Easter Day changes every year. But why? It occurs on the first Sunday after a full moon on or following the vernal equinox. While Christmas is fixed to a solar calendar, Easter is partly based on the lunar cycles of the Jewish calendar. The reason Easter’s date can vary is because it is based on a lunar month, which is only 29.5 days.
Does this make any sense to you? In the early days of Christianity, the Church worked hard to convert “pagans” and often centered their holidays around their festivals, such as winter solstice, a.k.a. Christmas.
We now live in a time where we can make choices on what we believe without being burned alive. Well, at least here in Canada. To that end, under Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights, Canadians are free to follow the religion of their choice. An argument may then be made that the Easter holidays are a violation of our rights because the holiday is not inclusive to all religions. Think I am kidding? There is some great reading on Canadian court decisions upholding religious rights that accommodate individual beliefs. Someone will eventually litigate and say that Christian-based events are not inclusive. Probably the same group of people who glue themselves to roads in protesting who-knows-what.
I am looking forward to May the Fourth (a.k.a. Star Wars Day) being our next official national holiday.
Happy Easter.
Patrick Smyth // Whistler
