March 23, 2008
Earliest Easter of a Lifetime

(Unless you're 95 or older.)

According to scripture Jesus came back to life on the Sunday following the Jewish feast of Passover. The Old Testament prescribes that Passover is celebrated at the time of the spring barley harvest full moon. Therefore, the celebration of Easter is based on the Old Testament lunar calendar, not fixed to the modern solar calendar that begins on January 1.

When will Easter be in any given year? Follow these three steps:
1. Start with the Spring Equinox (the moment when the sun is directly above the equator). Most often this occurs on March 20, sometimes, March 21. The western church has chosen to standardize on March 21.
2. Wait for the next full moon.
3. Easter will be the next Sunday.

In 2008 the Full Moon is on Friday, March 21. The last time Easter was on March 23 was 1913; the next time will be 2228.

Because the Old Testament day begins at sundown, not midnight, and the full moon always appears just a few minutes after sundown, Easter can never be on March 21 - the sunrise of that Sunday has already past. So if the full moon is on a Sunday, March 21, Easter will be the following Sunday.

Therefore, Easter can only be one day earlier than in 2008, on a March 22. The last time it was on March 22 was 1818; the next time will be 2285.

That is the simple answer. For more details go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

 

home | map | worship | ministries | about | resources | contact | news | calendar| links