Easter 2026: How Naija dey celebrate plus US holiday gist

Easter 2026 don dey approach, and for different corners of the world, people dey plan how dem go mark dis important Christian holiday. For Naija, we get our own style, but make we yarn wetin dey happen for abroad too. Dis year, Easter Sunday go fall on April 5, 2026, and Good Friday na April 3. Na di same date most Christians worldwide dey use celebrate.

For Benue State, Nigeria, Governor Hyacinth Alia don declare one-week Easter holiday for public and civil servants. Na di Permanent Secretary for General Services, Godwin Tighil, wey announce am on behalf of di Secretary to di State Government, Deborah Aber. Workers go start holiday from Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and resume back on April 8. But dem say workers for essential services must remain for dia duty posts.

Governor Alia, wey be Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, wish Benue people happy holidays and urge citizens to pray for peace for di state and Nigeria. Na first time dis kain one-week Easter holiday dey declared for di state, even though before now, dem don approve two-week holiday for Christmas celebration.

For United States, di story dey different small. Good Friday no be federal holiday for America. Di next federal holiday na Memorial Day wey go hold on May 26. Even for Mississippi state, Good Friday no be state holiday. Di next one na Confederate Memorial Day for last Monday of April.

But make we no forget say Easter date no dey stay di same every year. E dey move by more than one month sometimes. Dis year, Easter no too early and e no too late—e just dey middle for di range wey fit start from March 22 reach April 25. Why e dey move so? Na because for Gregorian calendar, Easter na Sunday after first full moon wey follow Spring Equinox. Dis year, spring equinox bin hold on March 20.

For Rhode Island, USA, grocery stores dey plan dia hours for Easter Sunday. Some go open, some go close. Stop & Shop stores go open until 5 p.m. Market Basket stores for Warwick and Johnston go close completely. ALDI locations go close, including Providence, Warwick, Johnston, and Westerly stores.

Price Rite stores for Rhode Island go open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but Pawtucket, Providence, and Cranston stores go open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dave’s Fresh Marketplace go close all locations. Whole Foods go open with modified hours—Cranston store and both Providence locations go open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Trader Joe's go open regular hours for Providence and Warwick. Walmart go open regular hours for Providence, Coventry, Newport, and Cranston. Target go close all stores. Costco warehouses go close, even though no Costco dey Rhode Island—di nearest one dey Sharon, Massachusetts. BJ’s Wholesale Club go open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but customers suppose confirm with dia local club.

When e come to stock market, Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange go close for Good Friday. Banks go have regular business hours, but e better to confirm with your local branch. USPS, FedEx, and UPS go deliver mail and packages as usual, but FedEx and FedEx Freight go have modified service.

For candy matter, America get dia favorite Easter treats. Peeps dey top di list nationally, followed by chocolate bunnies and jelly beans. Reese’s Eggs and Swedish Fish complete di top five. But state by state, preference dey differ. For example, Peeps na favorite for 17 states including Kansas, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Nebraska.

Jelly beans—both Starburst and Jelly Belly—dey strong for Georgia, North Carolina, and Minnesota. Swedish Fish dey popular for coastal states like Connecticut, New York, and Oregon. Chocolate still dey play major role: Reese’s Eggs and Robin Eggs dey for Utah, Illinois, Kentucky, and Missouri.

Jordan almonds na top pick for California and Texas. Chocolate bunnies na number two nationally, but only New Jersey and Delaware crown am as dia top pick. Some states get unique favorites: Cadbury Creme Eggs for Maine, Kinder Eggs for Mississippi.

For Arizona, USA, dem dey plan Easter weekend with style. Different resorts dey offer special brunches and activities. Arizona Biltmore for Phoenix go host Easter Brunch Buffet on April 5 at 2400 E. Missouri Ave. Arizona Grand Resort and Spa for Phoenix go host Easter Brunch Buffet at 8000 S. Arizona Grand Parkway.

Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort for Scottsdale go host Easter brunch at Mesa Centrale restaurant for 7500 E. Doubletree Ranch Rd. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for Scottsdale go host Easter brunch and resort-wide activities at 7575 E. Princess Dr.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa go offer three-day Easter programming from April 3 to April 5. Royal Palms Resort and Spa for Phoenix go host Easter celebration at 5200 E. Camelback Rd. Mountain Shadows for Paradise Valley go host Easter brunch at 5445 E. Lincoln Dr.

For Tucson, Hacienda del Sol Guest Ranch Resort go host Easter brunch at 5501 N. Hacienda del Sol Rd. Arizona Inn go host Easter festivities with egg hunts and crafts at 2200 E. Elm St. Omni Tucson National Resort and Spa go offer two-day Easter programming on April 4 and 5 at 2727 W. Club Dr.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort for Tucson go host Easter brunch at Canyon Club restaurant for 7000 N. Resort Dr. Arizona Boardwalk for Scottsdale go host free 6th Annual Great Egg Hunt and Family Fair on April 4 at 9500 E. Via De Ventura.

For churches, date dey differ small. Most Christian churches use Gregorian calendar and go celebrate Easter on April 5. But Eastern Orthodox Church use Julian calendar and go celebrate on April 12. Dia Lent go run from Monday, February 23 to Saturday, April 11. Di two calendars no go match Easter dates again until 2028.

Holy Week for 2026 don start with Palm Sunday on March 29. Holy Wednesday, wey dem dey call Spy Wednesday, dey just before di Triduum. Di Holy Week Triduum include Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Easter na Christian religious holiday wey celebrate di resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after im death on Good Friday. Di chocolate bunny tradition trace back to German Easter traditions and symbols of spring fertility.