Easter

Theodoric · 23-02-2004, 20:53

Did you know that Easter is defined as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox? This always gets me wondering who decides the date when it's a really close run thing. For example, when exactly is the Vernal Equinox; I've seen both 21 and 22 of March quoted (I think it varies a bit because of leap years). And who decided exactly when the full moon was in the days when astronomical measurements were much less precise. I've got an idea that the church actually use a method that only approximates to the behaviour of the real moon, but gives an easily calculated and precise date.

Jerrek · 23-02-2004, 21:36

Vernal equinox is easy to calculate given some basic calculus and trig. Any astronomer can give you the exact day.

Full moon is also easy to calculate because you're looking for a position where the sun's light reflects the entire of the moon. Also easy for an astronomer to get. In older days though, they probably used the temples and calendars. With some basic math, you can calculate the rotation rate of the moon around the earth, and from there you can calculate the number of days between full moon and full moon, as well as work in where the new moon fits in. Then you can calculate the exact day of the full moon.

Xaccers · 23-02-2004, 22:00

Easter isn't a christian celebration, it's pagen, which then got absorbed into catholocism just as christmas was.

Originally it was a saxon celebration to the goddess of fertility and rebirth.

23-02-2004, 22:17

I wouldn't be surprised if the last 2 posts are connected by 'astronomical' events - the trig suggested by Jerrek seems to link to Xaccer's post?

**Paul** · 23-02-2004, 22:28

FYI;

Easter Sunday until 2024

2004 April 11
2005 March 27
2006 April 16
2007 April 8
2008 March 23
2009 April 12
2010 April 4
2011 April 24
2012 April 8
2013 March 31
2014 April 20
2015 April 5
2016 March 27
2017 April 16
2018 April 1
2019 April 21
2020 April 12
2021 April 4
2022 April 17
2023 April 9
2024 March 31

ZrByte · 23-02-2004, 22:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by pem

FYI;

Easter Sunday until 2024

2004 April 11
2005 March 27
2006 April 16
2007 April 8
2008 March 23
2009 April 12
2010 April 4
2011 April 24
2012 April 8
2013 March 31
2014 April 20
2015 April 5
2016 March 27
2017 April 16
2018 April 1
2019 April 21
2020 April 12
2021 April 4
2022 April 17
2023 April 9
2024 March 31

Ive never seen an easter on april fools day before..
good post btw

Theodoric · 23-02-2004, 22:41

You discover one interesting fact about Easter if you are responsible for controlling a budget and your financial year ends on 31 March. If Easter falls very early and you know it's going to be a problem to balance the books by the end of the FY, you find:

a) Everybody you want to work extra hours to make sure you've spent all your money is suddenly away on holiday.

b) Everybody you want to speak to outside about getting their invoices in to you as soon as possible is also on holiday.

c) Your own financial staff make it quite clear that they expect you to have sorted everything out by Easter.

luftys · 23-02-2004, 22:48

I know wat Easter is for,eating lots and lots of choccy till you are

then eating more

Atomic22 · 24-02-2004, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by pem

FYI;

Easter Sunday until 2024

2004 April 11
2005 March 27
2006 April 16
2007 April 8
2008 March 23
2009 April 12
2010 April 4
2011 April 24
2012 April 8
2013 March 31
2014 April 20
2015 April 5
2016 March 27
2017 April 16
2018 April 1
2019 April 21
2020 April 12
2021 April 4
2022 April 17
2023 April 9
2024 March 31

this may be true by working out equinox dates but.............apparently as from next year the government are going to make easter the same dates every year just like they did with whitsun years ago and called it spring bank holiday........
so easter will probably end up being called "teachers second and third weeks of the year off work paid" holiday or something similar......

gets his coat ready in case incognitas reads the thread

Theodoric · 24-02-2004, 22:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic22

this may be true by working out equinox dates but.............apparently as from next year the government are going to make easter the same dates every year just like they did with whitsun years ago and called it spring bank holiday........
so easter will probably end up being called "teachers second and third weeks of the year off work paid" holiday or something similar......

gets his coat ready in case incognitas reads the thread

Is this definite? They've been suggesting a fixed Easter date for years.

Actually, I don't think it would cause too much of a hassle. Good Friday has been a working day for years now, and I suppose anyone who takes his religion seriously enough to wish to follow the Stations of the Cross at church would simply take the Friday off.

However, a further question. Would Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, not being civil holidays stay on the religious calendar; I'd guess, yes.

**Chris** · 24-02-2004, 23:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theodoric

Did you know that Easter is defined as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the Vernal Equinox? <snip>.

...unless that day is a Sunday, in which case Easter Sunday will be the week following.

Quote:

Is this definite? They've been suggesting a fixed Easter date for years.

Actually, I don't think it would cause too much of a hassle. Good Friday has been a working day for years now, and I suppose anyone who takes his religion seriously enough to wish to follow the Stations of the Cross at church would simply take the Friday off.

However, a further question. Would Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, not being civil holidays stay on the religious calendar; I'd guess, yes.

'they' are presumably the Government. A fixed spring holiday date might well make sense but if introduced wouldn't affect the Church calendar. Easter would have to remain where it is, because the events leading up to the Crucifixion were associated with the Jewish Passover festival, and the date of that festival is determined according to a lunar calendar in the way you just described so ably! And if Easter remains a moveable feast, the other dates associated with it would too.

Xac - some of the 'new life' ideas now associated with Easter were indeed 'borrowed' by early Catholic missionaries to try to make their newfangled religion more palatable to the pagans (not a practice I would endorse myself), but just for once we didn't nick the date from said pagans. We nicked it from the Jews.

Atomic22 · 29-02-2004, 19:13

talking of easter has anyone booked to go anywhere on hols for the easter period?
ive just booked a week in a mobile home near to disneyland paris.....ive had to pay a supplement for the ferry because its easter and the schools are on holiday (as always)
places like disney dont charge extra when kids are off school.....how come holiday firms and ferrys etc can rob people?

29-02-2004, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic22

places like disney dont charge extra when kids are off school.....how come holiday firms and ferrys etc can rob people?

It's not robbery, it's called The Law of Supply and Demand. If demand is high and supply is low, prices tend to rise. That's why prices rise for half-term or during "high season".

It may not be entirely ethical, but it's not illegal.