Easter - why the varied dates ?

[Wish]

Forgive me I’m not really into religion. However, If he died on the Friday and rose on the Sunday why does Easter have various dates ?
Surely the date of death and when he rose again is the same dates, So why is it so varied ?

I’m sure Easter fell on my birthday a few years ago in March?

[Doofus]

Wish said:

Forgive me I’m not really into religion. However, If he died on the Friday and rose on the Sunday why does Easter have various dates ?
Surely the date of death and when he rose again is the same dates, So why is it so varied ?

I’m sure Easter fell on my birthday a few years ago in March?

It's not about religion. Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the Spring equinox.

[Eric Mc]

Easy - when you look it up -

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the Full Moon date, based on mathematical calculations, that falls on or after March 21. If the Full Moon is on a Sunday, Easter is celebrated on the following Sunday.

Although Easter is liturgically related to the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (March equinox) and the Full Moon, its date is not based on the actual astronomical date of either event.

March 21 is the Church's date of the March equinox, regardless of the time zone, while the actual date of the equinox varies between March 19 and March 22, and the date depends on the time zone.
The date of the Paschal Full Moon, used to determine the date of Easter, is based on mathematical approximations following a 19-year cycle called the Metonic cycle.
Both dates may coincide with the dates of the astronomical events, but in some years, they don't.

[TGTiff]

My Grandson has the dubious claim to fame of being born on the earliest date that Easter can fall on.
March 22
The last time this occured was 1818.
The next time this will occur is 2285.
Poor little chap will never have Easter eggs on his birthday!

[Doofus]

TGTiff said:

Poor little chap will never have Easter eggs on his birthday!

Me neither

[TGTiff]

Me too!!

[Bill]

TGTiff said:

Poor little chap will never have Easter eggs on his birthday!

You could buy him one?

[GetCarter]

Wish said:

If he died on the Friday and rose on the Sunday why does Easter have various dates ?

He didn't and he didn't. HTH

[varsas]

I haven't checked this but I expect the date of Easter was actually chosen to co-inside, and thus co-opt, an existing pagen festival, making it easier to convert the heathens to Christianity, as it is/was with Christmas/Saturnalia. I imagine Easter was originally a festival to celebrate Spring and/or the new year hence it's link to the phases of the moon and the equinox, because it was originally linked to the changing of the seasons rather than a specific event.

[JagLover]

varsas said:

I haven't checked this but I expect the date of Easter was actually chosen to co-inside, and thus co-opt, an existing pagen festival, making it easier to convert the heathens to Christianity, as it is/was with Christmas/Saturnalia. I imagine Easter was originally a festival to celebrate Spring and/or the new year hence it's link to the phases of the moon and the equinox, because it was originally linked to the changing of the seasons rather than a specific event.

I think with the death it is closer to the old Pagan spring festival date, even if it is not the exact date. There is mention of Passover which would put it close.

As you say Christmas is completely different and likely Jesus was born in a very different month, let alone date.