a very early Easter

This has always baffled me...why Easter is not always on the same date each year. I received an email this morning that explains this "mystery"!

Here is the explanation I received:

Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) than it will be this year (2008) but that is pretty rare.

This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early previously (95 years old or above!). And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the facts:

1) The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!).

2) The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

enjoying the sun

We've been enjoying the spring-like weather recently. Although the wind is still chilly, the sun is warming up...aaahhh...

spring is near, right?!!

Tonight, since there were no clouds, we sat at dinner and marvelled at how late it was and that the sun had not set yet. I know we're not even one month into winter, but it still seemed so bright outside for some reason. It gave me hope! January and February are dreary months to me for a couple of reasons:

1. First and foremost, I love the sun!! Can't get enough of it.
2. I don't like cold temperatures and would prefer to not spend a lot of money on warm weather clothing. I'd rather sit inside by the fireplace and wait for spring.
3. It's the peak of cold and flu season...ugh! If I'm going to get sick, it's going to be in either January or February. Our family fares well from September until December, but once January and February come, it's like I'm just waiting for someone get sick in our family, and just wait my turn. Take a number - "NEXT!". We get the flu shot every year (we have to for Ms. K's sake, kind-of a requirement) - but that does nothing to protect us from stomach viruses (which most people confuse with the flu). Just because you throw up a couple times does not mean you have the flu...you probably just have a stomach virus not the flu. A stomach virus (throwing up) will not put you or your kids in the hospital, the flu can. In fact, you probably won't throw up with the flu...ANYWAYS - that's a different topic. Enough talk about getting sick! :) Those of you who know our daughter's health history know that I have, as a result of her condition, become a health (and hand sanitizer) nazi! I'm so sorry...thank you for graciously putting up me and my aversion to illness and germs!
   
   So - here's to enjoying later sunsets...(my favorite thing in the world!)...and warm weather...it's just right around the corner, RIGHT?! :)