When Is Easter?
Depending on who you ask, where you live, or which Christian denomination you practice, Easter could fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. The date changes every year, but the formula for determining that date is always the same. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal (spring) equinox.
Most holidays fall on an easily determinable day of the year - either they are always on the same date (December 25, February 14, July 4) or they are always on a set day (the fourth Thursday in November, the second Sunday in May). But you almost have to have advanced degrees in meteorology, astronomy and quantum physics to determine when Easter is.
When Is Easter
In Eastern (Greek and Russian Orthodox) and Western churches (Roman Catholic and Protestant), the formula for determining the date of Easter is the same. You start with the spring, or vernal, equinox. Then look for the first full moon on or after that date. The next Sunday (after the full moon) is Easter.
The difference in dates between the churches comes from the different calendars used to determine the date of the vernal equinox.
Orthodox Church
In the Orthodox church, the date of the vernal equinox is determined as it occurs in Jerusalem based on the astronomical definition; that is, the date in Jerusalem that really does have equal parts day and night is the vernal equinox.
If there is a full moon that night, then the next Sunday is Easter.
If there is not a full moon that night, they wait until the next full moon, and then the following Sunday is Easter.
Western Calendars
On the Western calendar, the date of the vernal equinox is always set as March 21. So the only remaining question is when the next full moon will occur.
- If the full moon falls on March 21, and if March 21 is a Saturday, then Easter could be as early as March 22.
- If the equinox falls just after the appearance of a full moon, then Easter won’t be until later in April.
So, depending on when the astronomical vernal equinox occurs, the two churches could celebrate Easter on the same day or up to five weeks apart.
Just Give Me a Date for Easter
Here are the dates for Easter through 2015:
2011 (Western) April 24 (Orthodox) April 24
2012 (Western) April 8 (Orthodox) April 15
2013 (Western) March 31 (Orthodox) May 5
2014 (Western) April 20 (Orthodox) April 20
2015 (Western) April 5 (Orthodox) April 12
Easter is the most important holiday in the Christian church. It is a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is also a celebration of new dresses, funny hats, painted eggs and enormous, frightening rabbits that bring you baskets of chocolate.
For more information on Easter traditions, see Why Do We Celebrate Easter? and Where Did the Easter Bunny Come From? Happy Easter!