Easter Monday

🐰 🇨🇭 Switzerland • April 6, 2026

Days off: 1 days • Falls on Monday

Today is
July 28, 2026
Tuesday
Next Holiday
113days
113 days
Year Work Progress
ended
Easter Monday — holiday, Switzerland (April 6, 2026)

Easter Monday Description

Easter Monday (Ostermontag) follows Easter Sunday and is a public holiday in most Swiss cantons. In 2026, it falls on April 6th. While Easter Sunday itself is not a public holiday (as it always falls on a Sunday), Easter Monday gives workers a long Easter weekend. Government offices, banks, and schools are closed in observing cantons. It is a popular day for family brunches, outdoor activities, and the traditional Easter egg hunts that continue from Sunday. Chocolate shops and bakeries are notably busy in the days leading up to Easter. In some predominantly Protestant cantons, Easter Monday may not be observed — Valais and Ticino, for example, have different arrangements. Check your specific canton's holiday calendar.

📜 History & Origins

Easter Monday extends the Resurrection celebration into a second day, a tradition dating to the early Church. Switzerland, as a federal state with both Protestant and Catholic heritage, retains it as a nationwide holiday despite varying observance.

🎉 How It's Celebrated

Easter egg hunts are the highlight for children, with chocolate eggs hidden in gardens and parks. In Zurich, the tradition of Zwanzgerle involves children challenging adults to break decorated eggs with a 20-cent coin. Families take the first spring hikes through Alpine meadows as snow begins to melt.

🍽️ Traditional Foods

Osterfladen (Swiss Easter tart made with rice or semolina filling) is a specialty. Chocolate bunnies and eggs from Swiss chocolatiers like Lindt and Cailler fill Easter baskets.

← Previous Good Friday Next Labour Day →