Few things trip up holiday planners quite like Easter’s shifting dates. For 2025, the dates are set: Good Friday on April 18, Easter Sunday on April 20, and Easter Monday on April 21. But knowing the calendar is only half the story—whether you’re in Ireland or Canada, the public holiday rules and local customs can make or break your long weekend.

4 related posts

Good Friday 2025: April 18, 2025 · Easter Sunday 2025: April 20, 2025 · Easter Monday 2025: April 21, 2025 · Public holidays in Ireland: Easter Monday only (Good Friday not statutory) · Good Friday in Canada: Statutory holiday nationwide

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact business opening hours on Good Friday vary by location (Ireland.com)
  • Exact schedule of Easter events in 2025 for specific towns is not yet announced (Ireland.com)
  • Whether public transport will run on a regular or Sunday schedule on Good Friday in Canada is not uniformly determined (Government of Canada)
3Timeline signal
  • Easter 2025 falls relatively late compared to the earliest possible date of March 22 (timeanddate.com)
4What’s next
  • Plan activities like Easter egg hunts and spring festivals (Ireland.com)

Five key facts about Easter weekend 2025: two countries, two different holiday patterns.

Fact Value
Easter Sunday 2025 April 20 (timeanddate.com)
Good Friday 2025 April 18 (timeanddate.com)
Easter Monday 2025 April 21 (Workplace Relations Commission)
Public holiday in Ireland Easter Monday only (Workplace Relations Commission)
Public holiday in Canada Good Friday only (Government of Canada)

What date is Good Friday and Easter Monday in 2025?

Good Friday 2025 date

  • Good Friday 2025 falls on April 18, 2025 (timeanddate.com (calendar authority)).
The upshot

Good Friday kicks off the Easter weekend on a Friday, giving many workers a long Friday-to-Monday break – but only if it’s a recognized holiday in their jurisdiction.

Easter Monday 2025 date

  • Easter Monday 2025 is April 21, 2025 (Workplace Relations Commission (Ireland’s statutory employment body)).

In Ireland, Easter Monday is a public holiday, while in Canada it is not a statutory holiday for most workers.

Easter Sunday 2025 date

  • Easter Sunday 2025 is April 20, 2025 (timeanddate.com).

Easter Sunday is the central day of the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus. While not a public holiday in most countries, it remains a day of worship and family gatherings.

Bottom line: Easter weekend 2025 offers a clear four-day window from Friday to Monday, but the legal status of each day varies dramatically depending on where you live. In Ireland, Easter Monday is the only statutory day; in Canada, Good Friday is the guaranteed holiday.

The implication: knowing your jurisdiction’s rules is the first step to planning.

Why does the date of Easter move around?

The ecclesiastical calculation

  • Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox (timeanddate.com).

This formula was established by the Council of Nicaea in AD 325 and remains the standard for Western Christianity.

The role of the vernal equinox and full moon

  • The vernal equinox is fixed at March 21 for ecclesiastical purposes. The full moon is the “Paschal Full Moon” (timeanddate.com).

Because the lunar cycle is 29.5 days, Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25 (flair.hr (HR compliance site)).

Comparison with fixed holidays

  • Unlike Christmas (December 25) or New Year’s Day (January 1), Easter is a moveable feast (timeanddate.com).

This variability means that public holidays tied to Easter—like Good Friday and Easter Monday—also shift each year.

The trade-off

Because Easter moves, the same weekend in April can be a statutory holiday in one province and a regular working day in another. For 2025, the April 18–21 window requires double-checking local rules.

The catch: this variability forces travelers and employers to verify holiday status year by year.

Are Good Friday and Easter Monday holidays in Ireland?

Public holiday status in Ireland

  • Easter Monday is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland (Workplace Relations Commission).
  • Good Friday is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland (Ireland.com (tourism authority)).

However, many businesses, schools, and government offices close on Good Friday anyway, treating it as a de facto holiday.

The catch

In Ireland, Good Friday is a normal working day under employment law. Employees are not legally entitled to a day off unless their contract says so.

What is closed on Good Friday

  • Many schools and some businesses close on Good Friday (Ireland.com).
  • Pubs and shops may open later or close earlier (Ireland.com).

Easter Monday opening hours

  • On Easter Monday, public transport often runs on a Sunday schedule (Ireland.com).
  • Easter Monday also marks the anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916 (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: Irish residents and visitors should treat Good Friday as an unofficial rest day, but legally it’s business as usual. Easter Monday, however, is a true public holiday with mandatory closures and holiday pay entitlements.

The pattern: Ireland’s approach creates a hybrid weekend where Monday is official, Friday is customary.

Is Good Friday and Easter Monday a stat holiday in Canada?

Federal vs provincial status

Which provinces recognize Good Friday

  • All provinces and territories observe Good Friday as a statutory holiday (Government of Canada).

Easter Monday holiday rules

  • Only federal government employees and a few provincially regulated sectors get Easter Monday off (Government of Canada).
Why this matters

For workers in Canada, Good Friday guarantees a paid day off. Easter Monday is a gamble – check your employment contract or collective agreement.

What this means: Canadian planning should focus on Friday as the guaranteed break, with Monday as a possible extra.

What are some ideas for Easter weekend 2025?

Family activities

  • Easter egg hunts are popular across Ireland and Canada (Ireland.com).
  • Many community centers and churches host Easter egg hunts and family fun days.

Events and festivals

  • Spring festivals in Ireland often coincide with Easter weekend (Ireland.com).
  • In Canada, Easter weekend marks the beginning of spring tourism season.

Travel ideas

  • Consider a weekend getaway to a countryside destination or coastal town (Ireland.com).
  • Check local tourism websites for special Easter events.

For a comparison of how holidays are handled in another country, see our guide to NSW Holidays 2025 and our coverage of Australia Day 2025.

What we know

  • Good Friday 2025: April 18 (timeanddate.com)
  • Easter Sunday 2025: April 20 (timeanddate.com)
  • Easter Monday 2025: April 21 (Workplace Relations Commission)

What’s still unclear

  • Exact opening hours for businesses on Good Friday vary by location and are not centrally regulated (Ireland.com)
  • Exact schedule of Easter events in 2025 for specific towns is not yet announced (Ireland.com)
  • Whether public transport will run on a regular or Sunday schedule on Good Friday in Canada is not uniformly determined (Government of Canada)

Easter Monday is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland.

Citizens Information Ireland

Good Friday is not a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland.

Ireland.com

Good Friday is a statutory holiday across Canada.

Government of Canada (federal labour standards)

For anyone planning Easter weekend 2025, the key is simple: confirm which days are official holidays in your province or country, then build your plans around that. In Ireland, that means treating Easter Monday as the main break and Good Friday as an unofficial rest day. In Canada, Good Friday is your guaranteed day off, while Easter Monday requires checking employer policies. Get it right, and you’ll enjoy a long weekend without surprises.

Additional sources

flair.hr, adarehrm.ie, timekeeper.co.uk, en.wikipedia.org

For those in the United Kingdom, the exact Easter 2025 dates for the UK confirm Good Friday and Easter Monday as official bank holidays that same weekend.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Easter Monday a public holiday in the UK?

In the United Kingdom, Easter Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland but not in Scotland.

What is the significance of Good Friday?

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is observed with solemn church services in many Christian traditions.

Do shops open on Easter Sunday in Ireland?

Most shops in Ireland are closed on Easter Sunday, though some convenience stores may open. Opening hours vary.

Are schools closed on Good Friday in Canada?

Yes, schools are typically closed on Good Friday in Canada because it is a statutory holiday across the country.

When is Easter in 2026?

Easter Sunday in 2026 falls on April 5. Easter Monday will be April 6.

What is the difference between Easter Sunday and Easter Monday?

Easter Sunday is the day of resurrection celebrations in Christianity. Easter Monday is a continuation of the holiday period and is a public holiday in many countries.

Are there any Easter parades in 2025?

Many towns in Ireland and Canada host Easter parades; check local tourism boards for specifics.