The Complete Guide to Easter 2024

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until March 31, 2024

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Easter 2019 Facts and History

Easter is a Christian holiday celebrated all over the world by nearly all Christian denominations. The day is also known as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday. In some Christian faiths, Easter is part of a days’ long series of events that begins the Thursday before Easter with Maundy Thursday, continues to Good Friday through Easter Sunday. The week leading up to Easter is sometimes referred to as Holy Week.

Easter

When Is Easter 2019 Held?

Unlike the Christian holiday of Christmas, Easter is not held on the same date every year. Instead, the holiday is held on the first Sunday following the ecclesiastical full moon that falls the closest to March 21 each year. The moving date was originally due to Christians’ desire to celebrate Easter shortly after Passover. As the date of the Jewish holiday moves based on lunar cycles, so did Easter. In 325 CE, the Council of Niacea created an equation to calculate the date for Easter Sunday each year. Easter is sometimes held on different dates in the Eastern Orthodox denominations of Christianity due to differences in their calendar.

What Does Easter 2019 Celebrate?

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a historical figure that Christians believe was the son of God. Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday, but his body was discovered missing from his tomb that following Sunday. Christians believe that Jesus was taken to Heaven to live alongside God, and that his crucifixion opens up a path for people to believe in him to also be resurrected after Death. This is one of the core tenants of the Christian faith, and Easter is celebrated to remind Christians of it.

Religious Easter 2019 Traditions

For religious Christians, Easter is usually celebrated by attending a church service or mass on Easter Sunday. Services and masses may also be held on other days during Holy Week. After or before church, families may gather to eat meals together.

Secular Easter 2019 Traditions

Easter is not a federal holiday in the United States but some businesses do close for all or part of the day on Good Friday and/or Easter Sunday to allow employees time to spend with their families. Over the years, a number of non-religious traditions have become associated with Easter and may be enjoyed by people who are not religious or even by those who do not subscribe to the Christian faith. Some of these traditions include:

  • Easter Eggs: Dyeing or otherwise decorating eggs is a tradition that originated in ancient Mesopotamia. The eggs were originally meant to symbolize the empty tomb after Christ’s Resurrection, but many people see them simply as a symbol of Easter in the modern age. In some communities, plastic Easter eggs are hidden for children to find in “Easter Egg Hunts” in honor of the holiday.
  • Easter Baskets: Many people give baskets filled with candies, Easter eggs and other small gifts to friends and family, especially to children.
  • The Easter Bunny: Children are often told that Easter baskets and Easter eggs are left by a figure known as the Easter Bunny. The character emerged out of Germany where Lutheran Christians first came up with the creature during the 17th century.
DateHolidayType
January 2019
Jan 1 – TuesNew Year’s Day 2019National holiday
Jan 6 – SunEpiphany 2019Christian
Jan 7 – MonOrthodox Christmas Day 2019Orthodox Christian
Jan 14 – MonOrthodox New Year 2019Orthodox Christian
Jan 15 – TuesMakar Sankranti 2019Hindu
Jan 21 – MonTu B’Shevat 2019Jewish
Jan 21 – MonMartin Luther King Day 2019National holiday
February 2019
Feb 1 – FriNational Freedom Day 2019Observance
Feb 1 – FriNational Wear Red Day 2019Observance
Feb 2 – SatGroundhog Day 2019Observance
Feb 5 – TuesChinese New Year 2019Observance
Feb 12 – TuesLincoln’s Birthday 2019Observance
Feb 14 – ThursValentine’s Day 2019Observance
Feb 18 – MonPresidents’ Day – Washington’s Birthday 2019National holiday
March 2019
Mar 1 – FriRead Across America Day 2019Observance
Mar 1 – FriEmployee Appreciation Day 2019Observance
Mar 5 – TuesMaha Shivaratri 2019Hindu
Mar 5 – TuesMardi Gras 2019Christian
Mar 6 – WedLent 2019Christian
Mar 6 – WedAsh Wednesday 2019Christian
Mar 10 – SunDaylight Saving Time – begins 2019Daylight Saving
Mar 17 – SunSt. Patrick’s Day 2019Observance
Mar 20 – WedSpring/Fall – March equinox 2019Season
Mar 21 – ThurPurim 2019Jewish
Mar 21 – ThursHoli 2019Hindu
April 2019
Apr 1 – MonApril Fools’ Day 2019Observance
Apr 3 – WedIsra and Mi’raj 2019Muslim
Apr 13 – SatThomas Jefferson Birthday 2019Observance
Apr 14 – SunRama Navami 2019Hindu
Apr 14 -SunPalm Sunday 2019Christian
Apr 15 – MonTax Day 2019Observance
Apr 16 – TuesNational Library Workers Day 2019Observance
Apr 18 – ThursMaundy Thursday 2019Christian
Apr 19 – FriGood Friday 2019Christian
Apr 20 – SatHoly Saturday 2019Christian
Apr 20 – SatPassover – Starts 2019Jewish
Apr 21 – SunLaylat al Bara’at 2019Muslim
Apr 21 – SunEaster 2019Christian
Apr 21 – SunEarth Day 2019Observance
Apr 22 – MonEaster Monday 2019Christian
Apr 24 – WedAdministrative Professionals Day 2019Observance
Apr 25 – ThursTake our Daughters and Sons to Work Day 2019Observance
Apr 26 – FriOrthodox Good Friday 2019Orthodox Christian
Apr 26 – FriArbor Day 2019Observance
Apr 27 – SatPassover – Final Day 2019Jewish
Apr 28 – SunOrthodox Easter 2019Orthodox Christian
May 2019
May 1 – WedMay Day 2019Observance
May 2 – ThurYom Hashoah 2019Jewish
May 2 – ThursNational Day of Prayer 2019Observance
May 5 – SunCinco de Mayo 2019Observance
May 6 – MonNational Nurses Day 2019Observance
May 6 – MonRamadan starts 2019Muslim
May 12 – SunMothers’ Day 2019Observance
May 15 – WedPeace Officers Memorial Day 2019Observance
May 18 – SatArmed Forces Day 2019Observance
May 22 – WedNational Maritime Day 2019Observance
May 23 – ThursLag BaOmer 2019Jewish
May 27 – MonMemorial Day 2019National holiday
May 30 – ThursAscension Day 2019Christian
Jun 1 – SatLaylat al Qadr 2019Muslim
June 2019
Jun 1 – SatLaylat al Qadr 2019Muslim
Jun 5 – WedEid al-Fitr 2019Muslim
Jun 6 – ThursD-Day 2019Observance
Jun 9 – SunShavuot 2019Jewish
Jun 9 – SunPentecost 2019Christian
Jun 10 – MonWhit Monday 2019Christian
Jun 14 – FriFlag Day 2019Observance
Jun 16 – SunFathers’ Day 2019Observance
Jun 20 – ThursCorpus Christi 2019Christian
Jun 21 – FriSummer/Winter Solstice 2019Season
July 2019
Jul 4 – ThursRath Yatra 2019Hindu
Jul 4 – Thurs4th of July – Independence Day 2019National holiday
Jul 28 – SunParents Day 2019Observance
August 2019
Aug 4 – SunFriendship Day 2019Observance
Aug 11 – SunDay of Arafat 2019Muslim
Aug 11 – SunTisha B’Av 2019Jewish
Aug 11 – SunEid al-Adha 2019Muslim
Aug 14 – WedRaksha Bandhan 2019Hindu
Aug 15 – ThursAssumption of Mary 2019Christian
Aug 19 – MonNational Aviation Day 2019Observance
Aug 21 – WedSenior Citizens Day 2019Observance
Aug 23 – FriKrishna Janmashtami 2019Hindu
Aug 26 – MonWomen’s Equality Day 2019Observance
Aug 31 – SatMuharram 2019Muslim
September 2019
Sept 2 – MonGanesh Chaturthi 2019Hindu
Sep 2 – MonLabor Day 2019National holiday
Sep 8 – SunNational Grandparents Day 2019Observance
Sep 10 – TuesAshura 2019Muslim
Sep 11 – WedPatriot Day 2019Observance
Sep 17 – TuesConstitution Citizenship Day 2019Observance
Sep 23 – MonFall/ Spring – September equinox 2019Season
Sept 29 – SunNavratri 2019Hindu
Sept 30 – MonRosh Hashana 2019Jewish
October 2019
Oct 7 – MonChild Health Day 2019Observance
Oct 7 – MonDussehra 2019Hindu
Oct 9 – WedLeif Erikson 2019Observance
Oct 9 – WedYom Kippur 2019Jewish
Oct 14 – MonSukkot 2019Jewish
Oct 14 – MonColumbus Day 2019National holiday
Oct 16 – WedBoss’s Day 2019Observance
Oct 21 – MonShemini Atzeret 2019Jewish
Oct 22 – TuesSimchat Torah 2019Jewish
Oct 27 – SunDiwali 2019Hindu
Oct 31 – ThursHalloween 2019Observance
November 2019
Nov 1 – FriAll Saints’ Day 2019Christian
Nov 2 – FriAll Souls Day 2019Christian
Nov 3 – SunDaylight Saving Time – ends 2019Daylight Saving
Nov 10 – SunThe Prophet’s Birthday 2019Muslim
Nov 11 – MonVeterans Day 2019National holiday
Nov 28 – ThursThanksgiving Day 2019National holiday
Nov 29 – FriBlack Friday 2019Observance
December 2019
Dec 2 – MonCyber Monday 2019Observance
Dec 1 – SunAdvent 2019Christian
Dec 6 – FriSt Nicholas Day 2019Christian
Dec 7 – SatPearl Harbor Remebrance Day 2019Observance
Dec 17 – TuesWright Brothers Day 2019Observance
Dec 22 – SunWinter/Summer Solstice 2019Season
Dec 23 – MonHanukkah/Chanukah – Starts 2019Jewish
Dec 24 – TuesChristmas Eve 2019Christian
Dec 25 – WedChristmas Day 2019National holiday
Dec 26 – ThursKwanzaa -thru Jan 1 2019Observance
Dec 30 – MonHanukkah/Chanukah – Final Day 2019Jewish
Dec 31 – TuesNew Years Eve 2019Observance