When is Orthodox Easter?
In 2026, Orthodox Easter falls on Sunday, April 12, 2026. It is classified here as a Romanian public holiday.
History of Orthodox Easter
Orthodox Easter celebrates the Resurrection and is the centre of the Romanian Christian calendar. Many people attend the midnight service, carrying a candle lit from the Easter flame, then return home with the greeting Hristos a înviat—Christ is risen.
The Labour Code treats the first and second days of Easter as statutory public holidays, while Good Friday opens the longer official break. The date follows the Orthodox Paschal calculation and moves through spring. Its traditions are at once liturgical and domestic: red eggs, cozonac, lamb dishes and a family table after the discipline of Lent.
Orthodox Easter in Romania is Paștele, calculated through the Orthodox Paschal calendar and celebrated on the Gregorian civil date produced here. Shortly before midnight, worshippers gather outside or inside churches; after the proclamation of the Resurrection they carry home a candle lit from the Paschal flame and exchange ‘Hristos a înviat!’ with the reply ‘Adevărat a înviat!’ The family table commonly includes red-dyed eggs, pască, cozonac and regional lamb dishes. Article 139 protects the first and second Easter days. For Christian employees, however, the entitlement follows the dates of their legally recognised denomination, so Catholic and Protestant Easter can produce different leave dates from the Orthodox majority calendar.
How Orthodox Easter is observed
A nationwide non-working public holiday on Orthodox Easter Sunday, within the Good Friday-to-Easter Monday holiday period. The date shown follows the Romanian Orthodox calendar. Article 139 grants Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost leave on the dates observed by each employee’s legally recognised Christian denomination.
Traditions of Orthodox Easter
Midnight Resurrection service
Churchgoers gather late on Saturday and carry a lit candle from the Easter service. Romanian Easter identity is especially visible in midnight candlelight, the Resurrection greeting, red eggs, pască and carefully prepared family meals.
Red eggs
Families tap dyed eggs together, a familiar Easter game and symbol of renewal. Romanian Easter identity is especially visible in midnight candlelight, the Resurrection greeting, red eggs, pască and carefully prepared family meals.
Easter table
Cozonac, eggs and family dishes bring relatives together after the Lenten season. Romanian Easter identity is especially visible in midnight candlelight, the Resurrection greeting, red eggs, pască and carefully prepared family meals.
Dates and observance rules are checked against the official Romanian labour law and government guidance. Employer, school and local-service schedules can differ from the statutory public-holiday calendar.
History sources: Romanian Labour Inspectorate: Labour Code, Article 139, Romanian Legislative Portal: Labour Code, Romanian Patriarchate calendar of non-working holidays.
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