Does anyone know who decides what day Easter is celebrated each year or what dec

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   Faith Reaperposted 10 years ago

   Does anyone know who decides what day Easter is celebrated each year or what decides the day?
   
   I have always been curious why the day we celebrate Easter is different each year and wondered if anyone knows the reason.  I know we do not know the exact day of the Resurrection, but who or what determines the day each year?  (I remember last year it was on April 20th here in the US because it was one of my granddaughter's birthday.  So, I was thrown off this year at it being so much early.)
   
   Thank you for answering.
   
   

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   Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years ago

   Hi Faith. I think Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or soon after the Vernal Equinox, which is March 21.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, cool, Phyllis, obviously I had no clue!  Thank you for answering.

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      One of the purposes of The First Council of Nicea in 325 AD was to establish the date of Easter. Look up The First Council of Nicea - it is very interesting. I saw a movie about Paul (played by actor Anthony Hopkins) and his participation in council.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wow, Phyllis, thank you for the extra information on The First Council.  I will have to find that movie for sure.  Bless you.

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think the movie is titled 'Peter and Paul', filmed in 1981. You can find it on Wikipedia.

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   Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years ago

   Our astronomy professor a few years ago said this about Western Easter:
   
   Easter is the Sunday immediately after the Paschal Full Moon PFM [an Ecclesiastical Full Moon (EFM) of the church established by a table of dates and not a physical full moon]. The Paschal Full Moon can vary as much as 1 to 3 days from the date of the actual [astronomical] full moon. The PFM is March 21 to April 18 each year. Western Easter falls March 22 to April 25, depending on PFM and the following Sunday. There are online calculators.
   
   The Orthodox or Eastern date is different still, so we can celebrate twice and sometimes, I do!

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Patty, wow, this is all fascinating to me.  Thank you for giving such a detailed answer here which provides much insight now.  I appreciate you.  Oh, that would be nice to celebrate twice!

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      Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It really IS nice, especially when you have Eastern Orthodox friends with whom to celebrate - two Christmases too! A link to the calculation of Easter and the official PFM table is at www DOT gmarts DOT org/index DOT php?go=412

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   Jackie Lynnleyposted 10 years ago

   I always thought it was based on the Jewish calendar and comes after passover, you know, but today the Jew does not go by the same calendar so it would be hard to figure. Anyway my guess would be based on the Jewish calendar; whichever one they use...but I could be wrong!

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Jackie, that is interesting and maybe the Jewish calendar is based on the moon as others have answered?  Good answer.

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      Jackie Lynnleyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't know; just know hubby was doing a study on all that and blood moons not long ago and I would really like to know so may give it a study to really know. Thanks!

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, the blood moons are interesting, especially being when they occur.  It would be a great study.  My hubby did one too. Is the next one in September?

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      Patty Inglish, MSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I did see that next one is Sept. 2015, number 4 of a "four blood moons" prophecy. Mark Biltz & John Hagee claim to have first noticed the pattern and I hear controversy about them. Other pastors are writing about it, but NASA is as well. Interest

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      Jackie Lynnleyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I know they are prophetic about end times is why I would like to understand them.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, NASA does have a video about them or something, so science and prophecy may line up.

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      tirelesstravelerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good Friday and the start of Passover were the same day this year,  There was also a blood moon.  The Jewish calendar is amazingly complicated.  2013 Hanukkah  was the same time as Thanksgiving.  It is according to the moon and a lot of formulas

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   tirelesstravelerposted 10 years ago

   My understanding is it is the first Sunday after the first full moon of Spring.
   Good Friday and the start of Passover were the same day this year,  There was also a blood moon (caused by solar eclipse).
   The Jewish calendar is amazingly complicated.  2013 Hanukkah  was the same time as Thanksgiving, which only happens every 100 years.

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      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Judy,
      
      Wow, this is all so very interesting to me.  It is complicated no doubt!  All of this happening on the same days and then with Hanukkah and Thanksgiving at the same time, certainly is unusual and amazing. I appreciate you sharing here.

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