What does Easter celebrate in a few words. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus three days after His death on the cross. When does Easter occur? Easter occurs on a different day in a different week, even in a different month sometimes.
How is it determined what day Easter falls on each year. The answer is that it occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. So the vernal equinox fell on March 20 this year. That date can vary, the next year for a March19 equinox at Greenwich Mean Time is 2044 and the next year for a March 21 equinox at Greenwich Mean Time is not until the 22nd (next) century. Equinoxes can occur on a different day in Pacific Daylight Time.
The first full moon this year after the vernal equinox will occur on Saturday, April 12 in the US which would seem to have had Easter occur on Sunday, April 13. But the determining factor in determining when Easter occurs is Greenwich Mean Time. Full moon occurs there early on Sunday, April 13 so Easter falls on the first Sunday AFTER that which is the day after this event or Sunday, April 20. In 2024, Easter occurred on March 31.
I hope you all have a nice time hanging out today. After all, it is National Hanging Out Day! Actually, it is really for hanging your clothes out on a clothes line but, what the heck, give it a double meaning!