Have you noticed that we say, “Easter is
early this year,” or “Easter is late this year;” but we never say, “Easter is
just right this year”? Evidently, Easter never comes when we think it should.
But just when does it come?
Obviously,
Easter is the Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21, the vernal
or spring equinox. Everyone knows that. But what many of us didn’t pay any
attention to were the incredible “early Easter” and “late Easter” of recent
times.
In
2008, Easter came the earliest that
any of us will see for the rest of our lives, March 23! The last time Easter
fell on March 23 was 1913, which, those of you 99 or older remember quite well.
The next time Easter will fall on March 23 is 2228. Mark it in your calendar!
(The earliest Easter can fall is March
22, which it hasn’t since 1818. The next time Easter will fall on March 22 is
2285. I’d say mark it too, but few of us keep our calendars beyond 2250.)
In 2009, Easter fell on April 12, and then
on April 4 in 2010. But 2011 was
special because Easter fell on April 24! The latest Easter can fall is April
25.
We have just lived through an amazing time,
and most of us didn’t even know it! Within the space of three years, 2008-2011, Easter was celebrated one
day short of the earliest possible date and one day short of the latest date.
What can we say about Easter’s date this
year? Not much. I guess we could say that April 8 splits the difference between
the dates in 2009 and 20010, April 4 and April 12. That’s not very exciting,
but, of course, when Easter falls is unimportant. What we celebrate on Easter
is what’s exciting! - DJ
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