Easter is celebrated around the world with a rich variety of customs that reflect local culture, history, and religious traditions. In many Western countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, Easter often blends religious observance with festive, family-centered activities. Churches hold special services marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, while secular traditions include Easter egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, and springtime decorations. In Germany, for example, decorated Easter trees (Ostereierbaum) are a common sight, while in the UK, hot cross buns are a traditional treat associated with Good Friday.

In Southern and Eastern Europe, Easter celebrations tend to be more deeply rooted in religious ritual and community gatherings. In Italy, elaborate church processions and masses take center stage, especially in cities like Rome and Florence. Spain is known for its dramatic Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions, featuring participants in traditional robes carrying religious statues through the streets. In Greece, Easter is the most important religious holiday of the year, marked by midnight church services, candlelight processions, and the cracking of red-dyed eggs, symbolizing Christ’s resurrection.

Further afield, countries such as Australia and parts of Latin America add their own unique touches. In Australia, the Easter Bunny is sometimes replaced by the Easter Bilby, a native animal promoted as an environmental symbol. In Mexico and other Latin American countries, Easter week includes reenactments of biblical events, festive markets, and large communal meals. Meanwhile, in Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Finland, children dress up as “Easter witches” and go door to door, somewhat like Halloween, exchanging drawings for sweets.

As for the date of Easter, it is not fixed and can vary from year to year. Easter is determined by a lunar-based calculation: it falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. However, not all Christians celebrate it on the same day. Western Christian churches (such as Roman Catholic and most Protestant denominations) use the Gregorian calendar, while Eastern Orthodox churches follow the Julian calendar for this calculation. As a result, Orthodox Easter often falls one or more weeks later than Western Easter, though occasionally the dates coincide.

For more on different Easter customs in different countries, click the stained glass.