Computation of Easter

Saturday February 23, 2008

Info supplied courtesy of Jack Fetrow.

It IS early this year.

Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon following the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that the Hebrews used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives and only the very elderly of our population have ever seen it this early before.

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!).

The next time it will be 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 nor will ever see it any earlier than this year!


Recent Articles

Fourth Sunday in Lent 'C'

Going home Shortly after the blessing of the Easter candle during the Easter Vigil Service, the priest presider or the assisting…continue reading...

Third Sunday in Lent 'C'

It’s never too late to make a difference. I enjoy my weekly visits to the nursing home in Morristown and my…continue reading...

Third Sunday in Lent 'A'

Conduits of Grace What would we do without water? Sixty percent of the composition of our body is water. We…continue reading...

Second Sunday in Lent 'C'

It was a transforming experience. It was during a trip to Colorado many years ago on a clear quiet evening that…continue reading...

First Sunday in Lent 'C'

No better time than now. In the movie, “The Passion of the Christ,” the depiction of Satan is subtle but interesting.…continue reading...