February 6, 2008

It’s Ash Wednesday, and hence the first day of the Lenten season. It caught a lot of people by surprise today because it’s only the 6TH of February. Why so early you may ask ?

It’s because we have a very early Easter this year. Easter Sunday falls on Sunday March 23RD 2008. It’s the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the 21ST of March. A full moon actually occurs precisely on the 21ST of March this year, so this year’s Easter Sunday falls on the 2ND earliest possible calendar date. The last time Easter Sunday fell on the 22ND of March (the earliest possible calendar date) – 1818 ! The next time it happens – 2285 !

Easter Sunday can occur as late as April 25TH. That would push Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent forward to March 10TH. In just 3 years – 2011 – Easter Sunday will fall on the 2ND latest possible calendar date – April 24TH. Blame it on the Moon !

Don’t forget that this is a leap year. Yes we have a February 29TH this year. It falls on a Friday.