It seems the Easter chocolate hits shops earlier each year, but now there’s not long to go before the bunny makes his visits. There’s not long left before the return of mini eggs and all the other festive chocolate treats. Today's top videos STORY CONTINUES BELOW With Pancake Tuesday and Lent over, we can get stuck into all the chocolatey goodness very soon. It seems the festive chocolate hits stores earlier each year. Pic: Shutterstock WHEN IS EASTER 2025? The celebration is widely regarded as the most important festival in the Christian calendar, and marks Jesus’ dying on the cross and the subsequent rise from the dead. Pancake Tuesday takes place on March 4, and is followed by Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent on March 5. Lent concludes on Thursday, April 17, with the next day being Good Friday. The day is traditionally a Bank Holiday with Catholics abstaining from meat for the day. Eggs are synonymous with Easter, with BBC explaining that this is due to their symbolism of new life. Similarly, rabbits have become a symbol of new life due to typically giving birth to large litters at a time. Pic: Getty Images The week leading up to Easter Sunday is often referred to as Holy Week and starts on the Sunday before, which is known as Palm Sunday. Easter Saturday is on April 19 and is followed by Easter Sunday on April 20: this is the day that Jesus resurrected. WHY IS EASTER CELEBRATED? It is a widely important celebration for Catholics, and the different days represent different aspects of Jesus Christ’s life. Good Friday is the day that Jesus died on the cross, and Easter Sunday is the day that he rose again. There are a range of different means to celebrate annually and worldwide, such as a range of church services and vigils. Eggs are synonymous with the festivities, withthe BBC explaining that this is due to their symbolism of new life. Similarly, rabbits have become a symbol of new life due to typically giving birth to large litters at a time. HOW IS EASTER DECIDED EVERY YEAR? The celebration takes place on a different date every year. It is always the first Sunday after the first full moon which follows the spring equinox.