When is Easter 2025, and how is it determined?

Easter Sunday in 2025 falls on April 20, making it one of the later Easter dates in recent years. But why does Easter’s date change every year, and why is it so late this time? Let’s dive into the calculations behind this movable feast and understand why Easter 2025 lands in the latter half of April.

How Is Easter’s Date Determined?

Easter is not fixed to a specific date on the calendar like Christmas. Instead, it follows a set of astronomical and ecclesiastical rules. The formula for determining Easter Sunday is:

Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full Moon that occurs on or after the March equinox.

However, the calculation is not as straightforward as it sounds because the Church follows an ecclesiastical calendar that sometimes differs from astronomical dates.

• The March equinox is fixed to March 21 for ecclesiastical purposes, regardless of when it actually occurs astronomically (which can be March 19, 20, or 21).
• The Paschal Full Moon is determined by a centuries-old table rather than actual lunar cycles.

Why Is Easter Late in 2025?

In 2025, the March equinox falls on March 20. The first full Moon after this is on Saturday, April 12. According to Easter’s rule, Easter Sunday must fall on the following Sunday, which is April 20, 2025. This is one of the latest possible Easter dates, as Easter can only occur between March 22 and April 25 in the Western Church.

To compare, here’s a look at recent and upcoming Easter dates:

The latest possible Easter date—April 25—hasn’t happened since 1943 and won’t occur again until 2038!

How Late Can Easter Be?

For Western Christian churches using the Gregorian calendar, Easter can be as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.

For Eastern Orthodox churches, which follow the Julian calendar, Easter can fall between April 4 and May 8 on the Gregorian calendar.

In 2025, both Western and Eastern Orthodox Easter fall on the same date: April 20.

The Connection Between Easter and the Moon

The determination of Easter’s date is rooted in both lunar and solar calendars. The Paschal Full Moon—which is used to determine Easter’s date—was set by Church authorities centuries ago and does not always align with the astronomical full Moon.

For example, in 2019, the full Moon and March equinox happened on the same day—March 20. If Easter followed strict astronomical rules, it would have fallen on March 24. However, because the Church fixes the equinox to March 21, Easter was delayed until April 21, 2019.

What Is the Paschal Full Moon?

The Paschal Full Moon is the first ecclesiastical full Moon on or after March 21. In 2025, this falls on April 12, leading to Easter on April 20.

Want to learn more about the fascinating connection between Easter and the full Moon? Check out this detailed breakdown from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Easter’s Ever-Changing Date: A Tradition Rooted in History

Easter’s shifting date can seem puzzling, but the tradition dates back to the Council of Nicaea in A.D. 325. To unify Christian celebrations, Church leaders established a formula based on the lunar calendar, which was also used in the Jewish Passover observance.

Interestingly, the Golden Number—a value from the Metonic cycle (a 19-year lunar cycle)—was historically used to help predict Easter’s date. In 2025, the Golden Number is 12.

Want to explore the history behind Easter’s shifting date? Check out this guide on how Easter is calculated.

Final Thoughts

Easter 2025 is late because of the way the Paschal Full Moon aligns with the ecclesiastical equinox. The first full Moon after March 21 falls on April 12, making Easter Sunday April 20. While this might seem unusual, Easter is always a movable feast, shifting based on centuries-old Church calculations.

Want to keep track of Easter and other important dates? Have important Easter plans to prepare for? Check out Listful, a handy wishlist tool for staying on top of all the things you need to purchase for holidays, events, and more!