Managing Easter Holidays: A Guide for Business Owners & Project Managers

Easter is a time of celebration and well-earned rest in many countries. As a business owner, project manager or team leader, managing this period effectively is crucial to maintaining productivity and ensuring smooth operations. This article will guide you through the public holidays associated with Easter, the varying lengths of the celebrations across Europe, and provide tips for navigating the weeks leading up to Easter and the holiday itself.

Which Countries Celebrate Easter with Public Holidays?

Easter is one of the most important holidays in many countries, with several observing public holidays around Good Friday and Easter Monday. Here’s a look at some of the countries where these holidays are celebrated:

• Europe: Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Poland, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Switzerland
• North America: Canada
• Oceania: Australia, New Zealand
• South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile

This list is not exhaustive and specific holidays and dates may vary by region and country. It’s important to check the official holiday calendar for each location where your team works.

Easter Celebration Duration in European Countries

The length of Easter celebrations varies across Europe, with some countries observing longer periods than others.

Some European nations have extended celebrations. In Germany, for example, Easter can last up to two weeks in some regions, with schools typically taking a two-week break. In 2025, Easter holidays in Germany will run from 18 to 21 April, including Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. In Austria, schools will have an Easter break from 12 to 21 April.

In France, Easter celebrations can also last up to two weeks, with many schools closing for spring break during this period. In Spain, Holy Week is celebrated for a whole week, starting on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Monday.

Some countries have moderate celebrations, for example UK, Italy and Netherlands. In the United Kingdom Easter celebrations typically last for four days, from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Sweden, Poland are used to shorter celebrations with Easter Monday as a public holiday.

Planning for Easter: Tips

Here’s how to manage the pre-Easter period and the holidays themselves effectively:

• Communicate Holiday Schedules Early: Inform your team about the official Easter holiday schedule well in advance.
• Set Expectations: Be clear about response times and availability during the holiday period.
• Review Project Timelines: Assess ongoing projects and identify any deadlines that may fall during or immediately after the Easter break.
• Staffing and Coverage: Determine necessary staffing levels for essential tasks during the holidays (Please pay special attention to school children’s parents!).
• Utilize Time Tracking Software: Leverage time-tracking software like Kimai to monitor working hours, including holiday time.

When managing international teams across Europe during Easter, consider these varying celebration lengths, for example plan for potential two-week absences in countries with longer Easter breaks, like Germany and France.

Check your public holidays management system for 2026

Make sure you are prepared for the holiday season and the list of public holidays was set up at the beginning of the year. If you haven’t yet tried Kimai’s public holidays management plugin yet, request it now.

It can also be tested in the demo and is included in our cloud .