When is Easter celebrated in 2026
Easter, or Bright Resurrection of Christ, is the main Christian holiday, which is celebrated annually in spring. The date of the celebration is rolling and calculated according to a special church calendar. In 2026, the celebrations will take place in the first half of April, a week earlier than last year. Izvestia tells us when believers will celebrate Easter and how to prepare for it properly.
What date is Easter celebrated in 2026?
The holiday falls on the first Sunday after the first spring full moon, which comes after the vernal equinox on March 21. This calculation system was adopted at the First Ecumenical Council in 325. Since then, celebrations for all Orthodox churches have been held on a single day.
Traditionally, Easter is preceded by Great Lent, the strictest and longest among Christians, which lasts from February 23 to April 11 inclusive. The celebration itself in 2026 will come on April 12.
The essence and spiritual significance of the holiday
Easter is the central event of the Christian faith, symbolizing the victory of life over death. The celebration is based on the biblical tradition of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after the crucifixion.
For believers, this event has a sacred significance. Through the death and Resurrection of Christ, people are freed from the bondage of sin, gaining hope for immortality in the Kingdom of God. The word "Easter" came to us from the Greek language and means "passing away", "deliverance".
On Easter night, believers experience spiritual renewal and the joy of the Savior's Resurrection. It is a time of special prayer, solemn divine services, and deep inner joy shared with loved ones.
Preparation for Easter: Lent and Maundy Thursday
Preparations for the holiday begin seven weeks before it begins — with Great Lent. This period is intended for spiritual purification through prayer, repentance and abstinence from fast food, which implies not only abstinence from certain foods (meat, milk, eggs), but also getting rid of sinful thoughts.
The last week before Easter, Holy Week, is dedicated to the memories of the last days of Christ's earthly life. In 2026, it will be held from April 6 to 11. Believers on these days observe a particularly strict fast, attend church services that recreate the story of the passion of Christ, and prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection.
Of particular importance is Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday), which will be celebrated on April 9th. On this day, believers strive to receive communion, restore order in the house, and complete the preparation of Easter treats. It is also customary to consecrate the so-called Thursday salt, which, according to tradition, is used as a powerful talisman against diseases and seasoning for dishes after fasting.
How is the Easter service going?
The culmination of the holiday is the night Easter service. Every year it begins on Saturday evening and lasts until dawn on Sunday. Around midnight, a procession takes place around the church: clergy and parishioners with lighted candles walk around the church to the festive bell ringing, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness.
In many churches, everyone is allowed to climb the bell tower and ring the bells themselves, announcing the Resurrection of Christ.
An important part of the service is the consecration of cakes, Easter eggs, colored eggs, as well as a special bread — artos, which remains in the temple throughout Holy Week, and then is distributed to the faithful as a spiritual strengthening.
Easter treats: what is being prepared for the holiday
The traditional Easter table is a symbol of joy and the end of Lent. The main treats that are prepared and consecrated in the church:
- kulich: tall sweet bread with raisins and candied fruits, symbolizing the presence of God in the world;
- Cottage cheese Easter: a sweet curd dish, often in the shape of a truncated pyramid, reminiscent of Golgotha;
- Painted eggs: usually red in color, as a sign of the shed blood of Christ and a symbol of rebirth.
What is recommended for Easter
On the day of the feast, believers greet each other with the words "Christ is risen! — Truly risen!", accompanying the Christening with a triple kiss. It is also customary to give gifts to loved ones, help those in need, and start new good deeds that will benefit others.
Another tradition is to gather with relatives at the table, invite guests, share consecrated products with each other and play "cue ball", a traditional folk game where two participants fight with colored eggs, and the winner takes the broken egg.
But most of all, on a holiday, it is important to attend a divine service, pray for loved ones and keep a bright mood throughout the day, rejoicing at the Resurrection of Christ.
What not to do on Easter: the main prohibitions
Easter is a day of spiritual joy. The holiday requires harmony, reconciliation and a joyful mood, so a number of actions are considered inappropriate. In particular, it is forbidden:
- conflict and sadness;
- to do household work: cleaning, washing or ironing must be completed before the holiday;
- alcohol and food abuse: talking after fasting should be moderate so as not to turn the holiday into gluttony;
- throwing away consecrated foods: the remains of the Easter meal, especially the crumbs from the cake and eggshells, are usually burned or given to birds.;
- Commemorating the dead: there is a special day after Easter for this — Radonitsa (in 2026 — April 21).
Easter Week and post-holiday traditions
The celebration of Easter is not limited to one day. The following week is called Bright Week (it will last from April 12 to April 18). It includes Easter Sunday and the six following days before the week of St. Thomas (Antipascha). These days, solemn services continue in churches, and fast days on Wednesday and Friday are canceled.
Earlier, Izvestia told how Antipaskha and Krasnaya Gorka are celebrated.
All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
