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By ALYSON WARD
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
We just had spring break. How can it be Easter already?
Easter -- which is Sunday, you heathens -- is extra early this year. In fact, it's the earliest it'll be in your lifetime, unless you're planning to live until 2285.
Why is that? And why does Easter move around so much, anyway? You'll be sorry you asked, but read on.
How early can Easter be?
We're almost there. Easter can be as early as March 22 (not since 1818; not again until 2285) and as late as April 25 (not since 1943; not again until 2038).
Why?
The date of Easter shifts each year so that it falls in the same season and phase of the moon that occurred at Christ's resurrection. (Do we know for sure when that was? Well, no -- but we've only got this column to explain things, so let's move on.)
How do you figure out Easter's date each year?
We tend to rely on the fine minds at DayMinder, who print it on our calendars. But here's an easy rule you can remember, if you like that sort of thing: Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or following the vernal equinox, which is the first day of spring.
Is it really that simple?
Of course not. It turns out there's an astronomical full moon and an ecclesiastical full moon -- and they aren't always on the same date.
The ecclesiastical full moon was determined long ago -- in A.D. 325, when the Council of Nicea established a date for Easter. A group of astronomers came up with a table for the Christian church, estimating the astronomical full moon dates, and the date of Easter was determined according to the group's calculations. The problem? Their tables assumed that the vernal equinox would always be March 21. Today, astronomers know that the equinox sometimes occurs on a different date (this year, it was March 20). So the ecclesiastical full moon -- the one the church observes -- can miss the actual full moon by as much as a couple of days.
So the dates for Easter haven't changed since A.D. 325?
Yes and no. When the Gregorian calendar (the one we use now) was adopted in 1582, some adjustments were made. Leap year was introduced. New Easter tables were created to accommodate the extra days. But Christianity still designates March 21 as the vernal equinox -- even though science shows this can be incorrect. So sometimes (1962, for example) you'll find that the simple "first Sunday after the first full moon" rule doesn't really hold true.
Know what's even more confusing? While most of the Western world gradually accepted the Gregorian calendar, Eastern Orthodox Christians still celebrate Easter on the dates determined 325. That's why Easter is often observed on different dates around the world.
Is there more?
Google something like "Easter date formula," you'll find all kinds of formulas and algorithms, charts and "golden numbers" that can be used to determine the date of Easter. These mathematical acrobatics have convinced us that we should rely on the DayTimer folks. They seem to know what's going on.
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/540975.html
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
We just had spring break. How can it be Easter already?
Easter -- which is Sunday, you heathens -- is extra early this year. In fact, it's the earliest it'll be in your lifetime, unless you're planning to live until 2285.
Why is that? And why does Easter move around so much, anyway? You'll be sorry you asked, but read on.
How early can Easter be?
We're almost there. Easter can be as early as March 22 (not since 1818; not again until 2285) and as late as April 25 (not since 1943; not again until 2038).
Why?
The date of Easter shifts each year so that it falls in the same season and phase of the moon that occurred at Christ's resurrection. (Do we know for sure when that was? Well, no -- but we've only got this column to explain things, so let's move on.)
How do you figure out Easter's date each year?
We tend to rely on the fine minds at DayMinder, who print it on our calendars. But here's an easy rule you can remember, if you like that sort of thing: Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or following the vernal equinox, which is the first day of spring.
Is it really that simple?
Of course not. It turns out there's an astronomical full moon and an ecclesiastical full moon -- and they aren't always on the same date.
The ecclesiastical full moon was determined long ago -- in A.D. 325, when the Council of Nicea established a date for Easter. A group of astronomers came up with a table for the Christian church, estimating the astronomical full moon dates, and the date of Easter was determined according to the group's calculations. The problem? Their tables assumed that the vernal equinox would always be March 21. Today, astronomers know that the equinox sometimes occurs on a different date (this year, it was March 20). So the ecclesiastical full moon -- the one the church observes -- can miss the actual full moon by as much as a couple of days.
So the dates for Easter haven't changed since A.D. 325?
Yes and no. When the Gregorian calendar (the one we use now) was adopted in 1582, some adjustments were made. Leap year was introduced. New Easter tables were created to accommodate the extra days. But Christianity still designates March 21 as the vernal equinox -- even though science shows this can be incorrect. So sometimes (1962, for example) you'll find that the simple "first Sunday after the first full moon" rule doesn't really hold true.
Know what's even more confusing? While most of the Western world gradually accepted the Gregorian calendar, Eastern Orthodox Christians still celebrate Easter on the dates determined 325. That's why Easter is often observed on different dates around the world.
Is there more?
Google something like "Easter date formula," you'll find all kinds of formulas and algorithms, charts and "golden numbers" that can be used to determine the date of Easter. These mathematical acrobatics have convinced us that we should rely on the DayTimer folks. They seem to know what's going on.
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/540975.html
