Easter 2025: when it is and how to watch the parade in New York City

Easter is just around the corner, and with it comes food, family gatherings and, of course, the Easter Parade. Many American families go to church on Easter Sunday, or gather for dinner while the kids hunt for Easter eggs around the house. Some go to the nearest parade wearing their “Sunday best” (or dress their pets up in flashy outfits). Others simply like to take advantage of the general springtime mood of the holiday by traveling to another country, or simply get together with friends for an Easter brunch.

Although it began as a Christian holiday, Easter is now celebrated in a non-religious way by many, not only in the United States, but around the world.

What is Easter?

Easter, also called Pascha, is a Christian holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The New Testament describes its occurrence on the third day of his burial after the crucifixion. It is also the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, which is preceded by Lent.

When is Easter?

Easter 2025 will fall on April 20 for both Western and Eastern Christians.

Easter and its related holidays do not fall on a fixed date. The date is determined by a calculation known as computus in Latin. Determining this date requires a correlation between the lunar months and the solar year, while taking into account the month, date, and day of the week of the Julian or Gregorian calendar. This is a complex algorithm because it is necessary to associate the date of Easter with the date of the Jewish Passover, a feast that Christians believe to be when Jesus was crucified.

Easter eggs

Easter eggs are decorated on the occasion of the Easter holiday, being one of the main traditions of the celebration.

Its origins date back to the first Christians in Mesopotamia, who adopted the custom of decorating eggs from the Persian tradition. They dyed them red in remembrance of the blood of Jesus Christ, shed at his crucifixion. Some symbolically relate the opening of Easter eggs to the empty tomb of Jesus Christ.

Later, the Christian Church adopted the custom and the eggs were considered a symbol of the resurrection of Jesus. The Roman Ritual, one of the liturgical books of the Catholic Church, contained the Easter blessings of foods, with one for eggs.

Easter eggs also have their origin in the prohibition of that food during Lent. At Easter, they are blessed and people can eat them again. Nowadays, Easter eggs are used in different customs and traditions around the world.

Easter Parade

The Easter Parade, unlike other famous parades in the United States, is an informal and unorganized event, with and without religious significance. Traditionally, people dress up in new and flashy clothes (among which hats stand out). Now it is even common to see mascots in outlandish costumes.

The most popular Easter Parade is the one that takes place on New York’s Fifth Avenue, but parades are also held in other cities. The New York Parade began as a spontaneous event in the 1870s, and grew each year. In 1947, it attracted more than a million people. Since then, its popularity has waned, but it continues to attract hundreds of thousands of people.

Where is the New York Easter Parade held?

The New York Easter Parade takes place on Fifth Avenue (around 49th to 57th Streets) in Manhattan from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Easter Sunday. Anyone can participate.

TV and live broadcasts

The New York Easter Parade does not have an official television broadcast, but people can watch it through the various news networks that cover it. There are several YouTube channels that stream the event live. One of them is The NYC Walking Show, where you can see more of the parade.