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Now I was planning to do some Easter theme episodes on Celebrate Poe - yes there is a connection - and looked at the calendar - assuming that Easter took place in March or early April - but I was really surprised to find out that this year Easter takes place on April 20 - one of the latest possible dates for the holiday. Now this is where it really gets into the weeds - tThe timing of Easter is determined by a combination of astronomical and ecclesiastical rules, specifically tied to the lunar calendar and the spring equinox.
Apparently, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox (March 21 in ecclesiastical calculations). This year, the spring equinox occurred on March 20, and the first full moon after that—the "Paschal Full Moon"—is on April 12-13. Since April 13 is a Sunday, Easter is pushed to the following Sunday, April 20 - got that?
The lunar cycle, which lasts approximately 29.5 days, can cause significant variation in Easter's date. The range for Easter is between March 22 and April 25, depending on when the Paschal Full Moon occurs relative to the equinox. In 2025, both the equinox and full moon align later than usual, making Easter nearly as late as it can be. So you have Maundy Thursday - the date when we celebrate The Last Supper on the preceding Thursday, and Christ’s crucifixion on Friday.
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