Easter is always celebrated on Sunday. It marks the end of the strictest and longest fasting. They prepare for this day of the resurrection of Christ all week: they paint boiled eggs, make cakes and bless them in the church. The date of the holiday changes every year. You can determine when it will be Easter using a special formula.
Instructions
Step 1
Despite the fact that the date of Easter changes from year to year, there is a certain period beyond which it cannot go. This is the interval between March 22 and April 25, according to the old style, and between April 4 and May 8, according to the new style. This holy day for Christians follows immediately after the end of Lent and falls on the first or second Sunday after the Easter full moon.
Step 2
You can determine when it will be Easter using special tables called Easter. They are clergymen for several years ahead. However, you can calculate this day yourself. You just need to strictly follow the given algorithm and be careful. Consider the calculation procedure for a specific year, for example 2012.
Step 3
There is a formula that includes two unknowns. They are calculated by arithmetic division, and it is not the results of these actions that matter, but the resulting remainders. In the absence of a remainder, it is assumed to be zero.
Step 4
Write down the basic formula: p = 4 + x + y, where p is the date of Easter, which can be either April or May. It depends on the result of comparison with the number 30. If p is less than 30, then the holiday will be in April, if more - in May, while 30 must be subtracted from p.
Step 5
Find the unknown number x by doing a series of consecutive calculations. Divide the number of the year by 19, remember the resulting remainder. Then multiply it by 19 and add 15, divide the total by 30, x equals the remainder of this operation: 2012/19 = 105, remainder = 17; 17 • 19 = 323 + 15 = 338; 338/30 = 11, remainder = 8 → x = 8.
Step 6
Calculate the number y using the following formula: y = remainder (2 • A + 4 • B + 6 • x + 6) / 7. A is the remainder of 2012 divided by 4, B is the remainder of 7, and you already know x. So: 2012/4 = 503 + 0 → A = 0; 2012/7 = 287 + 3/7 → B = 3; 2 • 0 + 4 • 3 + 6 • 8 + 6 = 66; 66/17 = 9 + 3/7 → y = 3.
Step 7
Substitute x and y in the basic formula: 4 + 8 + 3 = 15. The number 15 is less than 30, therefore Easter in 2012 falls on April 15th.
