Hey everyone! Have you ever wondered why Easter seems to hop around on the calendar every year? It’s not like Christmas, which is always on December 25th, right?
Well, the key to Easter’s date lies with two main events: the arrival of spring and the moon. Specifically, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday, after the first full moon, that occurs on or after March 21st, which is typically the spring equinox.
This specific full moon is often called the Paschal Full Moon. Since the moon’s cycle doesn’t perfectly align with our solar calendar, that Paschal Full Moon can show up on different days each year, causing Easter to “move” along with it!
Because of this moon-based calculation, Easter can fall as early as March 22nd or as late as April 25th. That’s a pretty wide range, isn’t it?
So, next time Easter’s date puzzles you, just remember: it’s all about that first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21st! Pretty neat, huh?