theMarketing Calendar
Log inSign up
← All days
day · floating · day 95 of 365

Easter

Easter is here, bringing with it joy, chocolate, and time with loved ones. Celebrate the holiday with egg hunts, delicious meals, and maybe even a visit from the Easter Bunny!

Religion & Belief85
Marketing angleinferred

Drive seasonal gifting, family gatherings, and celebration purchases through Easter egg hunts, chocolate, baskets, and festive dining experiences.

Relevance 85high intent
  • Easter egg hunt prep: gear up with baskets, dyes, and treats
  • Chocolate & confectionery gift guides for Easter baskets
  • Family-friendly Easter brunch and meal inspiration
  • DIY Easter decoration and egg-decorating tutorials

Marketing playbookideas
Campaign ideas8
  • Virtual Easter Egg Hunt on website/app: Hide discount codes or rewards on key pages; email customers with a 'Start Hunting' CTA and countdown timer to drive urgency and repeat visits
  • Seasonal flash sale (3-5 days pre-Easter): 40-60% off sitewide with limited-stock tags; amplify via email, SMS, and social with teaser posts 1 week prior
  • Brand-specific Easter product mashup: Create a limited-edition item that ties Easter themes to what your brand is known for (e.g., flat-pack bunny, savory Easter egg, branded dip egg)
  • Social contest: Invite followers to share Easter photos (outfits, decor, DIY eggs) with branded hashtag; reward top entries with Easter collection items or discounts
  • Interactive quiz or game: Build brand awareness via Easter-themed memory game, trivia, or scratch-reveal mechanic; reward winners with discount codes or loyalty points
  • Charity partnership campaign: Partner with a food bank or social-good org; let customers donate unwanted eggs or money in exchange for holiday-themed products
  • Multi-channel influencer push: Leverage TikTok, Instagram, and podcasts with micro/macro influencers to drive Easter product teasers, unboxings, and UGC giveaways
  • Email + SMS segmentation: Segment audience by past behavior; send personalized Easter offers (families → treats, gift-givers → luxury bundles; loyalty members → early access)
Social angles6
  • 🐰 'Hop into [Brand] savings this Easter!' — Festive visual of product with bunny ears; include limited-time promo code. #EasterSavings #SpringDeals #EasterEggs
  • 'This Easter, we're cracking something special for you.' — Tease product launch or flash sale; use anticipation-building copy. #EasterSurprise #LimitedEdition
  • 🥚 DIY Easter content angle: 'How-to' egg decorating, recipe mashups, or spring home refresh with your products. #EasterDIY #HomeMakeover #SpringRenewal
  • 'Tag a friend who needs an Easter treat!' — Interactive post; ask followers to tag 2+ friends for a chance to win; drives reach & engagement. #EasterGiveaway #SpreadTheJoy
  • Behind-the-scenes: Show the making of your Easter campaign, product sourcing, or team Easter event. Humanizes brand & feels timely. #BehindTheScenes #EasterMagic
  • 'Easter isn't just for chocolate.' — Showcase non-candy Easter offerings (fashion, home goods, gifts). Broadens appeal beyond traditional candy focus. #EasterStyle #SeasonsGreetings
Ad copy starters5

'Egg-stra special savings await! Hunt for hidden deals on our site. Start your Easter egg hunt now → [Link]'

'Limited-edition Easter. Limited time. Hop fast before they're gone. [Product] — Only available through Easter weekend.'

'This Easter, give a gift that hops. Exclusive bundles packed with [Brand] favorites. Shop now & save 30%. [CTA]'

'Renewal starts here. Spring into savings with our Easter collection. Pastel colors, fresh vibes, zero regrets. Shop now.'

'Easter magic at [discount]% off. Flash sale 3 days only. Ends Easter Sunday. Don't miss out → [Link]'

Tips4
  • Start planning 4–6 weeks before Easter; campaigns run 1–2 weeks leading up to the holiday. Early teaser posts build momentum; last-minute SMS/email drives final conversions.
  • Lean into your brand identity, not just Easter clichés. The best campaigns (IKEA's flat-pack bunny, Marmite's Yeaster Egg) feel true to brand while celebrating the holiday.
  • Don't oversell. Starbucks' simple Easter cup-with-bunny-ears post (no promo) performed well because it felt timely and on-brand. Balance festive fun with genuine value.
  • Segment your audience & personalize offers. One-size-fits-all 'Easter sale' underperforms. Target families, gift-givers, and loyalty members with tailored messaging and incentives.

History

Easter has its roots in the ancient traditions of the Jewish people. The holiday is linked to the Jewish holiday of Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.

According to the Christian faith, Jesus was crucified and buried during the celebration of Passover, and his resurrection on the third day after his death is seen as the fulfillment of the promise of salvation that is central to the Christian faith.

The origins of the word “Easter” are somewhat unclear, but it is believed to be derived from the Old English word “Eostre,” which was the name of a pagan goddess associated with spring and fertility.

In the early centuries of Christianity, the celebration of Easter was an important part of the faith, and the holiday was marked with various traditions, including fasting, prayer, and special services in churches.

Over time, the celebration of Easter has evolved and taken on various forms in different cultures and regions. In many countries, Easter is marked with the exchange of Easter eggs, which are often decorated and hidden for children to find during Easter egg hunts.

The Easter bunny, a popular symbol of the holiday, is also associated with the tradition of giving and receiving Easter eggs. In addition to these secular traditions, many people also observe Easter with religious activities like going to church services and participating in parades and processions.


How to celebrate

Attending church services

Many people celebrate Easter by attending special services at their place of worship, such as mass or Easter Sunday services. These services often include hymns, prayers, and sermons that focus on the significance of Jesus’ resurrection.

Participating in Easter egg hunts

Many families and communities organize Easter egg hunts, where children search for eggs that are often filled with small treats or toys.

Decorating Easter eggs

Decorating Easter eggs is a popular activity, and people often use dye, stickers, or other materials to create colorful and creative designs.

Sharing meals with family and friends

Easter is often seen as a time to come together with loved ones, and many people celebrate by hosting or attending special meals and gatherings.

Giving Easter gifts

It is common for people to exchange Easter gifts, such as chocolate Easter eggs, Easter baskets filled with treats, or other small presents.

Participating in parades and other events

Many communities hold special events to celebrate Easter, such as parades, festivals, or other activities.

Taking part in other religious activities

Some people celebrate Easter by participating in other religious activities, such as fasting, praying, or reading passages from the Bible. Fun Facts About EasterThe Easter bunny, a popular symbol of the holiday, is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was said to bring baskets of colored eggs to children.In the United States, the White House holds an annual Easter egg roll on the White House lawn.The world’s largest Easter egg hunt took place in Ontario, Canada in 2015, with over 500,000 eggs hidden throughout the city.The Easter lily, a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus, is often used to decorate churches and homes during the holiday.The Easter parade, a popular tradition in New York City, features people dressed in their finest Easter attire parading down Fifth Avenue.In Greece, people traditionally dye Easter eggs red to symbolize the blood of Jesus.The traditional Easter meal in many countries is roast lamb, which is a symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus.In the Philippines, people celebrate Easter by holding parades featuring large floats and displays of Easter themes.Easter is a popular time for people to travel, and many people take vacations or visit family and friends during the holiday.


FAQ
Why do eggs play such a big symbolic role at Easter in many cultures?
Across Christian and pre‑Christian traditions, eggs have long symbolized new life and rebirth. Archaeological finds show decorated eggs used in ancient burial and spring rituals thousands of years before Christianity, and early Christians in Mesopotamia began dyeing eggs, often red, to represent Christ’s blood and the empty shell of the tomb. As Lenten fasting rules historically restricted eggs, they also became a natural celebratory food when the fast ended, which helped cement their place in Easter customs. [1]
How did the Easter bunny become associated with Easter eggs?
The figure of an egg‑bringing hare appears in German folklore in the 17th century, when the “Osterhase” was described as a creature that laid and hid eggs for children to find. Some historians link this to older European folk beliefs that confused ground‑nesting birds’ eggs with hares’ resting places. German immigrants later carried the custom to other parts of Europe and North America, where the hare gradually shifted into the more familiar Easter “bunny” that delivers chocolate eggs and treats. [1]
Why do Western and Eastern churches often celebrate Easter on different dates?
Both Western and Eastern Christian churches follow the rule set at the Council of Nicaea in 325 that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox. The difference arises because most Western churches use the Gregorian calendar and a particular set of ecclesiastical tables to fix March 21 and the “full moon,” while most Eastern Orthodox churches still base their calculation on the older Julian calendar and a different lunar table. Since the Julian calendar currently lags behind the Gregorian calendar, Orthodox Easter frequently falls one to five weeks later, although in some years the dates coincide. [1]
Why is lamb such a common Easter food in many Christian countries?
Eating lamb at Easter draws on both Jewish Passover traditions and Christian theology. In Jewish practice, a lamb without blemish was sacrificed at Passover, and early Christians connected Jesus with the “Lamb of God” who offers himself as a sacrifice. Serving lamb at Easter meals in places like Greece, Italy, and parts of Western Europe expresses this symbolism of sacrifice and new life, which has continued even as some modern households now choose different meats or plant‑based alternatives. [1]
How are Easter eggs decorated differently across Europe?
Egg decoration styles vary widely by region and reflect deeper cultural histories. In Eastern and Central Europe, techniques such as Ukrainian pysanky and related wax‑resist methods in Romania and Hungary use beeswax and multiple dye baths to create intricate geometric and floral patterns that predate Christianity and were later reinterpreted with Christian symbols. In parts of Britain, “pace eggs” were once simply dyed with onion skins or natural materials and then rolled in races, while Mediterranean countries often focus more on bright single colors or incorporating eggs into sweet breads. [1]
What is the relationship between Easter and Passover in the Christian tradition?
Historically, the events described in the New Testament around Jesus’ death and resurrection occurred during the Jewish festival of Passover, which commemorates Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Early Christians, therefore, linked Easter to Passover both in timing and symbolism, seeing Jesus’ death as a new form of Passover sacrifice and his resurrection as deliverance from sin and death. Although Jewish and Christian communities now follow different calendars and rules for their observances, the theological connection between Easter and Passover remains central in many Christian interpretations. [1]
How do Christian theologians understand the idea of “resurrection” that Easter focuses on?
In mainstream Christian theology, resurrection is understood as God’s act of raising Jesus bodily from the dead and, by extension, the future bodily resurrection of believers. The resurrection is seen as confirming Jesus as righteous and vindicated, overcoming death as the “last enemy,” and guaranteeing forgiveness and a renewed creation rather than a purely spiritual afterlife. Many theologians also emphasize that Christians understand a kind of spiritual resurrection beginning in this life, with a transformed way of living that anticipates a final, physical resurrection. [1]