Easter traditions in the USA

Colorful parades, a busy bunny, and the traditional "Egg Roll" in front of the White House: Easter is one of the most popular holidays in the USA. Learn about the most important Easter traditions in the States.

How Americans celebrate Easter

On Easter in the USA, many Americans go to church, and - as on most holidays in the USA - they eat quite a lot. However, not all US states have an official Public Holiday on Easter.

Good Friday is a bank holiday in the following states:

• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Kentucky (half-day)
• Louisiana
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas (partial)

Whether employees in other states get a day off over Easter depends on their employer. Also, most school children in the United States do not have Easter vacations but longer summer vacations and the mandatory Spring Break.

Egg Hunt with the American Easter Bunny

As in many other countries, the Easter Bunny hides colorful eggs and candy for children in the United States. After the egg hunt, the popular "Easter Egg Roll" begins, where all the children simultaneously roll an egg down a hill, hoping that their own egg will win the race.

New York Easter Parade 2024

New York City is the destination of choice for many USA tourists and Americans from all over the nation on Easter, as it hosts the annual Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue!

At the parade and its associated Bonnet Festival, what matters most is your headgear: like the Kentucky Derby, the New York Easter Parade traditionally calls for wearing completely over-the-top hats and bonnets.

White House Easter Egg Roll

On the South Lawn in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the popular White House Easter Egg Roll is traditionally held. The best part of the race: the sitting US president participates as a referee!

The Easter Egg Roll has a history: President Rutherford B. Hayes hosted the big Easter party for the first time in 1878. The White House has reliably invited people to the garden on Easter Monday despite minor interruptions to the tradition.

American Easter Service

Many Americans go to church on Easter Sunday. Communities hold special Easter services with special traditions, such as the recitation of Easter poems by children.

Usually, families gather early in the morning, dressed in festive springtime attire, and then make their way to church together. After the service, they enjoy a large Easter brunch.

Easter Dinner in the USA

Those who do not arrange to go to church together with the following Easter Brunch usually meet later with family or friends for a traditional Easter Dinner. The feast is served either at home or in a restaurant and usually consists of the following elements:

• Easter Ham - A hearty, oven-cooked ham with a spicy marinade.
• Easter Lamb - Many families still traditionally serve lamb instead of the more modern Easter Ham.
• Hot Cross Buns - The sweet yeast dough buns are traditionally eaten on Good Friday but also often end up on the plate at Easter Dinner.
• Boiled eggs - Obviously, if you paint and hide all those eggs, you're going to have to eat them afterwards.
• Potatoes and vegetables - As with any holiday dinner, potatoes and vegetables come in all shapes and colors. From baked to mashed, there are different traditions - depending on the family.
• Simnel Cake - Especially in New England, the traditional British fruit cake with lots of marzipans is eaten at Easter. It's available at "tea time," but it usually lasts until dinner.
• Easter Biscuits - The sweet Easter cookies from the old English tradition are a very special treat due to their special seasoning.

Easter fun facts

You probably didn't know these exciting facts about Easter:

• Easter is the most popular church holiday of the year.
• After Halloween, Easter is the holiday when the most candy is consumed.
• In the United States, 12 of the 50 states recognize Good Friday as a holiday.
• In the world's largest Easter egg hunt, held in Winter Haven, Florida, in 2007, more than 500,000 eggs were hidden.
• The idea of the Easter Bunny giving away candy and eggs is believed to have originated in Germany in the Middle Ages.

Do you want to learn more about exciting holiday traditions in the USA? Then check out our articles on St. Patrick's Day and Thanksgiving!