Easter Sunday Description
Easter Sunday (Ostersonntag) on April 5, 2026 celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is the most important festival in the Christian liturgical year. As Easter Sunday always falls on a Sunday, it is not a separate public holiday in Germany — however, it is the centerpiece of the four-day Easter weekend (Good Friday through Easter Monday). Church services are the focal point of the day, with many Germans attending even if they do not regularly go to church. Secular traditions include Easter egg hunts (Ostereiersuche) for children, decorating with spring flowers and painted eggs, and the Easter bonfire (Osterfeuer) in many northern German communities held the night before. Bakeries sell traditional Easter lamb cakes and sweet braided bread (Osterzopf). Retail shops are closed as per Sunday trading laws. Restaurants, especially those serving Easter brunch, are typically busy and advance reservations are recommended.
