From ancient byways to modern highways, glimpses of faith are everywhere...

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Paschal Full Moon: Easter is nigh

(Photo by Gregory H. Revera)
This month, March 2013, the full moon officially "began" at 5:27 a.m. EDT on the 27th.

Space.com explains that there are many names for the March full moon - among them "Worm Moon" (earthworm castings become available to robins with the ground's softening), "Crow Moon" (sounds of crows signal winter's end), "Crust Moon" (the snow thaws by day and freezes by night), and "Sap Moon" (maple syrup anyone?).

Of course, there's one more:  "Paschal Full Moon."  This name refers to Easter, which according to the Gregorian calendar, will arrive on the Sunday after the first full moon in spring (if the moon itself is on a Sunday, then Easter would occur on the following Sunday).  According to these Gregorian calculations, "Easter can fall as early as March 22 and as late as April 25 in any given year."  This year's date is March 31st.

If this system sounds relatively complicated, it is.  Especially so when the astronomical calendar is at odds with the ecclesiastical one (which occurred in 1981, and will again occur in 2038)…  Therefore, "a proposal to change Easter to a fixed holiday rather than a movable one has been widely circulated…  The second
Sunday in April has been suggested as the most likely date."

Resources
http://www.space.com/20407-easter-full-moon-spring.html

Copyright March 30, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved


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