to the Jewish celebration of Passover, since Jesus was slain at Passover time (Luke 22:15; John 13:1; cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7) and rose again three days later. Indeed, Easter is sometimes called Pascha, a word derived from the Hebrew pesach, meaning “Passover.”

Easter Sunday marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, and the last day of the Easter Triduum (which starts the evening of Maundy Thursday and continues through Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday). On the liturgical calendar, Easter Sunday marks the beginning of the Easter season, a 50-day period that includes the Easter octave (the first eight days of the Easter season), the following five Sundays, the Ascension of the Lord, and Pentecost Sunday. Various churches, including Roman Catholic churches, observe everything from Lent through Pentecost. Other churches observe Easter Sunday and possibly mark Good Friday. It’s not a matter of legalistic obligation but of conscience: “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind” (Romans 14:5).

Whatever date Easter falls, it is always on a Sunday. All of the Gospels state that Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, 19). And that event is foundational to all we believe as Christians: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . . And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:14, 17).

Jesus’ resurrection is certainly worthy of being celebrated (see 1 Corinthians 15). Whether we use the term Easter or Resurrection Day or Pascha, it is good to commemorate the event that sealed our salvation and changed the world forever.

However we choose to celebrate Easter Sunday, we should not allow the associated fun and games to distract our attention from what the day is truly all about—the glorious resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Christ Himself should be celebrated every day, not just Easter Sunday. He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), and He is worthy of praise more than once a year.

To learn more about how Jesus’ death and resurrection provided for our salvation, please read the following article: What does it mean to accept Jesus as your personal Savior?

Easter Sunday Calendar:
2025 — April 20
2026 — April 5