How is the date of Easter determined?

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This method was established by the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

Why are eggs associated with Easter?

Eggs symbolize new life and resurrection. The tradition of decorating eggs dates back to at least the 13th century, and the Easter Bunny delivering eggs comes from German folklore.

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Easter 2027 Countdown

How many days until Easter 2027? Live Easter 2027 countdown timer with days, hours, minutes and seconds.

301

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302 days remaining until Easter 2027

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When is Easter 2027?

Easter 2027 is on Sunday, March 28, 2027.

That is 302 days from today.

About Easter 2027

Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The date of Easter is determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox, which means it can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. Popular traditions include Easter egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, decorating eggs, and special church services. The egg symbolizes new life and resurrection, while the Easter Bunny tradition originated among German Lutherans.

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The History of Easter

Easter is the oldest and most important Christian holiday, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. But many Easter traditions actually predate Christianity and come from pagan spring festivals celebrating new life and rebirth. The name 'Easter' itself may come from Eostre, the Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring and dawn, whose festival was held at the vernal equinox.

The earliest recorded Christian celebration of Easter dates to the 2nd century, but there was immediate disagreement about when exactly to celebrate it. Some churches wanted it always on a Sunday (the day of resurrection), while others wanted it on the 14th of Nisan (the Jewish Passover date, regardless of the day of the week). The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD settled the matter: Easter would be on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox.

Easter customs like eggs and bunnies come from these ancient pagan celebrations. Eggs have been symbols of fertility and new life for thousands of years across many cultures — ancient Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all dyed eggs for spring festivals. The Easter bunny originated in Germany as the 'Osterhase,' a hare that laid eggs for good children. German immigrants brought the tradition to America in the 1700s.

Easter became a major American holiday in the 19th century. The White House Easter Egg Roll started in 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the White House lawn to children after Congress banned egg rolling on the Capitol grounds. The custom of giving Easter baskets, filled with candy and colored eggs, also developed during this Victorian era. Today, Easter is celebrated by over 2 billion Christians worldwide.

Easter Traditions Explained

🐣 Easter Eggs

Eggs have symbolized new life and rebirth for thousands of years, predating Christianity. Ancient Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all dyed eggs for spring festivals. Early Christians adopted eggs as a symbol of Jesus' resurrection — the hard shell representing the sealed tomb and the chick inside representing new life. In medieval Europe, eggs were forbidden during Lent, so people would decorate and enjoy them on Easter Sunday as a special treat. Today, Americans dye over 180 million eggs each Easter.

🐰 The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny originated in Germany as the 'Osterhase' or Easter Hare. Hares and rabbits have long been symbols of fertility and spring. According to German folklore, this magical hare would lay colorful eggs in nests that children built in their caps and bonnets the night before Easter. German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and it spread across America. By the 19th century, the Easter Bunny was one of the most beloved Easter symbols.

🏠 Easter Baskets

Easter baskets evolved from the German tradition of children building nests for the Easter hare to lay eggs in. As the tradition spread to America, these nests became baskets, and they started being filled with candy and toys along with eggs. The basket itself symbolizes the nest — new life and birth — and its handle represents carrying blessings. The Easter basket tradition really took off in the 20th century with the rise of commercial candy manufacturers.

🐑 Lamb of God

The lamb is an important Easter symbol representing Jesus Christ as the 'Lamb of God' sacrificed for humanity's sins. This comes from the Jewish Passover tradition where lambs were sacrificed and their blood marked doorways so the Angel of Death would pass over. In early Christianity, lamb was the traditional Easter meal. Today, many people still serve lamb for Easter dinner, and lamb-shaped cakes called 'Easter lambs' are popular in many European countries.

🥚 Easter Egg Hunts

Easter egg hunts are a relatively modern tradition that became popular in 19th-century America. Children hunt for hidden colored eggs — originally real hard-boiled eggs, now often plastic eggs filled with candy. The largest Easter egg hunt in the world is held at the White House each year, where over 30,000 children roll eggs down the South Lawn with wooden spoons. This tradition started in 1878 with President Rutherford B. Hayes.

🍫 Easter Candy

Easter is the second biggest candy holiday after Halloween — Americans spend over $2 billion on Easter candy each year. The most popular Easter candies are chocolate bunnies (first made in Germany in the 1800s), jelly beans (which became Easter candy in the 1930s because their egg shape symbolized rebirth), and marshmallow Peeps (invented in 1953). Over 90 million chocolate bunnies are produced each Easter, and enough jelly beans to circle the Earth three times.

How to Celebrate Easter 2027

•Learn about the cultural traditions and customs associated with this day.
•Try preparing traditional dishes or foods connected to the celebration.
•Attend cultural events, performances, or exhibitions in your community.
•Share stories and traditions with younger generations to keep them alive.
•Connect with friends and family to celebrate together.

Easter 2027 Future Dates

In 2027, Easter 2027 falls on Sunday, March 28, 2027. Here are the upcoming dates for the next few years:

Year	Date	Day of Week
2028	March 28	Tuesday
2029	March 28	Wednesday
2030	March 28	Thursday

* Dates for floating holidays may vary from year to year. Confirm with official sources.

More Holidays in March 2027

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Daylight Saving Start 2027

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National Napping Day 2027

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St Patrick's Day 2027

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Quick Facts About Easter 2027

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Date

Sunday, March 28, 2027

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Easter 2027 FAQ

Why does Easter's date change every year?

Easter is a 'movable feast' because it's based on the lunar calendar, not the solar calendar we use for most dates. The Council of Nicaea in 325 AD ruled that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox (March 21st). This means Easter can fall anywhere between March 22nd and April 25th. The word 'movable feast' is actually an oxymoron — it moves, but it's always a feast!

Where did the Easter Bunny come from?

The Easter Bunny originated in Germany as the 'Osterhase' or Easter Hare. German folklore told of a magical hare that would lay colored eggs in nests that children built out of their caps and bonnets the night before Easter. German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and it gradually spread across America. By the mid-19th century, the Easter Bunny was a beloved figure, and candy makers started producing chocolate bunnies by the 1890s.

Why are eggs an Easter symbol?

Eggs have symbolized fertility, rebirth, and new life for thousands of years across many cultures — ancient Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all dyed eggs for spring festivals. Early Christians adopted this symbol: the hard eggshell represents Jesus' sealed tomb, and the chick breaking out represents his resurrection. During medieval Lent, Christians couldn't eat eggs, so they decorated them and ate them on Easter Sunday as a special celebration.

What's the White House Easter Egg Roll?

The White House Easter Egg Roll is the largest public event at the White House and one of America's oldest traditions. It started in 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes opened the White House South Lawn to children after Congress banned egg rolling on the Capitol grounds because it was ruining the lawn. Today, over 30,000 children and families attend each year, rolling eggs with wooden spoons, meeting the President and First Lady, and enjoying Easter activities.

How much candy do Americans eat at Easter?

Easter is the second biggest candy holiday after Halloween, with Americans spending over $2 billion annually on Easter candy. The most popular items are chocolate bunnies (90 million produced each year), jelly beans (16 billion jelly beans — enough to circle the Earth three times), and marshmallow Peeps (over 2 billion Peeps produced annually). The average American consumes about 1.5 pounds of Easter candy each year — mostly chocolate!