Why Easter dates change

Sometimes we take things for granted. It was not until one reader asked me as a pastor to explain why Easter dates change from year to year that I realised I had some homework to do. Christmas remains fixed on December 25, but why do Easter dates shift? While I was reflecting on this difference, I thought the answer could be obtained easily from any pastor nearby. However, after approaching a number of them I learnt that no one had any idea. When someone said that he thought it was the government of Zimbabwe that changed the Easter date I then knew it was time to resort to the Internet to really find out why the dates float.

Well, the Internet does not disappoint. But the given calculation tables of Easter dates are complicated. So I will let the mere explanation of why it shifts be our present occupation. The main points are:  the Jewish Holidays are based on lunar cycles which shift feast days from year to year, Easter is always celebrated on the Sunday immediately following the Paschal Full Moon, and the wish of early church fathers to keep the observance of Easter subsequent to the Jewish Passover since Jesus’ death and resurrection happened after Passover.

The key to the setting of the Easter dates in Western Christianity, which used the Gregorian calendar as opposed to the Eastern orthodox churches which followed the Julian calendar, is in the determination of the Paschal Full Moon. The Paschal Full Moon is the first Ecclesiastical full moon date after March 20. This Paschal Full Moon can vary as much as two days from the date of the actual full moon, with dates ranging from March 21 to April 18. Consequently, Easter Sunday can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25 in Western churches.  

Lent and Good Friday are part of the Easter season. Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, repentance, moderation and spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter.  It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. Good Friday is commemorated as the day of the death of Jesus by crucifixion and is always the Friday just before Easter.

According to one Mary Fairchild, a vast number of Christians prefer simply to celebrate Resurrection Day because of pagan influences and the commercialisation of  Easter. And in Zimbabwe Christians celebrate the Easter holiday in many different ways depending on denominational customs and traditions. Some hold spiritual conferences running throughout the Easter weekend and the emphasis will be on the Lord Jesus Christ’s passion.

Others will have mass and holy communion. Still others can just have an all-night prayer on Good Friday and a big Sunday on Easter Sunday. This Easter holiday United Family International Church will celebrate by holding an all-night prayer on Saturday in the National Sports Stadium the theme, “Judgement Night 2.” They expect God to judge the ills of life like sickness, lack, barrenness and poverty.

Through his death, burial and resurrection, Jesus Christ paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life. If you are not yet saved here is an opportunity to turn knowledge into practice, possibility into actuality and sin into righteousness through accepting Him who loved you so much that He laid down His life for you.

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