Monday, March 3, 2008

How Easter is Determined

I thought some of you might be interested in this trivia. I got this on one of my homeschooling (hs'g) loops. The date of this coming Easter is quite early this year, and I tho't most of you would find it interesting to learn how it is determined.

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar. Usually Easter falls after Passover, however, this year Passover is April 20. Therefore, Easter can't come after Passover, as an additional full moon comes full cycle.

Here's the interesting info. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here's the facts: 1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). 2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it anyearlier than this year!

3 comments:

kcaimee said...

Thanks Chermo, that was very interesting.

also known as shell said...

Okay I have now been schooled! Thanks for the info.

Cheri w/ a "C" said...

hey.. I just fwd'd it... altho I did add some of the Jewish facts... another favorite study I enjoy.