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Original poster

Easter fluctuating dates confusion

166 replies

Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 10:29

If Jesus Christ existed, he was supposedly born on 25th December and that date never changes. But he was crucified on Good Friday, which changes every year!
How come we know his birth date but not his death date?
When did the 25th December become known as Christmas Day?
When did the day he died become known as Good Friday and the day he rose Easter Sunday?

All questions my Year 4 children asked in school this week.

OP posts:
whattheysay · 04/04/2026 13:37

senua · 04/04/2026 12:52

Another fun fact to throw in, but I doubt Year 4 are worrying about it ...

The year used to start on Lady Day (March 25th). When the new Gregorian calendar was adopted, we skipped forward a few days so the 'year end' skipped forward too. That's why the tax year ends on 5th April.

Yes, Britain only started using 1st Jan as new year in the 1700s I tell my children this, so they don’t feel like they have to change their whole lives with resolutions on 1st jan and feel like they have to go to a big party on nye- its not something so special on that particular date everyday is a new year it’s 365 days after the same date the year before.

MollyButton · 04/04/2026 13:58

whattheysay · 04/04/2026 12:37

Jesus was not born on 25th December. That day was chosen to make the transition to Christianity easier for the romans as they already celebrated a pagan festival on that day.

Easter is decided by the moon cycle. Easter Sunday is always on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. Jesus didn’t die at ‘Easter’ it’s just a time of remembrance. There’s theory that the last supper was the Passover seder as Jesus was Jewish and Easter was calculated to coincide with that.

It’s not something I believe in as I’m an atheist, but these are the ‘facts’ as I understand them

It’s not really a “theory “ the Bible is quite clear that “Holy week” takes place at Passover -although Seder comes from one Jewish tradition do would not be appropriate terminology. But the last supper was the Passover meal.

Original poster
Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 14:53

Needmorelego · 04/04/2026 12:51

Do you know the reason?
I am curious as your students 🙂

Show quote history

The reasons for what - their questions? They are inquisitive and like to compare their knowledge about Islam with Christianity and Judaism. They point out similarities and differences. I think it’s really important for children to have some degree of knowledge and understanding of other people’s beliefs otherwise they’re just seeing the world through an echo chamber.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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Events & celebrations
Original poster
Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 14:55

senua · 04/04/2026 12:52

Another fun fact to throw in, but I doubt Year 4 are worrying about it ...

The year used to start on Lady Day (March 25th). When the new Gregorian calendar was adopted, we skipped forward a few days so the 'year end' skipped forward too. That's why the tax year ends on 5th April.

Is that the same Lady Day that’s been on The Archers this week? You’ve taught me something new.

OP posts:
senua · 04/04/2026 15:13

Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 14:55

Is that the same Lady Day that’s been on The Archers this week? You’ve taught me something new.

Show quote history

Could be (although Lady Day was last week). I haven't heard The Archers in while!
Farming families traditionally took up a new tenancy on Lady Day, being the beginning of the farming year.

AuDHDacious · 04/04/2026 15:30

TheAutumnCrow · 04/04/2026 12:12

I’d expect a teacher to be able to find out the answers to basic questions, and to be able to show children how to find out the answers. Teachers should be teaching children how to access knowledge.

Show quote history

I too would expect a teacher to be able to find answers to questions. However, I’d also expect a teacher to have a curriculum to follow which wouldn’t allow the time to answer all questions asked by a Year 4 class: what would they be - 9 year olds? I wouldn’t expect a teacher to be talking about anything religious.

AInightingale · 04/04/2026 15:33

Your pupils sound great, full of curiosity. I'd imagine they're pretty interested in the moon at the minute anyway (the 'Easter' full moon was on Wednesday) because of the Artemis mission, so if it wasn't the holidays you'd probably be getting bombarded with questions about that too!

Needmorelego · 04/04/2026 16:32

Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 14:53

The reasons for what - their questions? They are inquisitive and like to compare their knowledge about Islam with Christianity and Judaism. They point out similarities and differences. I think it’s really important for children to have some degree of knowledge and understanding of other people’s beliefs otherwise they’re just seeing the world through an echo chamber.

Show quote history

The reason why Easter (and loads of other religious festivals) are on different dates each year but Christmas Day is ALWAYS December 25th.

MollyButton · 04/04/2026 17:04

senua · 04/04/2026 15:13

Could be (although Lady Day was last week). I haven't heard The Archers in while!
Farming families traditionally took up a new tenancy on Lady Day, being the beginning of the farming year.

Show quote history

Yes the story in the Archers is a new Tenant Farmer being confirmed in taking over the farm she inherited the tenancy of.

Teainapinkcup · 04/04/2026 19:17

Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 10:29

If Jesus Christ existed, he was supposedly born on 25th December and that date never changes. But he was crucified on Good Friday, which changes every year!
How come we know his birth date but not his death date?
When did the 25th December become known as Christmas Day?
When did the day he died become known as Good Friday and the day he rose Easter Sunday?

All questions my Year 4 children asked in school this week.

he was not born in December...

Girasoli · 04/04/2026 19:28

Interestingly, in most latin based European languages the word used for Easter comes from pascha instead (meaning passover).

Original poster
Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 21:19

AuDHDacious · 04/04/2026 15:30

I too would expect a teacher to be able to find answers to questions. However, I’d also expect a teacher to have a curriculum to follow which wouldn’t allow the time to answer all questions asked by a Year 4 class: what would they be - 9 year olds? I wouldn’t expect a teacher to be talking about anything religious.

Show quote history

Even during RE lessons?😳

OP posts:
Original poster
Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 21:21

AInightingale · 04/04/2026 15:33

Your pupils sound great, full of curiosity. I'd imagine they're pretty interested in the moon at the minute anyway (the 'Easter' full moon was on Wednesday) because of the Artemis mission, so if it wasn't the holidays you'd probably be getting bombarded with questions about that too!

Their interest in the Moon was triggered by when Eid would take place and which day they would be off school. They ARE very curious - I think most children at that age are.

OP posts:
Original poster
Soontobe60 · 04/04/2026 21:22

Teainapinkcup · 04/04/2026 19:17

he was not born in December...

Show quote history

Did you read the whole of my opening post?

OP posts:
Peony1985 · 04/04/2026 21:30

Namechangedasouting987 · 04/04/2026 11:24

Shrove Tuesday is directly related to Easter. It is the day before the start of Lent, which is 40 days before Easter Sunday (excluding Sundays). So Lent always starts on a Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) and finishes on the Sarurday before Easter Sunday (today).
Palm Sunday falls exactly a week before Easter Sunday. And Mothering Sunday is always a week before Palm Sunday.
All these festivals are linked date wise to Easter Sunday, which is the Sunday after the ecclesiastical full moon (not necc the same as the actual full moon) after the vernal equinox (always 21st Mar).

Yes but that’s the Ops point. We all know why Easter moves 🙄.
It’s how do you explain to kids why we Jesus apparent dies on a different Sunday every year.

Peony1985 · 04/04/2026 21:34

None of the kids I see believe in anything. I just throw out stories about pagans, Romans, moons and traditions and hope they learn something wider and to understand context.

HoppityBun · 04/04/2026 21:43

“We” don’t know his birth date. It’s a convention agreed by some council or other. Easter for the western Christians is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the equinox. Probably also connected with the way Passover is decided.

whattheysay · 05/04/2026 02:39

MollyButton · 04/04/2026 13:58

It’s not really a “theory “ the Bible is quite clear that “Holy week” takes place at Passover -although Seder comes from one Jewish tradition do would not be appropriate terminology. But the last supper was the Passover meal.

Show quote history

I don’t treat the bible as fact so it’s a theory (to me), and I have no idea what Jesus was or wasn’t doing, he was Jewish so it was likely a Passover meal but not Seder as it’s known today.

someoneseatenmyapple · 05/04/2026 03:35

Most religious days were slotted into pagan ceremonies/celebrations. They are not the exact dates they happened. Similarly the first churches were built on pagan worship sites, sometimes directly on top of them.

Jesus was crucified…and on the 3rd day he rose again… Sunday is a day of worship so Christians will celebrate him rising on a Sunday because it is the holiest day of the week.

ShortiePant · 05/04/2026 03:40

Just tell them whatever you want to.

It seems no one cares about the truth so just tell them whatever you feel is correct.

You won't be challenged, it appears.

whiteboard · 05/04/2026 04:17

Just popping on to say that the Spring (vernal) equinox isn’t always March 21st. The last time it was, was 2007. It can be on the 19/20/21st in the Northern Hemisphere.

mathanxiety · 05/04/2026 06:57

Needmorelego · 04/04/2026 11:38

@Fafner ok then.....
WHY is Christmas Day the only major religious festival with a FIXED date.
What is the reason?

It's not the only one if you're a Catholic.

mathanxiety · 05/04/2026 07:01

someoneseatenmyapple · 05/04/2026 03:35

Most religious days were slotted into pagan ceremonies/celebrations. They are not the exact dates they happened. Similarly the first churches were built on pagan worship sites, sometimes directly on top of them.

Jesus was crucified…and on the 3rd day he rose again… Sunday is a day of worship so Christians will celebrate him rising on a Sunday because it is the holiest day of the week.

Not quite.

The Sabbath was observed from the time of the Mosaic law - 'keep holy the Sabbath day'.

In Christian tradition, the Sabbath is Sunday.

Christian calculation of the date of Easter was initially always based on Jewish traditional methods of dating the Passover. At the Council of Nicaea in (or around) 325 the calculation method was modified and codified.

ladyamy · 05/04/2026 07:04

Bryonyberries · 04/04/2026 10:38

It’s the Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox (fixed at 21st March).

The church follows the lunar cycles and the equinoxes are fixed points in the year.

I think the same principle applies to shove Tuesday as this moves each year too.

Shrove Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, 40 days before Good Friday.

mathanxiety · 05/04/2026 07:06

Peony1985 · 04/04/2026 21:34

None of the kids I see believe in anything. I just throw out stories about pagans, Romans, moons and traditions and hope they learn something wider and to understand context.

What do you say when kids ask about Eid/ Diwali/ Kwanzaa?