What date is Easter Sunday 2025? Why so late this year? When is Lent, Ash Wednesday? What we know (2025)

Easter Sunday runs later than normal this year, but time moves so quickly that the time for hiding eggs and filling baskets is really just around the corner

So when does Lent start and end?

Here's what we know about Easter, when Ash Wednesday is, Lent's start and end, Maundy Thursday, celebrating Good Friday and more in 2025:

When is Easter 2025? What date is Easter Sunday this year?

Easter 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 20, for most Christians, predominantly Catholics and Protestants. Orthodox Christians will also celebrate on the same Sunday this year, according to the Greek City Times. This won't happen again until 2028.

Why is Easter 2025 so late this year?

Easter runs late in 2025 due to the calendar system. On the Gregorian calendar, used by most Christian denominations, Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.

How is Easter Day determined each year?

Easter is determined by the calendar year. The dates differ because most Christians use the Gregorian calendar, originally introduced in 1582, while the Eastern Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar, introduced in 45 BC. On the Gregorian calendar, Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.

What is the meaning of Easter Sunday?

According to the World History Encyclopedia, Easter is a religious, Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his death. Jesus of Nazareth died from crucifixion under the orders of Roman magistrate Pontius Pilate on Good Friday.

As recorded in all four Gospel accounts, when some of the women who’d followed Jesus to Calvary arrived at the tomb on Sunday morning, now recognized as Easter Sunday, to prepare the body for proper burial, the rock had been rolled away and the tomb was empty, according to Harvard University.

Can you eat meat on Easter Sunday?

Yes. Easter is a day of celebration, and with Lent over, Christians can eat meat. However, some still abstain from certain foods, like red meat, depending on their religious practices and personal beliefs.

When is Easter 2026?

Easter 2026 will be celebrated on Sunday, April 5.

When is Easter 2027?

Easter 2027 will be celebrated on Sunday, March 28.

When is Ash Wednesday 2025?

Ash Wednesday is Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

What is Ash Wednesday?

Christians commonly celebrate Ash Wednesday with ashes on their foreheads and fasting to start the Lenten season, according to britannica.com.

The practice reminds Christians of human mortality and the importance of reconciling with God.

When is Lent 2025? What date does the Lenten season start?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is March 5, 2025.

“Lent, kicking off with Ash Wednesday, is an incredible time of year that we as Christians dedicate to prayer, fasting, and giving as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the Resurrection at Easter, " Hallow CEO and co-founder Alex Jones said.

Hallow is "a prayer and meditation app that combines the peace and stillness of meditation with the spiritual growth of contemplative prayer," according to hallow.com, and Jones said it's popular during lent. "It’s always our biggest season at Hallow and we see it as a huge opportunity for folks to re-engage with their faith,” he said.

How long is Lent 2025? What date does the Lenten season end?

Lent lasts six weeks leading up to Easter and ends on either, April, 17, 2025; or April 19, 2025. The end date for lent varies by faith denomination. In some faiths', Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. For others, such as Roman Catholicism, Lent ends at sundown on Maundy, or Holy Thursday.

What is Lent?

Lent is a time of preparation and self-recognition prior to Easter. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the 40-day season is centered around prayer, fasting, almsgiving and reconciliation, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Thursday.

The season emulates the 40 days Jesus spent fasting and avoiding the temptations of evil in the desert, as mentioned in the Bible. During Lent, many Christians abstain from meat on Fridays, as well as Ash Wednesday. It is also common for Christians to fast and practice self-discipline in other ways, by abstaining from certain things during the Lenten season or adding additional prayer or acts of service.

2025 Holy Week timeline

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, according to Trinity College. In many Christian faiths, it resumes with Holy Wednesday, or Spy Wednesday, before entering into the Triduum. The Triduum of Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, with Easter taking place the following day.

Where Easter Egg dyeing tradition began: Natural options for dyeing eggs this year

When do Christians fast?

Christians are obligated to fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as well as fast from meat on Fridays during Lent, according to Catholic Online.

When is Palm Sunday 2025?

Palm Sunday is on Sunday, April 13, 2025, according to Time and Date.

What is the meaning of Palm Sunday?

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. As Jesus entered the city, crowds greeted him by waving palm branches, which is where the name Palm Sunday originated. The event, recorded in all four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — marked the beginning of the end of Jesus' time on Earth.

According to Time and Date, palm leaves symbolize victory and joy among many Christians in the United States, as Jesus died on the cross for the sins of others. Some churches use silk plant leaves or olive branches on Palm Sunday, as palm branches can be difficult to find in some areas in the U.S.

How is Palm Sunday celebrated?

Palm Sunday, recognized mostly by Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians, is typically celebrated by recalling the Scripture of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The Palm Sunday also includes a reading of the Passion, the story of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus.

According to Brandeis University, it's also a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and to be willing to follow him.

When is Maundy Thursday 2025?

Maundy Thursday is Thursday, April 17, 2025, according to Time and Date.

What date is Holy Thursday 2025?

Holy Thursday is on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Why is it called Maundy Thursday?

Holy Thursday is often used interchangeably with Maundy Thursday, as the word comes from a phrase spoken at the Last Supper, which Holy Thursday commemorates.

The word “maundy” comes from the Latin phrase “mandatum,” meaning commandment, which was spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper, according to Catholic Culture.

2025 egg shortage prices: Why eggs are so expensive right now

What is the meaning of Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday?

The Last Supper, recognized on Holy Thursday, refers to the last meal Jesus ate with his disciples before his trial and crucifixion, around the time of the Hebrew Passover. During the meal, he used wine and bread to represent his body and blood, blessing it and giving it to his disciples, laying the foundation of what would become the Eucharist, according to Alimentarium. Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and shared a foreshadowing of Judas’ betrayal at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Can you eat meat on Holy Thursday?

Yes. Holy Thursday isn't considered a day of fasting or abstinence. However, it can also be a personal choice, with many deciding to continue their fast through Holy Week.

When is Good Friday 2025 this year?

Good Friday is on April 18, 2025, according to Time and Date.

Good Friday meaning: What does Good Friday celebrate?

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is dedicated to commemorating the death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Considered the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus died for the sins of others by crucifixion and was later laid to rest at a nearby tomb.

Scripture says Jesus hung on the cross from noon to 3 p.m., before drawing his last breath. A day of mourning, prayer and fasting, Christians often use the three hours of Jesus' time spent on the cross, as well as the day, to reflect and remember God’s love and promise of eternal life. Furthermore, it represents hope and new beginnings, even in the darkest moments.

Is Good Friday a public holiday? Do we have Good Friday off?

No. Good Friday, an important Christian holiday before Easter, is not an official holiday in the U.S, according to Time and Date. A day off on Good Friday varies by location, corporation, etc.

How to celebrate Good Friday 2025

Good Friday can be commemorated in a variety of ways. Many Christians celebrate it with strict fasting, while others observe a partial fast by not eating meat, according to the Boston Public Library. Some also attend special church services and prayer vigils, or a Good Friday liturgy Friday evening.

Continuously, some view it more joyously while others see it as a sad event. Some Christians take on a somber attitude and maintain a quiet atmosphere in their homes with little to no entertainment or extracurricular activities, while others may play music and bake hot cross buns, a traditional Good Friday sweet.

Easter jokes for kids, adults: In need of a good laugh? Don't miss these corny Easter jokes

What was the Good Friday agreement?

The Good Friday agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, brought peace and partnership to the Irish and British governments after a 30-year conflict, according to Ireland.ie. The conflict, known as the Troubles, began after civil rights protestors in Northern Ireland were met with hostility by authorities in 1969. In the over three-decade conflict, over 3,500 people died, with many others injured.

The two governments started working toward a peaceful resolution in the early 1980s, bringing the Anglo-Irish Agreement into effect in 1985. A Joint Declaration was later issued in 1993.

Eventually, international governments like the U.S. got involved in the negotiations, including former President Bill Clinton, who helped to build momentum in the nearly two-year-long negotiation process. Senator George Mitchell, also prominent, set the deadline for the agreement on April 9, 1998. The following day, on the afternoon of April 10, Good Friday, it was announced that the agreement was reached.

Good Friday Agreement Ireland

The Good Friday Agreement, reached on April 10, 1998, ended a three-decade conflict between Ireland and Britain. Conflict initially began in 1969, with negotiations beginning in the early 1980s. Through international support, countless meetings, etc., an agreement was eventually reached, according to Ireland.ie.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Why is Easter 2025 so late this year? Easter Sunday date, when Lent starts