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04 Mar. 2026

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When is Easter 2026: dates of celebration for Orthodox and Catholics, traditions and prohibitions

Q: When is Easter in Poland this year?

The public holidays in Poland for Wielkanoc are April 5 and 6. In Germany, April 3, 5 and 6.

Q: Who doesn't celebrate Easter?

In some countries, Easter is simply not a holiday, because the majority of the population has a completely different faith. For example, we are talking about China, Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Cambodia. However, Easter is not prohibited there, and in areas where there are Christian communities, believers can celebrate if they wish.

Q: How should you greet on Easter?

In order not to get into an awkward situation, we remind you that during the Easter holidays, people greet with "Christ is risen!" and respond with "Truly he is risen!". Occasionally, on Easter, you can still hear the Church Slavonic form of greeting - "Christ is risen."

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Table of contents

Dates of Easter celebration in 2026 among Catholics and Orthodox
How is the date of Easter determined?
Easter calendar 2026 in Ukraine
How is Easter celebrated in Ukraine?
What not to do on Easter?

When is Easter 2026: dates of celebration for Orthodox and Catholics, traditions and prohibitions

Easter is the main Christian holiday, the date of which changes every year. Find out when Orthodox and Catholics will celebrate Easter in Ukraine in 2026, as well as what traditions and prohibitions accompany this holiday

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Easter is the main Christian holiday, symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Ukrainians always look forward to this bright day to celebrate the joy of life and spiritual rebirth with their families.

The date of Easter celebration changes every year, as it is determined by certain calendar rules, but it always falls on a Sunday. Read in our material when Catholics and Orthodox will celebrate Easter in 2026, as well as about the main traditions and prohibitions of the holiday.

Previously, we also talked about whether there will be a day off on March 8, 2026 and whether an additional day off will be given on March 9.

Dates of Easter celebration in 2026 among Catholics and Orthodox

In 2026, Ukrainians of different confessions will celebrate Easter on different days:

- Orthodox and Greek Catholics will celebrate the holiday on April 12.

- Catholics – April 5.

How is the date of Easter determined?

Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon, which occurs no earlier than the vernal equinox (March 21). If the full moon falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Easter is celebrated the following week.

The difference between the dates of the celebration of Catholic and Orthodox Easter arises due to the use of different counting systems, as well as the peculiarities of Paschalia in the Orthodox tradition. In addition, there is an additional rule for Orthodox Christians: if the date coincides with the Jewish Passover, the holiday is transferred to the next Sunday after its completion. Catholics do not have such a restriction.

That is why in 2026 Catholic Easter falls on April 5, and Orthodox - on April 12, due to the coincidence of the Catholic date with Passover.

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Easter calendar 2026 in Ukraine

The celebration of Easter is not limited to just one day. It is preceded by a period of preparation – Great Lent and Holy Week, and after the Resurrection of Christ, the Bright Week and memorial days continue. Here are the main dates of the Easter cycle in 2026:

- Annunciation – March 25;

- Palm Sunday – March 29;

- Lazarus Saturday – April 4;

- Maundy Thursday – April 9;

- Good Friday – April 10;

- Holy Saturday – April 11;

- Easter – April 12;

- Bright Week – April 13-19;

- Radonitsa – April 21;

- Trinity – May 24.

Lent in 2026 lasts from February 23 and ends with Easter on April 12.

Read here how to get to Ukraine and what documents you need to have for entry in 2026.

Rules for entering Ukraine for foreigners in 2026 in this article.

How is Easter celebrated in Ukraine?

Not only the date, but also the customs of the holiday differ among different Christian denominations. Ukrainians adhere mainly to Orthodox Easter traditions:

▪️ They make pysanka and krashanka - painted and dyed eggs with various patterns, which usually differ depending on the region.

▪️ After the end of Lent, they serve joldets, cabbage rolls, sausage, meat pies, varenyky on the festive table, and for dessert, Easter cake (yeast or cheese) is a must.

▪️ They consecrate baskets - products for the festive table are taken to church for blessing. The list of items in the festive basket is also important, because alcohol, except for Cahors, dishes made from animal blood, fruits and vegetables, and material values cannot be consecrated.

In the Orthodox calendar, this is a day of great joy – bells ring everywhere, songs and greetings are heard.

Other customs are popular among Catholics, in particular, the Easter Bunny brings sweets and hides chocolate eggs for children.

Read also how the ancestors of Ukrainians celebrated Easter and why preparations for the holiday continued throughout Holy Week.

What not to do on Easter?

In addition to the traditions of the celebration, Easter also has certain restrictions:

▪️ Physical labor - heavy work, cleaning or gardening are prohibited.

▪️ Negativity and conflicts - anger, envy, resentment and quarrels are prohibited.

▪️ Throwing away holy products - leftovers from the basket are not thrown away, they are buried or burned.

▪️ Magic rituals - any fortune-telling and superstitions do not correspond to the essence of the holiday.

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In the official Visit Ukraine store you can find high-quality clothes (hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts), cozy accessories and unique souvenirs with Ukrainian symbols and Easter motifs. These are not just things, but a way to create a festive mood, emphasize love for traditions and make a sincere gift to yourself, family or friends.

How foreigners can help Ukraine during their trip - we explain at the link.

We remind you! Foreigners planning a trip to Ukraine in 2026 should take care not only of their documents, but also of real medical protection for the entire period of their stay. The Visit Ukraine platform is launching an updated Life & Health insurance program, which combines emergency medical care, accident insurance and passive military risk coverage and is suitable for submitting visa applications.

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Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

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Frequantly

asked questions

When is Easter in Ukraine according to the new calendar?

According to the new calendar (new Julian), which is used by the OCU and the UGCC, Easter (Passover) in Ukraine in 2026 will be celebrated on April 12. Instead, Catholics will celebrate Easter on April 5, 2026.

When is Easter in Poland this year?

Who doesn't celebrate Easter?

How should you greet on Easter?