When Is Good Friday 2027?
Good Friday 2027 falls on Friday, April 2, 2027. Easter Sunday 2027 is April 4, 2027. Easter Monday is April 5, 2027.
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday, commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Its date changes every year because Easter is calculated using a combination of the lunar calendar and the solar calendar β specifically, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21 (the spring equinox).
Easter 2027 Full Holiday Schedule
- Maundy Thursday: April 1, 2027
- Good Friday: April 2, 2027
- Holy Saturday: April 3, 2027
- Easter Sunday: April 4, 2027
- Easter Monday: April 5, 2027
Good Friday 2027: Country-by-Country Public Holiday Status
Countries Where Good Friday Is a National Public Holiday
1. Australia
Good Friday is a public holiday in all states and territories of Australia. Banks, schools, and most businesses close. Many shops operate under restricted trading hours. Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday are also public holidays in most states, making it a 4-day long weekend β one of the most significant holiday periods in the Australian calendar.
2. Canada
Good Friday is a federal public holiday across Canada. All provinces observe it, though the degree of commercial closures varies by province. Quebec additionally observes Easter Monday as a public holiday. Federal employees, banks, and most businesses close on Good Friday.
3. United Kingdom
Good Friday and Easter Monday are both bank holidays in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Most businesses close or operate reduced hours. Good Friday is one of only two "common law" bank holidays in England and Wales (the other being Christmas Day).
4. New Zealand
Good Friday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday are all public holidays. Strict retail trading laws apply on Good Friday β most shops are legally required to close, with limited exceptions (petrol stations, pharmacies, cafes serving food). This makes New Zealand one of the strictest countries for Good Friday trading.
5. Germany
Good Friday (Karfreitag) is a federal public holiday in all 16 German states. Easter Monday (Ostermontag) is also a public holiday. Germany observes especially strict rules around Good Friday in many states β public dancing and loud music are restricted in some states by law on this day.
6. Ireland
Good Friday has been a public holiday in Ireland since 2018 (it was removed from the official holiday list in 1973 and reinstated 45 years later). Pubs and off-licences are no longer required to close β the old pub closing law was abolished alongside making it an official holiday.
7. United States
Good Friday is NOT a federal public holiday in the United States. However, 11 US states observe it as a state holiday: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas. Even in those states, many businesses remain open.
8. Brazil
Good Friday (Sexta-feira Santa) is a national public holiday. Combined with Easter Monday (observed in many municipalities), it often creates a long weekend. Businesses close and public services are reduced. Carnival (typically February or March) is a larger commercial holiday period, but Easter is more widely observed as a religious holiday.
9. Mexico
While Good Friday is not a federal public holiday in Mexico, it is widely observed as Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins on Palm Sunday and peaks with Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Many schools and businesses close for Semana Santa, and it's one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Each state handles the holiday observance differently.
10. Philippines
Good Friday (Biyernes Santo) is one of the most significant religious events in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic nation. It is a national public holiday. Holy Week is taken extremely seriously β most businesses close, and national television and radio often suspend regular programming. Some municipalities hold passion plays (Senakulo) and other religious observances.
11. South Africa
Good Friday is a public holiday. Easter Monday is also a public holiday. South Africa observes both days as part of a 4-day Easter weekend. Family Day (Easter Monday) replaced the old colonial name and is a secular public holiday.
12. Argentina
Good Friday (Viernes Santo) is an official public holiday. Argentina observes most major Catholic holidays at the national level, though Carnival in February or March is more commercially significant.
13. Colombia
Good Friday is a national public holiday (one of 18 public holidays in Colombia). Holy Week is a major cultural and religious event, with PopayΓ‘n's Semana Santa processions being UNESCO-listed. Easter Monday is not a national holiday.
14. Spain
Good Friday (Viernes Santo) is a national public holiday in Spain. Holy Week (Semana Santa) processions are among the most famous in the world, particularly in Seville, MΓ‘laga, and Valladolid. Easter Monday is not a national public holiday in Spain (unlike most of Europe), though some regions observe it locally.
15. Italy
Good Friday is NOT an official national public holiday in Italy, though it is widely observed as a religious day. Easter Sunday and Easter Monday (Pasquetta) are official public holidays. The Vatican observes all Holy Week events, and many Italians take unofficial time off on Good Friday.
Countries Where Good Friday Is Not a Public Holiday
16. France
Good Friday is not a national public holiday in mainland France. However, it is observed in Alsace-Moselle (the three departments of Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, and Moselle) due to historical ties to Germany. Easter Monday is a national public holiday throughout France.
17. Japan
Good Friday has no status in Japan. Japan is predominantly Shinto and Buddhist, and Christian holidays are not observed. Cherry blossom season (Hanami) around the same period is culturally significant but has no official holiday.
18. China
Good Friday is not observed in China. The country follows a secular public holiday calendar based on national events and traditional Chinese festivals.
19. India
Good Friday is an official public holiday in India β it is listed as a restricted holiday (employees may choose to take it, unlike compulsory holidays). In states with large Christian populations (Kerala, Goa, Nagaland, Meghalaya), Good Friday observance is more widespread and commonly observed as a public holiday.
20. Switzerland
Good Friday is observed in most but not all cantons. Catholic-majority cantons like Luzern, Valais, and Fribourg do not observe it as a public holiday. Protestant-majority cantons like Zurich, Bern, and Basel do. Easter Monday is widely observed across Swiss cantons.
Why Does Easter Change Date Every Year?
Easter's date is calculated using the algorithm established at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD: Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21 (the ecclesiastical spring equinox). This means Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25.
In 2027, the first full moon on or after March 21 falls on March 31 (Wednesday). The first Sunday after that is April 4 β hence Easter Sunday 2027 is April 4, and Good Friday is April 2.
Orthodox Good Friday 2027
Eastern Orthodox Christians use the Julian calendar for calculating Easter, which often results in a different date than Western Easter. Orthodox Easter 2027 falls on April 18, 2027, making Orthodox Good Friday April 16, 2027. Countries that primarily observe Orthodox Easter include Russia, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What date is Good Friday 2027?
Good Friday 2027 is April 2, 2027. Easter Sunday 2027 is April 4, 2027.
Is Good Friday a federal holiday in the US?
No. Good Friday is not a US federal holiday. Individual states may observe it β 11 states do β but federal offices and banks remain open.
What is Easter Monday 2027?
Easter Monday 2027 is April 5, 2027. It is a public holiday in the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Brazil, and most of the EU.
When is Orthodox Easter 2027?
Orthodox Easter 2027 is April 18, 2027. Orthodox Good Friday is April 16, 2027.
How many days until Good Friday 2027?
Use our date difference calculator to count the exact number of days from today to April 2, 2027.