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Easter?

Started by Ed, April 14, 2006, 06:35:10 AM

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Ed

April 14, 2006, 06:35:10 AM
I was just wondering - this might seem like a stupid question (and maybe it is), but I've always wondered why Easter happens on a different date every year - what's that about?  Surely, if the whole purpose of it is to mark the resurrection of Jesus and they know when it's supposed to have happened, that would be the date of choice -- every year? 

Why do they move it around?   :scratch:

And what's to stop the powers saying, 'I think we'll have Christmas in February this year'?  That would cause chaos :grin:

BTW, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Easter happens on different days in different countries, too - like it's Good Friday here in the UK today, but it might not be until next week in the USA.  Is that true, or am I having a brainfart? :huh:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

canadian

#1
April 14, 2006, 08:12:58 AM
"Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first ecclesiastical full moon that occurs on or after the day of the vernal equinox."
from The Date of Easter, http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/easter.html

So, I do believe Easter falls on the appropriate day everywhere around the world at the same time.
If people stand in a circle long enough, they will eventually begin to dance. -- George Carlin

SharonBell

#2
April 14, 2006, 08:15:27 AM
Quote from: blunt on April 14, 2006, 06:35:10 AM
BTW, I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that Easter happens on different days in different countries, too - like it's Good Friday here in the UK today, but it might not be until next week in the USA.  Is that true, or am I having a brainfart? :huh:

You're having a brainfart.  :grin: It's Good Friday (and the 3rd day of Passover) here in the US of A and Sunday is Easter.

Eggs, anyone?
"Be good and you'll be lonesome." Mark Twain

www.sharonbuchbinder.com

Ed

#3
April 14, 2006, 08:22:32 AM Last Edit: April 14, 2006, 08:23:27 AM by blunt
Oh right, thanks for that, Donna.  Why didn't they just set a date and stick to it, though?

BTW, "What's an ecclesiastical full moon?" I hear everybody cry.  :scratch:

QuoteAn imaginary full moon used in the computation of the date of Easter. It is the 14th day of the moon, counting from its first appearance after conjunction (roughly speaking, conjunction is the dark of the moon).
http://www.sizes.com/time/moon_eccles.htm

Ummm... why make life so complicated?  :huh:

BTW, thanks for the brainfart confirmation, Sharon :afro: :grin:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

Prabe

#4
April 15, 2006, 01:25:05 PM
The reason it's set up the way it is (first Sunday after the first full moon after the Vernal Equinox) is because it's based on Passover.  Remember, the crucifiction is reported to have happened during the Passover celebration.  It's not always the same, because the Jewish calendar slides around some (it's a lunar calendar, after all) and Passover isn't necessarily always on the same day of the week.

And FWIW, Easter is always on a Sunday for the same reason most Christians worship on Sundays.  That's the day of the week of the Resurrection.

Sorry.  I spent many of my formative years going to a Christian school.
pleading and needing and breeding and bleeding and feedling exceeding
where is everybody?
trying and lying defying denying crying and dying
where is everybody?

Nine Inch Nails
"Where is Everybody?"
The Fragile

Ed

#5
April 15, 2006, 01:57:06 PM
Thanks for the education, Prabe :afro:  Funny I didn't learn any of this stuff - most of my formative years were spent in a C of E school :scratch:
Planning is an unnatural process - it is much more fun to do something.  The nicest thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise, rather than being preceded by a period of worry and depression. [Sir John Harvey-Jones]

SharonBell

#6
April 16, 2006, 08:48:56 AM
And, if you say to a Rabbi, "Isn't Passover late/early this year?" He/she will look at you and say (sternly): "It's always the RIGHT time."

Happy Easter & Passover, everyone. It's going to 70+ degrees F here, so I'm going to work in my yard all day. TTFN!
"Be good and you'll be lonesome." Mark Twain

www.sharonbuchbinder.com

canadian

#7
April 16, 2006, 12:27:38 PM
Happy holidays ... boing, boing, boing! It's absolutely gorgeous up here in Canada this weekend, too. Helped clean up my Mom's yard yesterday before our big Easter lunch and managed to get a wee bit of sunburn on my face.
If people stand in a circle long enough, they will eventually begin to dance. -- George Carlin

doolols

#8
April 18, 2006, 07:25:30 PM
Sorry - back late after Easter hols by the seaside (building sun decks, but that's a different story).

Someone told me that Easter was based on a Pagan festival.  :scratch: I guess I've been hanging around the dimwits of Essex for too long.
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)

Prabe

#9
April 18, 2006, 07:34:10 PM
Many of the symbols we associate with easter (butterflies, flowers, bunnies) were pagan symbols first.  As Christianity came into contact with pagan tribes and (forcibly) converted them, it absorbed and Christianized many of the pagan celebrations.  It's even more obvious with Xmas.
pleading and needing and breeding and bleeding and feedling exceeding
where is everybody?
trying and lying defying denying crying and dying
where is everybody?

Nine Inch Nails
"Where is Everybody?"
The Fragile

Geoff_N

#10
April 19, 2006, 04:12:27 AM
Even the name is derived from the Pagan fertility goddess, Eostre.  - those thieving Christian b****ds...

doolols

#11
April 19, 2006, 05:22:14 PM
Quote from: Geoff_N on April 19, 2006, 04:12:27 AM
those thieving Christian b****ds...
Is that lightning I hear from the direction of North Wales?
My name is Gerald, and I am a writer (practicing for AA - Authors Anonymous)

SharonBell

#12
April 20, 2006, 07:26:16 AM
Butterflies? I never heard of butterflies being associated with Easter. Dog shit and carrion, perhaps, but not Easter... :evil:
"Be good and you'll be lonesome." Mark Twain

www.sharonbuchbinder.com

sharon

#13
June 10, 2006, 06:34:49 PM
Okay, jest call me the re-fecking-animator today!  Ah, cut me some slack!  I'v just wandered in here and am having a look-see around and kinda waitin on blunt to answer me pm.... while the cat's away and all that, ya know.

Eostre!  Whee!  The eggs are a pagan symbol, too.  Stood for life.  The barstid christians laid their calendar right over top of the old pagan calendars!

Santa Clause!  How the hell did that one happen??  Pagan history:  the local wise man/woman, the seer, the consultant, would dress in the red and white and climb a tree to see into the spirit realm.  Santa was a shaman!  Er, what was xmas for according to christians? presents? no. food? no. oh, wait--birth of christ--the ultimate shaman, eh? Sorry if I offended anyone there, I couldn't pass up that one, though. 

Now, I'm gonna log outta here.  I'll be back later to see if I've been deleted from the forum or whatnot. :evil:

Aye, she's slinkin off to a corner now laddies....relax

Shay
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