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Easter 2025: Key Dates and Observances Unveiled
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — As the Easter season approaches, Christians worldwide prepare for one of the most significant holidays in their faith. This year, Easter Sunday will be celebrated on April 20, 2025, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a central tenet of Christianity.
The timing of Easter varies each year, determined by the first full moon occurring after the spring equinox. For 2025, the spring equinox will take place on March 20, followed by the Paschal Full Moon on April 12, setting the stage for Easter Sunday on April 20.
The Easter season officially begins with Ash Wednesday, which falls on March 5, 2025. This day marks the start of Lent, a period of 40 days of fasting, prayer, and repentance that continues until Good Friday. According to the Catholic tradition, worshipers receive ashes on their foreheads, symbolizing penance and mortality.
Lent culminates in Good Friday, observed on April 18, 2025, representing the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a solemn day of reflection for many Christians, acknowledging the sacrifice made by Christ.
Prior to Lent, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, will be observed on March 4, 2025. This day is often characterized by feasting and celebration, allowing individuals to indulge in rich foods before the period of fasting begins.
Additionally, Palm Sunday, the Sunday preceding Easter, falls on April 13, 2025, and marks the beginning of Holy Week. This week is significant for Christians, leading up to the commemoration of the final days of Jesus’s life.
Understanding the fluctuating dates of Easter and its related observances can be complex. The variance is due to the lunar calendar, which differs from the solar calendar that governs most of the year’s other holidays. Historically, the decision to celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon draws from its ties to the Jewish Passover, during which the Last Supper occurred.
Maria Francis from the USA Today contributed to this report. For many, these upcoming dates serve as a time of reflection, celebration, and spiritual renewal.
