Public holiday in Greece
Orthodox Easter Day in Greece
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Nationwide public holiday
Orthodox Easter Day is a nationwide public holiday in Greece, marking the Easter Sunday of the Greek Orthodox calendar. It is one of the most significant dates in the Greek religious year and is followed by Easter Monday.
About Orthodox Easter Day in Greece
In Greece, Orthodox Easter Day is the central feast of the Greek Orthodox calendar and a nationwide public holiday. Its date changes each year because it follows the Orthodox Paschal cycle, so it may fall on a different Sunday from Western Easter. The day sits at the peak of the Holy Week period and is closely linked to the build-up to Easter Saturday night, when churches proclaim the Resurrection. In practical terms, it is the main religious holiday of spring for many people in Greece, with family meals and travel often centered around it. It is also followed by Easter Monday, which extends the holiday period.
History
The observance follows the Greek Orthodox Church’s liturgical calendar and the Orthodox calculation of Easter, which differs from the Western Christian calendar. In modern Greece it has long been recognized as a nationwide public holiday.
Traditions
A midnight church service on Easter Saturday is the key religious moment connected with the day, with worshippers greeting one another after the proclamation of the Resurrection. Traditional foods associated with the feast include tsoureki, the braided Easter bread, and red-dyed eggs, which are shared and used in the custom of cracking eggs against each other.
How Orthodox Easter Day is celebrated in Greece
Many people attend church services around midnight on Easter Saturday, then continue with family gatherings and a festive meal on Easter Day. Homes and tables are often prepared for the feast with Easter foods, and relatives commonly spend the day together after the fast of Lent and Holy Week.
Interesting facts
The holiday usually falls in a different week from Catholic and Protestant Easter because the Orthodox date is calculated separately. It is one of the few Greek public holidays whose timing is tied directly to the church calendar rather than a fixed civil date.
Dates in published calendars
| Year | Holiday date | Observed date | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 Apr 2026 | — | Nationwide |
Import sources
- Generic ICS feed
An import is not an independent verification.