A World of Difference: Where Easter Passes Quietly and Why

As Christians across the globe prepare to mark Easter on April 20, 2025, a remarkable fact surfaces: some nations have dropped Easter from official calendars or never even included it as a public holiday. This international divergence underlines the intricate dynamics between religion, state, and cultural identity.

 

Key Highlights:

 

The Nation That 'Eliminated' Easter: Mexico is unique for having officially eliminated Easter and Holy Week from its national calendar. Since the nation was declared secular by the 1917 Constitution, no religious holidays are acknowledged, even though Mexico has such deep Catholic roots. Churches do conduct services, but no state-sanctioned holidays for Easter or Holy Week exist, making Mexico a standout in the Americas.

 

Other Countries That Do Not Celebrate Easter

Muslim-Majority & Asian Nations: Countries such as Somalia, Mauritania, Algeria, Libya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Vietnam, Japan, and South Korea don't officially mark Easter because of religious composition or secular policy. In most of them, Christian activities are not allowed or unacknowledged at the national level.

 

Tech & Calendar Websites: Even some digital calendars in certain countries have eliminated Easter, indicating secularization patterns and official holiday lists.

 

This patchwork of observance highlights how religion, law, and culture influence the world's response to one of Christianity's most important days.

 

Source: The Star, Catholic News Agency, Tempo, Apple Community