WHEN IS EASTER...AND WHY?

While searching the internet for April airfares to Louisville (yes I know we just got back, but it's never too early to start searching for bargain airfares!), I was surprised at the high prices I was quoted. Hmmm, I thought, the higher prices must be because it's around Easter. Knowing that people flock to Rome, or more specifically, to the Vatican for Easter, the airlines don't want to miss out on a sure thing, so the prices are usually higher.

I figured I might as well find out when Easter was going to be this year, since the date always changes, so I looked at my planning calendar. Wow! What a shock! Easter falls on March 23rd this year! I couldn't remember it ever being that early, so I decided to do some research to find out just how the date is determined.

According to THIS PAGE on CNN.com, Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring! If you want more details and history you can read about it by clicking the link. I also found out that Easter can be as early as March 22nd (making this year's Easter just one day shy of it's earliest), or as late as April 25th.

Because Easter is so early this year, all the festivities for Carnivale/Mardi Gras will also be unusually early....Ash Wednesday is February 6th! Usually we look forward to Easter as a sign that spring can't be far away, but that might not apply this year! Be sure to stock up on your chocolate bunnies and marshmallow peeps!