Why do the dates for Easter change every year?

Question

One year it's the end of March, the next it's the end of April, then it's the beginning of April...

Answer 1

"Easter is a moveable feast as churches in the west celebrate it on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or following the spring equinox on 21st March. That means Easter Sunday can be as early as the third week in March or as late as the fourth week in April."



For more on the origins of Easter and WHY this time period was chosen, read the source link below:

Hope this helps

Answer 2

Because For Christians Easter is the first Sunday after the paschal full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is the following Sunday. The holiday can occur between March 22 and April 25.xx

Answer 3

There is an excellent article on this topic available at wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter#Date_of_Easter

In brief, according to this article:

Easter and the holidays that are related to it are moveable feasts, in that they do not fall on a fixed date in the Gregorian or Julian calendars (which follow the motion of the sun and the seasons). Instead, they are based on a lunar calendar similar—but not identical—to the Hebrew Calendar.

The ecclesiastical rules are:

* Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after March 21 (the day of the ecclesiastical vernal equinox).
* This particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon).

The calculations for the date of Easter are somewhat complicated.

In the Western Church, Easter has not fallen on the earliest of the 35 possible dates, March 22, since 1818, and will not do so again until 2285. It will, however, fall on March 23, just one day after its earliest possible date, in 2008. Easter last fell on the latest possible date, April 25 in 1943, and will next fall on that date in 2038. However, it will fall on April 24, just one day before this latest possible date, in 2011.

This web site will give you all you need to know about determining the date of Easter:
http://www.assa.org.au/edm.html

Answer 4

Why? Because of Christianity's origins in Jewish Palestine. The bible tells us that Christ died and rose again around the time of the Jewish Passover. Hence early Christians, many of whom were originally Jews, celebrated Easter at the same time as the Jewish Passover. Christians, however, celebrated Christ every Sunday so many of them celebrated Easter, not exactly at Passover but on the Sunday following. This became the custom of the Church following the Council of Nicaea in the early 4th century. It was nothing to do with paganism. The Jews use a lunar calendar - each month begins with a new moon. Passover is on the 14th Nissan - the first month of spring so Passover is always 14 days after the first full moon of spring. However, Jews in different countries saw the new moon on different days so celebrated Passover on different days. The Church wanted everyone to celebrate Easter on the SAME day so it came up with its own independent formula which was the same everywhere 1. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox; 2. this particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon); and 3. the vernal equinox is fixed as March 21. The RC church now uses the Astronomical full moon as observed from Jerusalem.

Answer 5

"Easter Sunday can fall on any date from March 22 to April 25. The date is actually based on the lunar calendar rather than our more well-known solar one".

Answer 6

The date is set by the lunar calendar. It is the first Sunday after the first full moon after Vernal Equinox. It's based of the pagan religions in Europe at the time. Easter eggs, the rabbit, all of that are based on the pagan beliefs. Of course, like most holidays, it was borrowed by the Christian Church.

Answer 7

In the new year,the day changes by 1.It can be January 7 on a Monday one year,and the next year Tues.
Also,There are 2 different days happening in the world.Across the continent,it is one day behind us and one day before,all has to do with time zones.

Answer 8

Easter Revelation(Uncovering the cover ups)
http://www.godshew.org/Easter.htm

Answer 9

To give me a nice 4 day weekend every year!

Answer 10

Good Question I have always wondered this I mean How can your date of death change?