The date of Easter Sunday depends on the spring equinox For people who are not Christian, it is also a time to come together as a family. Unlike Christmas, the date of Easter is subject to change, as its date is determined by a lunisolar calendar.

Why is Easter never the same date each year?

Although Easter is liturgically related to the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (March equinox) and the Full Moon, its date is not based on the actual astronomical date of either event.

What does the moon have to do with Easter?

It is all based on the moon. Put another way, Easter falls on the Sunday that follows the first full moon occurring on or the day after the March equinox. If the full moon occurs on a Sunday, however, then Easter is observed the following Sunday. So the following Sunday, April 16, is designated as Easter.