The story of Easter and its traditions

The Resurrection at the center

Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, following his crucifixion and burial. The Gospel accounts of the empty tomb and encounters with the risen Jesus are central to Christian worship at Easter. The Catholic readings for Easter Day in 2027 include the account in John’s Gospel of Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb.

Holy Week leads into the feast. In Catholic tradition, the Easter season continues for fifty days through Pentecost, as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops explains. The holiday is therefore both a particular Sunday and part of a longer season of worship.

Pascha and the 2027 calendars

Eastern Orthodox Christians commonly call the feast Pascha. The Orthodox Church in America describes its celebration through a nighttime procession, the proclamation of the Resurrection and sung services. Practices and schedules vary by parish.

In 2027, Western Easter falls on Sunday, March 28, confirmed by the U.S. Catholic calendar. Eastern Orthodox Pascha falls on Sunday, May 2. The OCA’s calendar lists both dates. The dates come from different church calendar calculations and can coincide in other years. For a family visit or a service, use the calendar of that community.

Eggs, art and the Easter hare

Decorated eggs have many regional expressions. The Library of Congress introduces Ukrainian pysanky among its egg-art collections. These patterned eggs belong to a particular craft tradition; they deserve attention to their makers and techniques, as well as their appearance.

The Easter hare has a more specific documented trail. In its history of the Easter Bunny, the Library’s American Folklife Center identifies a clear written reference from 1682 in a German-language cultural setting. The story of a hare bringing eggs later became familiar in American Easter celebrations.

These customs have their own histories alongside Christian worship. An egg hunt, a family recipe and a church service can each matter to a household in different ways. A single ancient-origin story does not account for that variety.

Choose a tradition that fits your gathering

Ask which part of Easter your guests most want to make time for. It might be a service, a familiar meal, a visit with relatives or a game with children. Our Easter gathering plan helps arrange the day around those priorities.

For an activity at home, try the paper-egg hunt. It uses drawings and clues, so the group can adjust the difficulty and finish together.