MARIA'S MUSINGS
In the days when the earth was still considered to be the centre of the universe, every community, city and principality had its own complicated lunar calendar based on the phases of the moon. It was all a bit hit-and-miss.
By the time Gregory XIII became Pope in 1572, the calendar was totally out of whack with the seasons, and Easter was not on a convenient day. To solve these problems, he “stole” ten days from the current lunar calendar; dealt decisively with that pesky quarter of a day that popped up every year; and introduced a New Style solar calendar. So popular was Pope Gregory’s calendar, that most civilizations eventually adopted it. In fact, we still use the Gregorian calendar to this day.
How is Easter‘s date calculated every year?
Easter celebrations used to be determined by the dates of the Jewish Passover, because that is when the events of Holy Week took place when Jesus went to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
The Christian church eventually broke away from this and used their own system so that Easter would always fall on a Sunday: the first Sunday after the Full Moon date that falls on or after March 21. If the Full Moon is on a Sunday, Easter is celebrated on the following Sunday.
It seems that no matter how the calendarists endeavour to understand, manage and systematise time, the Great Author of time has everything in hand because for everything there is a season, and a purpose under heaven..
I invite you to sign up for my free monthly newsletter for specials, competitions and a whole lot of fun stuff!
COPYRIGHT © 2021 mariakayeart.co.za
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NO WEB SCRAPING PERMITTED