Why Easter 2025 Is Delayed: The Blood Moon Connection

Easter Sunday in 2025 will occur on April 20, one of the latest dates in recent history. The delay results from a rare Blood Moon total lunar eclipse on March 13-14, 2025, which impacts the calculation of Easter.

How Is Easter’s Date Determined?

Unlike Christmas, which has a fixed date, Easter follows a lunar-based system. The rule is:

• Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox.
• The spring equinox in 2025 occurs on March 21.
• The next full moon (the Pink Moon or Paschal Moon) occurs on April 13.
• Therefore, Easter is observed on Sunday, April 20.

The Impact of the Blood Moon Eclipse

A Blood Moon occurs during a total lunar eclipse when Earth’s shadow gives the moon a reddish hue. In 2025, the March 13-14 lunar eclipse delays Easter by pushing the Paschal Moon to April 13. This shift makes Easter occur later than in 2024, when it fell on March 31.

The Moon’s Role in Global Calendars

Many cultures and religions rely on the moon to determine important dates:

• Chinese Lunar New Year in 2025 began on January 29, with the Lantern Festival concluding on February 12.
• Ramadan started on February 28 and will end with Eid al-Fitr at the next crescent moon.
• Passover aligns with the April 13 Pink Moon, marking the 15th of Nisan in the Hebrew calendar.

Why Orthodox and Western Easter Align This Year

Orthodox Christians typically celebrate Easter later than Western Christians because they use different calendars:

• Western Christians follow the Gregorian calendar.
• Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar and also observe Easter after Passover.
• In 2025, for the first time since 2017, both traditions will observe Easter on April 20.

The 2025 Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse

The March 13-14 total lunar eclipse will be a highlight for skywatchers. The full Worm Moon will pass through Earth’s shadow, turning red for about 65 minutes. This celestial event will be visible across North and South America.

Easter’s shifting date may seem unpredictable, but it follows a strict astronomical pattern. The 2025 Blood Moon eclipse influences Easter’s timing, making it one of the latest in recent memory.

More…

• https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/02/24/when-is-easter-2025-texas-ash-wednesday-good-friday-lent/79430966007
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2025/03/02/when-is-easter-why-a-rare-blood-moon-eclipse-delays-easter-in-2025
• https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-03/shrove-tuesday-ash-wednesday-lent-easter-dates/104905524