This Easter Sunday, major retailers across the United States are taking a rare and welcome pause in what has been called the “Easter Blackout.” Around two dozen national chains — including Target, Costco, Lowe’s, and TJ Maxx— are closing their doors for the day to give their employees a day off to spend with friends and family. While Easter has long been a significant holiday in Western culture, it is encouraging to see this recent shift to re-acknowledge the importance of Easter.

Notably, this year’s closures are broader than in past years. In 2024, several chains did close for Easter, but 2025 marks a more unified effort, with media outlets using the term “Easter Blackout.” While some stores like Walmart and CVS will remain open, the signal from the retail world is clear: Easter Sunday still matters.

As we reflect on the victory of Jesus Christ over sin and death, this collective pause offers a timely reminder that rest, reverence, and relationships with God and our neighbors still have a place in American life. In a culture often driven by convenience and commerce, it is  fitting that on Resurrection Sunday, the marketplace finally stops — if only for a day.