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The Date of Easter, De-mystified

Introduction

The Myth

The date of Easter appears to jump around the calendar at random, sometimes in March, sometimes in April, and never on the same date in successive years. The formula for calculating when Easter will fall seems shrouded in mystery and secrecy, a piece of arcane knowledge that only a genius like Einstein could possibly understand.

The Reality

Actually, the date of Easter is so easy to calculate that a bright ten-year-old with a calculator could follow the simple steps. It is far from random: the date of Easter this year allows you to predict when it will fall next year surprisingly accurately. And the history behind the formula is a fascinating blend of astronomy, mathematics, religion and politics which spans almost two thousand years. This web site has been created to de-mystify the date of Easter and to share its history.

The date of Easter this year, and next year

This year, Easter falls on [SOME CLEVER JAVASCRIPT WILL FILL IN THIS CONTENT]. Next year, it will fall on [SOME CLEVER JAVASCRIPT WILL FILL IN THIS CONTENT].

The Eastern Orthodox church calculates Easter by an older method. This year, Orthodox Easter falls on [SOME CLEVER JAVASCRIPT WILL FILL IN THIS CONTENT]. Next year, it will fall on [SOME CLEVER JAVASCRIPT WILL FILL IN THIS CONTENT].