Christians around the world celebrate Easter with sunrise services on Easter morning, marking the belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Easter Sunday falls on different dates each year, between March 22 and April 25, based on a calendar calculation involving the moon. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops explains that Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon occurring either on or after the spring equinox on March 21. This year, Easter falls on March 31, prompting Christians to wake early for sunrise services.
The tradition of Easter sunrise services holds biblical symbolism, referencing the women followers of Jesus who discovered his empty tomb at dawn in the New Testament’s four Gospels. This tradition is especially significant for the Moravian Church, one of the oldest Protestant denominations, which has been celebrating Easter sunrise services for nearly 300 years. The first recorded Easter sunrise service by the Moravians dates back to 1732 in Herrnhut, Germany, where the tradition began with an all-night prayer vigil and hymn singing in a graveyard known as “God’s Acre.”
In Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Moravian Easter sunrise services are a longstanding tradition, drawing thousands of people every year to celebrate. The service includes a silent procession to the Salem Moravian Graveyard, also known as “God’s Acre,” where it concludes among the graves of generations past. While the Moravians hold their sunrise services in church graveyards, other Christian groups hold them in various locations, including iconic landmarks like Mount Rushmore in South Dakota and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.
Moravian congregations are known for their trombone choirs, featuring brass and wind musicians, which play Moravian hymns during the sunrise service. The sound of these horn players echoes throughout the community, alerting people to wake up and join in the Easter celebration. Additionally, some Christian faith groups hold an Easter vigil between sunset Saturday and sunrise Sunday, involving a renewal of believers’ baptismal vows. The Episcopal Church also observes the Easter vigil as the “Great Vigil,” a service that includes a four-part liturgy with readings and prayers leading up to the Easter Eucharist and baptisms.
Overall, Easter sunrise services hold a deep significance for Christians, symbolizing the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The tradition of gathering at dawn to celebrate Easter dates back centuries and continues to be a meaningful practice for many around the world. Whether in church graveyards or at iconic locations, Easter sunrise services serve as a reminder of the central event of the Christian faith and provide an opportunity for believers to come together in worship and celebration.
