Is Easter early or late this year?

Early.

Why?

Good question. Easter can be early or late because it is not a fixed-date holiday.

Why not?

Good question. Easter has no fixed date because it is a “moveable feast.” In religious circles, a moveable feast is a holy day whose date moves on the calendar of days. The date for Easter is calculated each year to be the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox, with “vernal” meaning springtime and “equinox” meaning equal day and night. So, when the buds start bursting on the trees and the wild flowers start blooming in the fields, you know spring has sprung. Next, check the morning paper for when the hours of daylight and the hours of night are as close together as they get, equal, the equinox. That night, wait until the sun has set, go outside and look up at the night sky. Do this each night until you spy the full moon. It can be a little tricky to determine when the moon is actually full, but do your best. Ok, there it is. Now, look at the next Sunday on the calendar hanging in the garage. Bingo, there it is, the next Sunday is Easter — right on schedule. Now, go out and buy the dye for the eggs, the baskets for the candy and a new outfit for yourself and everyone else. This should all work fine if your church is using the Gregorian calendar, but if your religious affiliation uses the Julian calendar, it is a bit more complicated. Be sure you have the calendar for your particular denomination in the garage and double check the date there.

Ok, I see the date for this year on the calendar. It is March 31^st, right?

Right, if you are a member of a Gregorian-based religion. It would be May 5^th if you are a Julian person looking at a Gregorian calendar.

Can we just stick with my calendar? I got it at the mall, and it says March 31^st for Easter.

Sure, stick with it – I always go by the mall calendar myself.

Is March 31^st early or late for Easter?

I was wondering when you get back to that. March 31^st is early.

How early?

Good question.

Do you have to say “good question” every time I ask a question?

Good question. Sorry, no. I don’t have to say “good question.” What was your question?

How early is Easter this year?

Good question.

Do you want to be here for Easter?

Huh. Oh, I get it. It’s a bad habit, I know. Why do you have that baseball bat in your hands?

Good question.

I get it. Right, back to Easter.

For your sake, I suggest you proceed quickly.

Yes. The earliest date for a Gregorian-based Easter is March 23rd. For the 250 years from 1875 in the past to 2124 in the future, Easter occurs in March only 55 of those years, or about 20% of the time – 1 out of every 5 years. In that time period, March 31^st has 9 Easters, exceeded only by March 29^th, with 10 Easters.

Good. Now, tell me about April.

April is the most popular month for Easter, with April 4^th and April 17^th being the most popular dates having 11 occurrences each over the 250-year period. Almost 80% of the time Easter is in April, with the latest date for Easter being April 25. So, the time from the earliest possible Easter (March 23^rd) to the latest (April 25^th) is 33 days. For some that may seem a very long time to wait for a hollow chocolate bunny to arrive on a bed of shredded plastic straw, but remember Easter is early this year and so are the candied eggs and marsh-mellowed chicks.

But, that’s not what Easter is really all about, candy and eggs, early or late, is it?

Good . . . point. You are making a very interesting and, I think, important . . . inquiry.

Thanks, and will I see you there, at Easter, I mean?

I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Hope to see you too,

Grandpa Jim