Easter

[Coppertop84]

Does anyone know why even though there is always 40 days between shrove Tuesday/ash Wednesday and Easter why is Easter sometimes in March but sometimes in April when there is still the same number of days between them?

So confused and it's driving me nuts.

Thanks and sorry if I am being a little dim.

Coppertop84 xxx

[Naomicorlett]

Easter is the first sunday following the first full moon after 21st March ( Spring Equinox ) so March 21st------next full moon is Tues 30th March---Sunday after that is April 4th. This is true for every year and as the full moon falls on different dates each year Easter can vary by up to 5 weeks. Some references say March 20th by the way.

[Naomicorlett]

Oh and in further I suppose I should say that Shrove Tuesday is counted back 40 days from Easter and that is why there is always 40 days between them no matter when Easter falls.

[R1Geezer]

the Easter sunday si speced by the rules above, then take 5 weeks back from that, that's 35 days, then go back another 5 days and that's always a Tuesday regardless of what Sunday you start off with. Tada!

[petal54]

hence known as a movablefeast

[Coppertop84]

Thanks everyone, that makes sense. I learnt something new today.

x

[morn]

the 40 days of lent symbolise the 40 days Christ fasted before starting his mission (see Mark 1.12) - but in actual Christian practice Sundays don't count! So there are actually 6 weeks of 6 (not 7) days plus 4 extra days from ash WEDNESDAY to Easter SUNDAY