Easter, one of the most recognizable holidays for Christians and non-Christians alike, weaves together centuries of traditions from various cultures and beliefs. Pascua (Easter) in Mexico is a day of celebration and ceremony with its own flair that’s quintessentially Mexican. Learn about what makes Easter in Mexico unique, and how to wish ¡Felices Pascuas! (Happy Easter!).
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What is Pascua?
Pascua is the Spanish word for Easter, which can refer to Easter Sunday specifically, but could also refer to the longer period of time that Easter-linked celebrations occur, such as Semana Santa (Holy Week). The word may also refer to the Jewish Passover or other holidays. To be specific, Pascua de Resurrección (Easter Sunday/Resurrection Sunday) is the commemoration of the day that Christ was resurrected from the dead.
Modern day celebrations and symbolism have their basis in various Christian traditions as well as pagan celebrations of spring. Since many Mexicans have Catholic roots, most of the celebrations come from these traditions. Easter Sunday in Mexico is also a fun day for families to travel or gather, organize events for children, and share treats that have religious meaning.
>>Learn how to wish “Happy Easter” in different languages!
When is Easter in Mexico?
This year, Easter Sunday is April 20, 2025, which is a relatively late Easter date. The day of celebration changes every year according to the dates of the full moon. It can fall between March 22 and April 25, according to the Gregorian calendar.
The date of Easter each year is set for the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring. Historically, cultures observe the spring equinox on March 21. The next full moon is called the “Paschal” moon, so the first Sunday that follows is Easter Sunday.
Past and future dates of Easter in Mexico
This chart has past, present, and future observances of Easter Sunday in Mexico, including Pascua 2025. If you’re planning a visit and would like to participate in some of the Mexican Easter traditions, these are the important dates in the Spanish calendar to take note of.
| Year | Fecha de Pascua (Spanish) | Date of Easter (English) |
| 2023 | el 9 de abril | April 9 |
| 2024 | el 31 de marzo | March 31 |
| 2025 | el 20 de abril | April 20 |
| 2026 | el 5 de abril | April 5 |
| 2027 | el 28 de marzo | March 28 |
| 2028 | el 16 de de abril | April 16 |
| 2029 | el 1 de abril | April 1 |
| 2030 | el 21 de abril | April 21 |
Other Mexican holidays around Easter
Many other Mexican holidays and religious observances happen around Easter Sunday. The entire week prior to the sacred Sunday is considered Holy Week and there are important days of the week that have their own celebrations. If you’re planning to spend Easter in Mexico, take note of the following Holy Week days so you can know what to expect.
- Martes de Carnaval (Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras/Shrove Tuesday): the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday
- Miércoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday): 46 days before Easter Sunday, marking the start of Lent
- La Cuaresma (Lent): 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday (excluding Sundays)
- Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday): The Sunday before Easter Sunday, marking Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
- Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday): The day before Good Friday, the day the disciples at the Last Supper. A bank holiday in Mexico.
- Viernes Santo (Good Friday): the Friday before Easter Sunday, the day Christ was crucified. A bank holiday in Mexico.
- El Día de la Ascensión (Ascension Day): the Thursday that falls 40 days after Easter Sunday
- Pentecostés (Pentecost): the seventh Sunday, or 50 days, after Easter Sunday
How is Easter celebrated in Mexico? 10 ways to join in
Easter traditions in Mexico vary, but there’s fun for all at this time of year. Many attend religious observances as a matter of tradition or faith. It’s a time for family, food, and fun with local variations of traditions depending on the region of the country. These 10 ideas can help you authentically join in the traditions of Easter in Mexico like a local.
1. Make and break cascarones
In Mexico, cascarones are decorated egg shells that are filled with confetti. Prepare them ahead by emptying the contents of the egg, rinsing them well, and decorating the shells using paint, glitter, dye, or other craft supplies. Then fill the hollow eggs with confetti and seal the opening with some tissue paper.
On Easter Sunday in Mexico, it’s tradition to break the cascarones over the heads of your friends and family to bring good luck. It’s good manners to crush it a bit first so it won’t hurt. If you missed Easter morning, cascarón crushing is also popular on other holidays.
2. Attend la misa (mass)
There are plenty of opportunities to attend la misa (mass) to express religious devotion in Mexico during Semana Santa (Holy Week)—the week leading up to Easter. Churches are usually packed on Pascua as the faithful, the visitors, and the curious gather in local churches. If entering a church, respect local norms by dressing modestly and avoiding overly casual clothing. Some might be dressed in their best atuendo de Pascua (Easter attire). Sometimes there are more casual services at sunrise on the beaches in Mexico.
3. Weave crosses out of palmas (palm leaves)
On Domingo de Ramos, or just Ramos, you might have a chance to weave or buy a woven cruz (cross) or corona (crown) out of palm leaves. These commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Participants often carry them in processions on Ramos and place them in a prominent location at home until Ash Wednesday.
4. Attend a cultural street market or festival
During the week before and after Easter in Mexico, vacation season is in full swing. Students have an extended vacation period from school, so families take advantage of the time off to visit their loved ones. Depending on your destination, you might find an artisan ice cream festival like the Feria de la Nieve (ice cream fair) in Xochimilco or the family-friendly party atmosphere with music and horsemen at the Feria de Primavera in Jerez.
5. Watch a procession
Religious processions are one of the most popular Easter traditions in Mexico. Many big cities and small towns host elaborate reenactments of the events of Semana Santa (Holy Week) with robed participants carrying scenes that reenact the Via Crucis (Way of the Cross). Along the route, they carry symbols and images of the important moments including the crucifixion. Over 100,000 people watch the procession in Puebla.
6. Attend a caza de huevos (egg hunt)
Familiar fun for families with young children, the increasingly popular caza de huevos (egg hunt) or búsqueda de huevos (egg search) is a favorite activity in public gardens, hotels, beaches, or other community spaces. Mexican children search for plastic eggs filled with sweets and toys. Families also organize private egg hunts at home, treating youngsters to various surprises.
7. Witness La quema de Judas (the burning of Judas)
Some Mexican towns host celebratory burnings of cardboard or paper-mâché representations of Judas on Holy Saturday. Burning these effigies represents a punishment for Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Christ and a resistance of evil and corruption. Sometimes the “Judas” looks like a notable celebrity or political figure as political satire or protest. These events can lead to a bonfire and a festive atmosphere into the late night.
8. Observe the silent church bells
The campanas de la iglesia (church bells) stop ringing on Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter) and start again after mass on Easter Sunday in Mexico. The silent period represents the period of mourning. When they ring again, it marks a time for celebration. People spill into the streets to enjoy music, snacks, and joyful celebration.
9. Go to the beach
While some families stay local and host elaborate family meals (or visit twelve churches in one day!), other families take advantage of the long weekend and extra time off school and work to travel. Mexico’s beaches tend to be crowded during this popular travel period, so book early and be patient with the crowds. Once you get to the beach, relax and enjoy the generally dry, hot, and sunny weather of April or late March.
10. Mix and match Easter traditions from around the world
Easter is a popular holiday globally, and customs are always mixing and changing, so Mexican Easter customs may borrow from customary celebrations of Easter in Spain or the United States. Some families may enjoy traditional monas de Pascua, traditional sweet breads from Spain, while others paint conejitos de Pascua (Easter bunnies) with vibrant colors in the style of traditional Mexican patterns like talavera or alebrije.
What are traditional Easter foods in Mexico?
During the period of Lent, many practicing Catholics in Mexico will take a break from red meat and opt for seafood and lentil dishes. The meal on Easter can be a family feast that brings together generations or a series of street foods if you’re out and about that day.
Las siete cazuelas (the seven dishes)
Families often prepare seven traditional foods during Holy Week or the Fridays of Lent. The specific dishes vary, but are all closely tied to the seasonal products grown locally, so they differ from the traditional foods of Christmas in Mexico.
- lentejas: lentil soup
- chiles rellenos: poblano pepper stuffed with cheese and fried
- capirotada: a bread pudding
- fried fish or tortitas de camarón: shrimp patties
- nopal: cactus
- habas cocidas: a simple cooked bean dish
- ceviche: raw cold fish “cooked” in citrus juice
- torrejas: similar to French toast
- agua de obispo: fruit and beet water
Street foods
During the celebrations surrounding Easter in Mexico, you may find delicious street foods to enjoy while listening to live music and waiting for a parade or procession. Don’t have an invite to a home-cooked feast? Go beyond a typical taco or burrito and enjoy any of these foods:
- aguas frescas: fruit drinks made with simple fruits and blended with water.
- gorditas: pockets of bread with savory fillings like meat and vegetables, cheese, and beans. You may find more meatless options during Lent.
- sopes: small disks of bread lightly fried and topped with beans, cheese, and salsas
- elote: corn on the cob or off the cob in cups, known as esquites.
- tortas: a substantial grilled sandwich with a variety of fillings
- tamales: corn masa with filling, steam in a natural wrapper like a banana leaf
- raspados: shaved ice with flavoring
- paletas: frozen popsicles of fruit juice or milk
>>Learn how to order food in Spanish in all kinds of settings
Celebrate Mexican culture with Rosetta Stone
Learn to say far more than ¡Felices Pascuas! As you immerse yourself in the vibrant celebrations surrounding Easter in Mexico, learn the phrases you need for dining out, transportation, calendar and dates, and lodging with our all-in-one app. The Phrasebook is useful for getting around town so you’re sure not to miss any of your favorite Mexican Easter customs.
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