Easter in the US: What the Holiday Means to People in 2025

What does Easter mean to people in the US today? Is it still a religious holiday for most, or has it become more of a cultural and personal event? To answer these questions, resonio conducted a representative online survey with 100 participants from across the United States in April 2025. The goal: to gain insights into current attitudes, behaviors, and traditions surrounding the Easter holiday.

The findings reveal a nuanced picture. While many still celebrate Easter with deep personal meaning, the motivations, practices, and perceptions vary widely – and reflect a blend of tradition, faith, and modern interpretation.

The Role of Market Research for Communication and Retail Around Holidays

Holidays like Easter play a major role in consumer behavior and communication planning – not only for retailers but also for media professionals, marketing teams, and cultural analysts. However, the way holidays are celebrated and interpreted evolves over time. Family routines, purchasing habits, and emotional meaning shift – sometimes subtly, sometimes significantly.

This is where data-driven market research comes in. Up-to-date insights help tailor seasonal messaging, product placements, and content strategies more effectively.

• Which messages resonate with audiences?
• Which rituals and symbols have lasting relevance?
• Where does religious vs. personal meaning dominate?

resonio’s agile research approach makes it possible to understand such shifts quickly and reliably – ideal for short-term planning or annual content cycles.

Key Takeaways: Easter Survey USA 2025

Aspect	Insights
General Attitude	84% enjoy or love Easter – only 2% participate without liking it.
Most Appreciated Aspects	Family time (29%), religious meaning (19%), food and meals (17%) lead the list.
Criticism of Easter	Non-religious identity (32%) and commercialism (15%) are most often cited by less engaged participants.
Main Reasons for Celebration	40% cite religious reasons, another 40% celebrate due to family tradition.
Perceived Nature of Easter	49% see it as a religious holiday, 41% as cultural/family-based.
Activities	Egg hunts (20.5%), family meals (21.8%) and gift-giving (17.6%) are popular practices.
Group Size	77% celebrate with up to 10 people, 19% with more than 10, 4% alone.
Location	53% celebrate at home, 32% at relatives’, and 14% in religious settings.

resonio Show Case Survey: “Easter Traditions and Personal Meaning 2025”

For this study, resonio conducted a targeted online survey focused on how people in the United States experience and celebrate Easter today. The goal was to better understand which traditions are still practiced, what the holiday means to individuals, and how it fits into their annual rhythm.

The survey was carried out using resonio’s online research platform and included responses from a verified national participant panel. A screening question ensured that only individuals who actively celebrate Easter were invited to participate, providing valid and relevant insights into current behaviors and sentiments.

Survey Design and Methodology

• Participants and regional scope:
  The survey was conducted with 100 respondents from across the United States, recruited through the verified resonio participant panel.

• Screening for relevance:
  Only individuals who indicated that they celebrate Easter were allowed to complete the questionnaire.
  Tip: With resonio, participants excluded via screening questions at the start of the survey do not incur any cost.
• Survey creation with resonio:
  The questionnaire was built using resonio’s drag-and-drop online survey tool – no coding or technical setup required.
• Smart logic for targeted insights:
  Conditional logic was used to ensure participants only saw relevant follow-up questions, e.g. based on how much they enjoy Easter.
• Time to completion:
  The full survey was completed in under 3 hours, demonstrating the speed and efficiency of resonio’s agile research capabilities.
• Access the original survey setup:

Survey Results and Analysis: Who celebrates Easter and how

As part of an online study conducted via resonio, participants from across the United States were asked about their attitudes, habits, and traditions surrounding Easter. The responses paint a clear picture: for many, Easter is a meaningful time shaped more by personal or family rituals than by religious doctrine.

While religious beliefs remain important for a large share of respondents, the survey also highlights the diversity of reasons for celebrating – ranging from faith and tradition to social customs, springtime moods, and nostalgic memories.

How People Feel About Easter

The vast majority of respondents in the US hold positive feelings toward Easter: 44% said they love it, while another 40% said they like it, even if it’s not one of their favorite holidays. Only a small minority were neutral (14%) or expressed little personal interest (2%).

What People Appreciate Most About Easter

This question was asked only to those who had stated they enjoy or love Easter. Multiple answers were allowed, revealing a range of emotional and cultural motives.

Spending time with family was the top reason (29.4%), followed by the religious or spiritual meaning of Easter (18.6%) and food and shared meals (17.2%). Egg hunts and related traditions (17.7%) also play an important role for many respondents.

Springtime mood, nostalgia, and decorative activities were mentioned less frequently, but still reflect Easter’s multi-layered appeal.

Why Some People Don’t Enjoy Easter

A small portion of participants expressed neutral or negative attitudes toward Easter. These individuals were asked what contributes to their limited enthusiasm. Multiple answers were possible.

The most cited reason was a lack of religious identity (32.4%), followed by commercialization (14.7%) and boredom (17.7%). Some respondents also said they prefer other holidays (14.7%) or don’t have Easter traditions of their own (11.8%).

→ These results suggest that disengagement is more often linked to worldview and lifestyle than to the holiday itself.

Main Reason for Celebrating Easter

When asked why they personally celebrate Easter, 40% cited religious significance, while another 40% named family tradition. For 16%, the holiday is primarily about fun, candy, or seasonal atmosphere. Only a few respondents mentioned cultural or social motives.

Has the Meaning of Easter Changed Over Time?

Many participants reflected on how their view of Easter has changed over the years. 40% said it used to be more religious for them, while 20% used to celebrate it more playfully or traditionally. For 39%, the reason for celebrating has stayed the same. Only 1% said they’ve just recently started observing the holiday.

How Easter Is Perceived

There’s a fairly even split in how Easter is categorized: 49% see it as a religious holiday, while 41% define it more as a cultural or family celebration. 10% describe Easter as primarily a commercial event.

→ These perceptions show that Easter in the US is a multi-dimensional holiday with no single dominant interpretation.

Typical Easter Activities

Respondents were asked which activities are essential to their Easter celebration. Multiple responses were allowed.

Top mentions included family meals (21.8%), Easter egg hunts (20.5%), and gift-giving or candy exchange (17.6%). Religious services (18.8%) also play an important role for many. Travel and posting on social media were less frequently mentioned.

With How Many People Do Americans Celebrate?

Most people in the US celebrate Easter in smaller to mid-sized groups. 43% said they spend the holiday with 1–4 people, while 34% do so with 5–10 people. Only 19% gather with more than 10 guests, and 4% celebrate alone.

→ These numbers indicate that Easter tends to be a more intimate celebration in the US, often limited to close friends or family.

Where Easter Is Celebrated

More than half of participants (53%) celebrate Easter at home. Another 32% gather at a friend’s or relative’s house. Religious venues were cited by 14%, while just 1% said they spend Easter while traveling.

→ These responses highlight the private and familiar setting of Easter in the US – most often rooted in the home or family environment.

What the Findings Reveal About Easter in the US

The results of the US survey show that Easter continues to hold personal significance for many – yet the reasons and ways it is celebrated are becoming increasingly diverse. While religious meaning still plays a central role for a significant group (40%), just as many participants celebrate Easter due to family tradition. For others, it is about rituals, food, or simply enjoying time with loved ones.

At the same time, a closer look reveals how traditional religious framing is losing ground for some, especially among those who feel disconnected from spiritual aspects or find the holiday too commercialized. Easter is not disappearing – it’s evolving into a flexible occasion shaped by personal context.

For marketers, media professionals, and researchers, these insights underline the importance of understanding shifting holiday perceptions and motivations. Messaging and campaigns that reflect this complexity – balancing tradition with contemporary values – are more likely to resonate.

What becomes clear: holidays change over time – slowly, but measurably. Market research like this helps identify such shifts early, enabling communication and content that stays relevant and audience-focused.