Why Does Easter Feel So Late?

There are certain dates each year that are ingrained in every parent’s heads.  We’re not talking just birthdays and anniversaries. Perhaps more importantly – every holiday that impacts school vacations.
At least they are ingrained every moms’ head.  Dads… well, we just go where and when we are told.

Now, I like to try to stay organized.  Recently, I was putting important dates into our family shared calendar. This helps us start planning days off, long weekends and spring break trips.  As well as volleyball, basketball, parties, playdates, school functions… you get it.

As a fairly involved dad, I thought I had it all down.  But as I was planning out Spring Break, it really hit me…

Wow, is Easter late this year!

It got me wondering just how late it is this year? Was it just me feeling that way? Is it unusually late?  Turns out, yes.

So, for those of you curious about such things, and it might just be me, I compiled a few holiday fun facts.

Easter Timing facts

• Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, or the first full Moon after the spring equinox (March 20 in 2019).
• It can be as early as March 22 to as late as April 25. 
• A March 22 Easter is extremely rare.
• The last time it was on March 22 was 1818.  The next time will be in 2285.
• The latest date on which it can fall is April 25.
• The last time it was on April 25 was 1943.  The next time will be 2038, then not again until 2190.
• This year’s Easter is the latest since 2011 when it fell on Apr 24.
• This will be only the 3^rd time this century/millennium that Easter falls in the third week of April.
• Easter won’t fall this late again until the year 2030.
• The shortest possible gap between Easter and Memorial Day is 36 days.  The longest is 64 days.
• The gap this year is 36 days.  That’s only about 5 weeks before Summer vacations start for many schools.

I don’t know about you, but I still feel like Christmas just ended. For me, the late timing gives my family a little extra time to get back to routines before taking off another week or two from school.

On the other hand, that short turnaround from Easter to Summer will probably have me saying “Wait, wasn’t it just Easter? I thought I had more time to plan summer out!” come Memorial Day.

On the bright side, I won’t have to worry about this “problem” again until 2030. I’ve got time to plan for it.