Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) has introduced a bill making Easter Monday a federal holiday.
Explaining the bill in a statement on X, Schmitt said 81% of Americans celebrate Easter, although “our current holiday schedule makes it way too difficult for families to celebrate together” because “Easter falls on the longest unbroken work stretch of the calendar. (March and April are the only back-to-back months without a federal holiday).”
Schmitt noted that other nations, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe, recognize the day as a public holiday.
“It isn’t even novel in America. We already have a ‘National Day of Prayer,’ signed into law by Missouri’s own President Truman,” he wrote. “A federal Easter Monday holiday allows Americans to celebrate the most extraordinary day in world history, Easter—the day of Christ’s resurrection.”
Discussing the practical elements for making the day a federal holiday, Schmitt said Easter weekend “already generates around $15 billion for our economy.”
“Making it a three-day weekend could boost that by an estimated 10-15%, adding up to $2 billion in economic activity while strengthening American families,” he said.
“Our holidays and traditions are part of the story we tell about ourselves. This is not partisan. It’s not a ‘Republican’ or ‘Democrat’ holiday,” the senator added. “It’s an American holiday, allowing a fuller celebration of the defining moment of the faith that shaped our nation and civilization.”
The bill, called the Easter Monday Act of 2025, would amend the United States Code to read, “Easter Monday, the first Monday that occurs after the first Sunday that occurs after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox (commonly known as ‘Easter Sunday’).”
