Absolutely! Although the title makes it sound tedious, it’s definitely one of the most interesting reads I’ve ever, um, read.
The date of Easter just throws everyone off a bit because it’s tied into the calendars used by other religions in a way, although most of the world uses a calendar that was set by the Pope, the head of a religion for which Easter is the principal holiday.
Ramadan migrates throughout the year and the High holy days of Judaism vary as well.
I don’t see any particularly good reason to fix the date of Easter. I suppose it would make it easier to schedule spring break for Notre Dame University, but that would be about it.
A page from the World Council of Churches site on why Easter is different in the Orthodox and Western churches. And a few recommendations on re-aligning them…
I’m reminded of my encounter with an “induhvidual” (Scot Adams fans will recognize the term) who, when I explained about Easter, the full moon, and the equinox, totally disagreed stating
“That’s not how they figure it out. Easter occurs forty days after Ash Wednesday!”
Yet another event in my life that makes me believe that religion is the silliest concept ever devised by man.
>> So how the hell does the Easter bunny figure all this out?
If he sees his shadow he knows it’s 41 more days.
>> Easter occurs forty days after Ash Wednesday
Actually it is 41 days after Mardi Gras. Ask the Easter Bunny.
H8_2_W8 sez:
I’m a little disappointed no one took me to task regarding the “nailed down” aspect of my question about Easter.
Oh, you’re going to fry for that one. We had a different take on the Groundhog Day aspect: 3 days later, the stone is rolled away from the cave, and if he sees his shadow…
Easter is even MORE “paganed” than Christmas - Bunnies, eggs, you do the math. Fertility spring festival. Let’s tack on some holy significance!
Just in case no-one got to it already, here’s Cecil’s take on the subject.
I don’t mean to hijack this thread but …
Does Mother’s Day have a defined relationship to Easter? … and why would the US and UK have different Mother’s Day dates if it does have a set relationship?
No, mother’s day has a defined relationship to Christmas. It’s the Sunday nearest to 25 March which, being nine months before 25 December, is when the Annunciation is marked.
The US celebrates it on a different day because in the US the day is determined by the Hallmark Card company.
Actually it’s 46 days after Ash Wednesday.
However Ascension Thursday is 40 days after Easter.
In the Eastern tradition, there is no Ash Wednesday, and Lent begins on a Monday.