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Question of the Day
Question
How do they determine what day Easter will occur on? It always seems to be different every year.
Answer
According to the English book of Common Prayer, "Easter Day is the first Sunday after
the full moon which happens upon, or next after the 21st day of March; and if the full moon
happens upon a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday after."
Why such an odd definition? March 21 is the vernal equinox - the day on which the length of daylight
equals the length of darkness as the days are lengthening in the Spring. The traditional Jewish calendar
is based off of moon phases, which is how the phase of the moon enter into the definition.
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