How to Figure When Easter Falls

Easter is not a set date on the calendar.

Easter is the Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Easter does not fall on a set date but varies according the the Jewish calendar's Passover, which also varies due to the full moon. Ancient Jewish calendars start new months in accordance with new moons, which is why Easter does not have a set date. There are several signs and simple factors to look for when trying to narrow down the prospects for Easter's date and determine what Sunday the holiday will fall on.

Things You'll Need

• Current calendar
• Schedule of full moons
• Past year's calendar

Instructions

1. Eliminate dates before March 22 and after April 25.

2. Calculate the date based on the prior year's Easter date. For non-leap years, Easter will either fall eight or 15 days before the previous year's Easter, or 13 or 20 days after. Keep in mind the block of time Easter must fall within from the previous step to assist you in determining the date.

3. Find the date of the vernal equinox.

4. Locate the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

5. Count forward to the following Sunday. This is Easter Sunday.

References

• Web Exhibits: Calendar Christian Easter