Easter is a movable feast, meaning its date changes every year, based on the lunar calendar. It is always celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox (March 21). This makes the date of Easter range from March 22 to April 25.
The Calculation of Easter:
The key to understanding how Easter’s date is determined lies in the Paschal Full Moon, which is the first full moon after the vernal equinox. The date of Easter Sunday is the Sunday that follows this Paschal Full Moon.
Occurrence of Easter on April 13:
Easter falls on April 13 when the Paschal Full Moon occurs on April 11, because the following Sunday (April 13) would then be Easter Sunday.
Notable Instances of Easter on April 13:
- 2014: The most recent instance when Easter Sunday was on April 13 occurred in 2014. In that year, the Paschal Full Moon was on April 14, so Easter Sunday, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after this full moon, was on April 13.
- 2025: The next time Easter will fall on April 13 will be in 2025, as the Paschal Full Moon will occur on April 12, meaning the first Sunday following that will be April 13.
Other Historical Instances:
- 1941: Easter Sunday also fell on April 13 in 1941.
- 1924: Similarly, Easter was on April 13 in 1924.
So, Easter Sunday has fallen on April 13 several times throughout history, with the next occurrence set for 2025.