Oh yeah it was easter eh?

[wendykh]

I know I'm literally a day late on this, and I know there's probably some explanation google-able somewhere, but I'm so sick my teeth hurt, so I can't be bothered.

Q: Why was Easter yesterday when Passover is next month? How does that work?

I just always figured the pope and some rabbinical council got together and yk, arranged this stuff so it always came out right. I feel like looking at all the massive snow outside, pointing to the Passover date on the calender, motioning toward the last supper painting, looking at my Christian brethren, and shouting "YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG." But that's not nice.

No, this is not just me talking out loud.
Yes, I am serious.
Please someone smart explain. I have no less than 4 minister wanna-bes/gonna-bes/used to wanna-bes on my f-list and at least two seriously orthodox MOTs, and plenty of hard core christians, so come on, someone step up.

Comments

[laurabz.livejournal.com]

well since i am sick too, i did do the google thing:
http://www.factmonster.com/spot/movablefeasts1.html

Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, the holiday commemorating the Hebrews' exodus from slavery in Egypt, lasts seven days in Israel and among Reform Jews, and eight days elsewhere around the world. It begins on the 15th day of Nisan, which is the seventh month in the Jewish calendar. It ends on the 21st of Nisan in Israel (and for Reform Jews) and on the 22nd of Nisan elsewhere.
Since Hebrew days begin and end at sundown, Passover begins at sundown on the preceding day.

Easter is calculated as the first Sunday after the paschal full moon that occurs on or after the vernal equinox. If the full moon falls on a Sunday, then Easter is the following Sunday. The holiday can occur anywhere between March 22 and April 25.

The Western church does not use the actual, or astronomically correct date for the vernal equinox, but a fixed date (March 21). And by full moon it does not mean the astronomical full moon but the "ecclesiastical moon," which is based on tables created by the church. These constructs allow the date of Easter to be calculated in advance rather than determined by actual astronomical observances, which are naturally less predictable.

[raccoonbonapart.livejournal.com]

It's because back in the day when "Christian" meant "Catholic," the Christians wanted the pagans to convert to their religion and so they stole all of their holidays. Easter is really a spring festival celebrating the equinox and fertitility (hence the bunnies and eggs.) They just made the meaning of the festival into something Christian so that the pagans wouldn't be upset about giving up their holiday in order to convert.

[thepersona.livejournal.com]

Pope's busy next month (he's got the hookers booked and everything), so they made Easter a month earlier. Nobody noticed but you.

Joshua asked me the same thing the other day.

[secretburning.livejournal.com]

It seems that the Eastern Orthodox church works it out so that Easter rightly follows Passover, whereas the Western Orthodox calendar will occasionally be way out of step with Passover. I bet the fact that this year is a Jewish leap year has something to do with it. I'm glad, because this week is the kids' spring break, and I'd rather not worry about kashering, etc., while they're home.

Get better soon!