2006-06-13 09:34:37 · 8 answers · asked by American___Brit 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Easter
There are several different rule sets for determining when Easter occurs
* Eastern Orthodox Church
The First Sunday after the first Full Moon aftar the vernal Equinox as seen from Jerusalem
If that is the same date as the Jewish passover, it is moved to the following Sunday
[I should point out that some branches of the Orthodox Christian Church still use the Julian calendar, so they might celebrate it on a different date than those that use the Gregorian calendar.]
* Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church
Easter occurs on a Sunday
This Sunday must be the fourteenth day after the Paschal Moon
The Paschal moon falls on, or after the Vernal Equinox
The Vernal Equinox is defined as 21 March
* Protestant Christian Church
Easter is the Sunday following the First Full Moon which occurs after the Spring Equinox
* Celtic Christianity
Easter is celelbrated on 14 Nisan
* Epiphany
Easter is Seven Sundays from Epiphany
[I think that rule set should read:
"Easter Season starts Seven Sundays from Ephipany" This gives dates that are in line with the other rule sets.]
* Easter Act of 1928 (UK)
Easter is the first Sunday after the second Saturday of the month
The Netherlands has similar legislation.
In England, the rule set was to go into effect, once the Anglican Church agreed to it. Thus far, they have not done so. [They are trying to persaude Protestant Christianty to accept this change.]
* Vatican II Rules
Easter is the second Sunday of April
This rule set is to go into effect, if, and only if, the other branches of Christianity would agree to it.
I don't remember Pope Gregory's rule set, and can't find it on the net.
The Protestant Episcopalian Rule Set hs the same results as the Protestant Christian Church rule set. [The results would be different, if not for the built in "fudge" factor.]
In an interesting coincidence, all rule sets that do not use the Jewish Calendar (Rabbincal or Karaite) will celebrate Easter on the same day next year --- 8 April 2007.
2006-06-15 09:13:27 · answer #1 · answered by jblake80856 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Easter is the first sunday after the first full moon after March 20
2006-06-16 12:36:12 · answer #2 · answered by Sharp Marble 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule is that Easter is the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after March 21.
2006-06-14 11:13:45 · answer #3 · answered by Carjohnrie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's based on a lunar cycle - Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring.
2006-06-13 16:40:48 · answer #4 · answered by Jeffrey M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Easter Sunday is the fist Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox.
2006-06-13 17:44:32 · answer #5 · answered by Brian M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the date is determined by the 1st sunday after the 1st full moon after the start of spring
2006-06-13 22:18:06 · answer #6 · answered by TchrzPt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is based on a lunar cycle.
Which seems kind of funny, coming out of the Christians...
2006-06-13 22:30:19 · answer #7 · answered by Jess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lunar cycle for lunatics....
2006-06-14 10:22:59 · answer #8 · answered by zzzmailmanzzz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋