Easter’s Ever Changing Date

By Alexis Pencar

Have you ever found yourself wondering why the Easter holiday seems to jump around the calendar each year? You are not alone! Unlike fixed holidays such as Christmas or Independence Day, Easter’s date shifts every year, sometimes by weeks! The reason for this consistent variability lies in a combination of astronomy, religious history, and tradition.

Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon on or after the Spring Equinox (which was March 20, 2025). This means that Easter is tied to the lunar calendar rather than the solar calendar that most people think of and use every day. As a result, Easter can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25!

The connection between Easter and the moon originates from the Jewish calendar, which is based on lunar cycles. Jesus's resurrection occurred shortly after Passover, a holiday tied to the first full moon of spring. Early Christians adopted this timing, aligning Easter with the Jewish lunar tradition.

Though it seems straightforward, determining Easter's date hasn’t always been so, being a major point of issue in the early Christian church. In 325 AD, the Council of Nicaea standardized the method of calculating Easter by declaring that it should be celebrated on a Sunday (to honor the resurrection), and established the, now known, formula of following the full moon after the spring equinox.

For centuries now, Easter’s variable date has been a hallmark of spring, signaling renewal and hope for many worldwide. This moveable feast highlights the interwoven relationship between faith and nature. Just like with the weather (especially here), whether Easter comes in March or waits until late April, its ever-changing date reminds us of the beautiful connections between celestial, natural, and spiritual cycles.

This year, as Sharon Springs welcomes the season of rebirth, regrowth, and blooms, let’s take the opportunity to reflect on our community, to deepen our appreciation for its rich historical significance and its continuous and inevitable rebirth. Happy Easter!