Ever wonder why Easter isn’t on the same date every year? Of course, we can predict that Easter will fall on a Sunday, but the date can be anywhere from March 22 to April 25. This year, Easter is on April 20. Next year, it’ll be on April 5. So how is the date of Easter determined? Well, it’s complicated because it’s based on calculations made 1,700 years ago.

Let’s start with what is called the Paschal Full Moon. The Paschal Full Moon is the first full moon after the first day of spring; however, even that short explanation gets complicated.

In 325 AD, there was a full-moon calendar created that, while accurate for that time, didn’t take into account all the lunar fluctuations we know of today. For example, it takes about 27.3 days for the moon to make one orbit around the earth. However, since the earth is also moving, the lunar cycle…the time from one full moon to the next…is 29.5 days, and even the smartest people in the year 325 probably didn’t know that.

Another variable is when the first day of spring occurs. In 325 AD, they estimated that the spring equinox was always on March 21; however, today, we know the equinox can occur anywhere from March 19 to March 21.

While we usually say that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring, that can sometimes be inaccurate, as it was in 2019.

In 2019, The March equinox occurred on March 20 at 5:58 P.M. EDT, with the full Moon reaching its peak just four hours later, at 9:43 P.M. EDT, which means that Easter should have occurred on Sunday, March 24. But that’s not what happened.

According to the 1,700-year-old calendar used to figure Easter’s date, the first day of spring was not on March 20, but was always on March 21. So, the Paschal Full Moon, the first full moon after March 21, didn’t happen until mid-April, so Easter fell on April 21.

You may have noticed that Easter and the Jewish Passover holiday are often around the same time. That’s because, centuries ago, many holidays were calculated based on lunar or astronomical calendars, and Passover is based on the same lunar calendar as Easter. In fact, the word “Paschal” (like in “Paschal Full Moon” from earlier) comes from the Aramaic word Pascha, which means Passover, so it’s all related. 

If all of this seems too complicated, there are two solutions:

1. Generally, assume that Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring.
2. Google “When is Easter this year?”, which is a LOT easier to do.

April is Also National Poetry Month

Poetry has a rich history dating back at least 7,000 years. It originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC and was likely used in ancient rituals or for storytelling purposes.

English poetry, on the other hand, is relatively young, having emerged approximately 630 years ago. While some English poems, such as Beowulf, are older, their authors remain unknown, and they were originally passed down orally rather than being written down.

Every child likely begins their love for poetry upon hearing a Mother Goose nursery rhyme, and later, through reading The Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham. However, as they grow older, many children seem to lose interest in poetry. As adults, we must make every effort to reverse this trend. Why? Because poetry offers numerous benefits:

• It enhances language skills by developing rhythm and sounds that effectively communicate ideas. Many renowned speakers, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Barack Obama, possess a rhythmic and musical quality in their speech, amplifying the impact of their messages.
• Poetry breaks the rules of English grammar, allowing children to disobey conventional sentence structures and incorporate made-up words. This liberating approach fosters a sense of freedom and expression, particularly beneficial for English Language Learners who may struggle with grammatical constraints.
• Poetry aids in developing memorization skills. While older children often face challenges in memorizing tasks like multiplication tables or the Gettysburg Address, young children can effortlessly memorize nursery rhymes as soon as they begin speaking. By encouraging children to memorize poems throughout their lives, we can instill a valuable skill that will serve them well in the future.
• Poetry teaches the art of language economy. By adhering to specific structures like sonnets, limericks, cinquains, or haiku, children must carefully select each word, ensuring its effectiveness in conveying their ideas while adhering to the poem’s strict form.

Whether you’re an avid poetry enthusiast or a newcomer to this literary art form, take advantage of April’s National Poetry Month to find a poem that inspires you and your children.