When is Easter, and why does the date change?
Quick Answer
In Western churches, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, so it can land anywhere between 22 March and 25 April.
The Full Story
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, which the Gospels place around the Jewish festival of Passover, itself tied to a lunar calendar. In AD 325 the Council of Nicaea agreed that all Christians should celebrate Easter on the same Sunday, and the rule that developed links it to the spring equinox and the Moon. Churches use a fixed date of 21 March for the equinox and a calculated ecclesiastical full moon rather than the astronomical one. As a result, Western Easter can fall on any Sunday from 22 March to 25 April. Eastern Orthodox churches use the older Julian calendar for the calculation, so their Easter is often one or more weeks later.
Key Facts
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"When Is Easter — The Moon Rule That Moves the Holiday Every Year"