Paschal Full Moon Easter, Traditionally, Easter is observed on the Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon.
THE GIST
- The date of Easter can fall as early as March 22 and as late as April 25.
- Pope Gregory XIII decreed the rules in 1582 as part of the Gregorian calendar.
- These rules also state that the vernal equinox is fixed on March 21, despite the fact that from the years 2008 through 2101, at European longitudes it actually will occur no later than March 20.
Friday (April 6) brings us the first full moon of the new spring season.
The official moment that the moon turns full is 19:19 UT, or 3:19 p.m. EDT.
Traditionally, the April full moon is known as "the Pink Moon," supposedly as a tribute to the grass pink or wild ground phlox, considered one of the earliest widespread flowers of the spring. Other monikers include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon and, among coastal Native American tribes, the Full Fish Moon, for when the shad came upstream to spawn.