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Best of Brakfast Episode 174 Yana Bolder
Unlike Christmas, which is locked into the calendar on 25 December, Easter moves around each year. Sometimes it lands in March, other times in April, and it often catches people off guard. So what’s going on?
The answer lies in a mix of astronomy, history, and tradition.
It’s All About the Moon
Easter isn’t set by a fixed date. Instead, it follows a rule based on the moon:
Easter Sunday falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
The spring equinox is fixed as 21 March in the Church calendar, even though astronomically it can vary slightly. From that point, the next full moon is called the “Paschal Full Moon.” The first Sunday after that is Easter.
That’s why the date changes every year.
Why This System?
The method dates back to the early Christian Church. Leaders wanted Easter to reflect the timing of events described in the Bible, particularly the connection with the Jewish festival of Passover, which also follows a lunar calendar.
To standardise things, the rules were set at the First Council of Nicaea. Before that, different regions celebrated Easter on different days.
How Much Can It Move?
Because of this system, Easter can fall anywhere between:
22 March (the earliest possible date)
25 April (the latest possible date)
That’s a window of over a month, which is why school holidays, bank holidays, and even the weather can feel very different from one year to the next.
Why It Still Matters Today
Even if you’re not marking the religious side, Easter still shapes a lot of everyday life in the UK. From long weekends to chocolate eggs and family gatherings, its changing date has a ripple effect on everything from travel plans to when spring really feels like it’s arrived.
Did You Know?
Because Easter moves, other dates linked to it also change, including Good Friday and the May bank holidays in some years.
Your Turn
Do you prefer an early Easter in March or a later one in April? And do you remember any years where it felt especially early or late?
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