Catholics recognize Easter as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. But, as it turns out, they can continue saying “Happy Easter” into May or, in some years, into June. Easter lasts for a total of 50 days, from Easter Sunday until the feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Christ. This year, 2026, Easter was on April 5 and runs until Pentecost Sunday, May 24. Catholics observe Easter in different stages. In the traditional form of the Roman rite, Easter, known properly as Paschaltide, includes three parts: the season of Easter, Ascensiontide, and the octave of Pentecost.
