Easter Sunday 2024 falls on March 31st this year. Easter, also known as Resurrection Sunday or *Pascha, holds deep significance for Christians worldwide. It commemorates the *resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament. The Easter Triduum, which begins on the evening of Maundy Thursday, continues through Good Friday (the crucifixion and burial of Jesus) and Holy Saturday, culminating in prayers on Easter Sunday. This day marks the beginning of the Eastertide season and the end of Lent, a period of 40 days of fasting and prayer that starts on Ash Wednesday and concludes on Holy Saturday. Holy Week, which began on Palm Sunday, spans seven days leading up to Holy Saturday. Although Easter is not a federal U.S. holiday, many stores may be closed or operate with minimal hours on this day⁴.
The date of Easter is determined based on the *lunisolar calendar, not a fixed date on the Gregorian or Julian calendar. For Western Christians who use the Gregorian calendar, Easter falls on the Sunday after the full moon following March 21. Thus, Easter can occur between March 22nd and April 25th each year. Eastern Christians, who follow the Julian calendar (which runs 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar), determine Easter based on the first full moon after April 3rd. Consequently, Easter falls sometime between April 4th and May 8th each year. The rules established at the *Council of Nicaea guide the calculation of Easter’s date, ensuring that it is celebrated worldwide on a Sunday following the fourteenth day of the paschal moon, which follows the spring equinox⁴.
Let us rejoice in the hope and joy that Easter brings! 🌸🙏🐣.