Days Until Easter
Easter by the numbers
Easter fun facts
How Easter date is calculated
Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March. The date shifts each year — anywhere from 22 March to 25 April — which is why it never lands on the same calendar day twice in a row.
Origin of Easter eggs
Eggs were a symbol of new life and rebirth long before Christianity. Early Christians dyed eggs red to represent Christ's blood, and the tradition of decorating eggs for Easter spread across Europe from medieval times.
Chocolate at Easter
Over 90 million chocolate Easter eggs are sold in the UK each year, and Americans spend roughly $3 billion on Easter candy annually. Chocolate eggs became popular in the 19th century when Fry's of Bristol made the first hollow egg in 1873.
Origin of the Easter bunny
The Easter bunny arrived in America with German immigrants in the 1700s. Their folklore told of an egg-laying hare called "Osterhase" who judged whether children had been good — rewarding them with colourful eggs hidden in gardens.
How is the Easter countdown calculated?
The countdown measures the exact number of seconds between right now and midnight on Easter Sunday — the moment the holiday begins in your local time zone. That total is broken down into days, hours, minutes, and seconds, and the display refreshes every second so you always see the precise time remaining.
Unlike fixed holidays, Easter moves every year. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox (21 March), which is why the date shifts anywhere between 22 March and 25 April. The lunar cycle and the church calendar interact to produce a different date each year — but always a Sunday.
Clockr uses the anonymous Gregorian algorithm to calculate the correct Western Easter date for any year. Once Easter Sunday has passed, the countdown automatically rolls over to the following year's Easter — no refresh or manual date selection required. The algorithm handles leap years and century rules so the date is always accurate.
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Easter 2027?
The number changes every day, but you can see the live count at the top of this page — it updates every second. Easter 2027 falls on Sunday 28 March. The countdown shows the exact days, hours, minutes, and seconds remaining until midnight on that date.
Why does Easter change date every year?
Easter is tied to the lunar calendar, not a fixed calendar date. It falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March. Because the moon's cycle does not align neatly with the solar year, Easter shifts between late March and late April every year.
What is the earliest and latest Easter can fall?
The earliest Easter can fall is 22 March, and the latest is 25 April. These extremes are rare — Easter on 22 March last occurred in 1818 and will not happen again until 2285. The latest date, 25 April, last occurred in 1943 and will not recur until 2038.
What is the difference between Catholic and Orthodox Easter?
Western churches (Catholic, Protestant, Anglican) use the Gregorian calendar to calculate Easter. Eastern Orthodox churches use the older Julian calendar for the equinox and full moon, which often places Orthodox Easter one to five weeks later. In some years both traditions coincide on the same Sunday.
Where did Easter eggs come from?
Eggs symbolised new life and rebirth long before Christianity. Early Christians adopted the egg as a symbol of the empty tomb and resurrection. Medieval Europeans dyed eggs red to represent Christ's blood, and the tradition of decorating eggs for Easter spread across the continent from there.
What is Good Friday and why is it called good?
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ — two days before Easter Sunday. The name likely comes from "God's Friday" or the archaic meaning of "good" as "holy." Despite remembering a day of suffering, Christians regard it as good because it led to the resurrection celebrated on Easter.
How is Easter calculated in the Southern Hemisphere?
The same Gregorian algorithm is used worldwide — Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, regardless of hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere this falls during autumn rather than spring, but the date calculation does not change. Local traditions may differ, but the calendar date is identical.
What is the most popular Easter tradition worldwide?
Attending church services on Easter Sunday is the most widely practised tradition globally among Christians. Secular customs such as Easter egg hunts, chocolate eggs, and family meals are enormously popular too — especially in the UK, US, Australia, and much of Europe. The Easter bunny is particularly beloved in German-influenced cultures.