Easter Monday

Easter Monday is an auspicious Christian holiday that follows Easter Sunday. It marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a cardinal doctrine in Christianity, highlighting the triumph of good over evil. Celebrated worldwide, this observance embodies various regional customs and traditions significant to the Christian communities. In Germany, Easter Monday is a public holiday, symbolising the close of the Easter period and featuring distinctive celebrations that bind people in their shared faith and heritage.

Introduced by the early Church, Easter Monday commemorated the journey of Cleopas and his companion to the village of Emmaus, where they recognized the resurrected Jesus. This recognition forms the essence of the Easter Monday celebrations. In Germany, the holiday integrates age-old traditions like Easter egg races, where children roll beautifully decorated, hard-boiled Easter eggs down grassy hills. "Emmaus walks” also feature prominently - leisurely outings to the countryside, parks, or local attractions that mirror the original journey to Emmaus.

Easter Monday in Germany is a day of rest and religious contemplation, following the festivities of Easter Sunday. It is often marked by outdoor activities, like the traditional egg races and the Emmaus walks. Church services, though less formal, continue the Easter narrative with storytelling and song. The observance falls on the day after Easter Sunday, which is the first Monday following the Paschal Full Moon (the first full moon after the Spring Equinox). This means Easter Monday can occur any time between March 23 and April 26. The variation in date allows for a surprising flexibility in celebration, making each year's event uniquely memorable.