How is the date of Easter determined each year?

The simple standard definition of Easter is that it is the first Sunday after the full Moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. If the full Moon falls on a Sunday then Easter is the next Sunday.

Who decides what day Easter is on?

The ecclesiastical rules are: Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox; this particular ecclesiastical full moon is the 14th day of a tabular lunation (new moon); and the vernal equinox is fixed as March 21.

Why does the date of Easter change every year?

The date of Easter Sunday depends on the spring equinox Unlike Christmas, the date of Easter is subject to change, as its date is determined by a lunisolar calendar.

How does the Catholic Church determine when Easter is?

So, to put it another way: Easter is observed on the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon. What Happens When the Full Moon and Spring Equinox Occur on the Same Day? Generally, if the full Moon occurs on the same day as the spring equinox, Easter is observed on the subsequent Sunday.

What is the most common date for Easter?

What Is the Most Common Easter Date? Easter is a “movable feast” and does not have a fixed date. However, it is always held on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Over a 500-year period (from 1600 to 2099 AD), it just so happens that Easter will have most often been celebrated on either March 31 or April 16.

What year will Easter be on March 24?

List of dates for Easter

Is Easter the first Sunday of April?

Easter is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon — officially called “Paschal Full Moon” — that lands on or just after the spring equinox. This year, the first full moon after the spring equinox won’t happen until Sunday, March 28, which means Easter falls on the following Sunday, April 4.