Glad You Asked: Why does Easter move around the calendar?

-
1:33
An Olympic Inspiration
-
5:07
Wisconsin Humane Society
-
2:26
Oak Creek police investigating multiple break-ins, suspect escaped
-
5:21
Community Calendar
-
7:04
Kenosha Awesome Cookies
-
5:30
Siena Retreat Center
-
3:35
Housing shortage challenges, frustrates local buyers
-
0:46
5 Points Gallery & Studios showcases prominent work of artists...
-
1:08
Aaron Rodgers finishes first week on Jeopardy!
-
2:23
Pfizer seeks FDA approval to use COVID-19 vaccine on kids 12...
-
1:59
’COVID-19 is not over’: Wisconsin case numbers increasing...
-
0:59
Local leaders react to quadruple-shooting near 27th and Capitol
Why isn't Easter on a specific date or even a specific week?
Glad You Asked!
"The date of Easter is the first Sunday, after the first full moon, after the vernal equinox." said Father Paul Hartmann at his St. Monica Parish in Whitefish Bay. "So, the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring time."
It's based on the Jewish tradition of Passover. Fr. Hartmann says the reference to the slaughter of a spring lamb in the book of Exodus tells us Passover (and Easter) is a springtime tradition.
Fr. Hartmann says there are a couple of reasons Christians don't just pick a date.
"The risk is, first how to choose that date and kind of reclaiming it as kind of a traditional holiday of the covenant." he said. "Some of the dates that the church has claimed, and religious traditions have claimed, like Christmas, were in response to pagan festivals whereas this one is truly, truly and Christian and Jewish festival unto itself."
Do you have a curious question you'd like answered on a future Glad You Asked segment? Ask Mike Curkov on Facebook, on Twitter or at GladYouAsked@cbs58.com.