Easter is March 31 this year. Here's why many Christians will wake up before sunrise to celebrate

On Easter morning, many Christians wake before dawn to celebrate their belief in the resurrection of Jesus, the son of God — as the sun rises.

They gather outside on beaches and church lawns, in local cemeteries and national parks, marking the holy day at the very core of Christianity. For the majority of the world’s Christians, Easter Sunday — and in turn, the sunrise service tradition — will be observed on March 31 this year.

Easter is not a fixed date. It swings between March 22 and April 25 based on a calendar calculation involving the moon.