The Lunar Connection: How The Phases Of The Moon Determine Easter’s Date

We celebrate Christmas on December 25 every year, Halloween is always October 31, and Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November. So, why does Easter have to make things complicated by changing the date every year? Let's find out.

The Phases of the Moon Determine the Date of Easter

Basically, the Easter bunny has to know when the full moon falls on the calendar between March and April. There's more to it of course, but that's the first thing we need to know.

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Easter is a Moveable Feast, so it Does Not Have a Fixed Date

Easter is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon which occurs on or after March 21. This means that Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. The reason for these rules dates back to the early days of Christianity when there was disagreement about the date of Easter among different Christian communities.

I seriously always assumed that Easter was during spring break. This year, the EVSC's spring break is the week leading up to Easter Sunday.

When is Easter in 2024?

The Old Farmers Almanac is an excellent source for the lunar cycles and how they affect everything from planting to when you should cut your hair. This year, Easter will be on Sunday, March 31, 2024.

Plan Ahead:

Even though Easter does change dates every year, we can look ahead and plan for the next few years.

• Sunday, April 20, 2025
• Sunday, April 5, 2026
• Sunday, March 28, 2027

Fun Fact: The most unusual date for Easter is March 22.