Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday, known in Germany as Ostersonntag, will be celebrated on April 5, 2026. It is the central feast of the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. German Easter observances developed through the medieval church year, with Easter Sunday marking the joyful conclusion of Lent, Holy Week, and the solemn services of Good Friday and Holy Saturday. In Germany, Easter Monday is also a nationwide public holiday, creating a longer period for religious observance, family gatherings, and travel.

German Easter culture combines Christian symbolism with older seasonal customs associated with the arrival of spring. Although the precise origins of every folk tradition are complex, symbols such as eggs, young animals, greenery, and fire came to represent new life, renewal, and the transition from winter to spring. The Easter bunny, or Osterhase, became especially established in German-speaking regions from the early modern period onward and was later popularized internationally. Today, Easter Sunday is observed both as an important church festival and as a widely shared cultural celebration across Germany, including among families who are not religiously active.

Many Germans begin Easter Sunday with a church service, often featuring festive music, readings about the resurrection, and the blessing of candles or food. In Catholic regions, Easter follows the solemn Easter Vigil held on Holy Saturday, while Protestant congregations commonly hold joyful morning services. Families may exchange the greeting "Frohe Ostern!" meaning "Happy Easter!" Children traditionally search for colored or chocolate eggs hidden by the Easter bunny, and decorated eggs are displayed on branches, wreaths, or seasonal arrangements in homes and gardens.

A festive Easter breakfast or brunch is common, with bread rolls, butter, cheese, cold meats, jam, and boiled eggs; regional tables may also include an Osterzopf, a braided sweet yeast bread, or an Easter lamb cake known as an Osterlamm. Chocolate eggs, marzipan, and other sweets are popular gifts for children. In parts of Germany, especially in rural and Catholic areas, Easter bonfires called Osterfeuer are lit around the Easter season, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness, although local dates and regulations vary. Families may also take spring walks, visit relatives, and enjoy public Easter markets decorated with flowers, painted eggs, and handmade crafts.