Holy Week: Why does the date change every year?

Every year, millions Christians in the world are preparing for Eastera period of great importance religious. But among many, the question always remains: why does the date of Holy Week change every year? The answer to this question lies in the combination historical factors, astronomical and churchgoers which they shaped liturgical calendar through the centuries.

This festival is essentially connected with Jewish Passovera historical link going back to the events described in Bible. It was during the celebration of the Jewish Passover that Jesus gathered his disciples in a place known as “The Last Supper”an event full of symbolism and meaning for Christians.

Historically, Passover commemorates freedom of the Hebrew people after centuries of slavery in Egypt. Each year, this celebration takes place on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which coincides with the first full moon of spring. This link with the moon and spring is no coincidence; rather, it reflects a deep connection with natural cycles and historical events that shaped Jewish identity.

The origin of this variation in the date of Holy Week goes back to the first councils christian church. At the Council of Nicaea, held in 325, a consensus was reached on the date Easter and the central celebration of Holy Week.

This method of determining the date of Easter, known as “church budget“, is based on the lunar calendar, as opposed to the solar calendar used in everyday life. As a result, the date of Easter can vary by a few weeks, from late March to mid-April.

The use of ecclesiastical calculation to determine the date of Easter has deep roots in Jewish tradition, since the Christian Easter is related to the Jewish Passover, which is also based on the lunar calendar. However, for centuries this practice has led to deviations between different branches of Christianity, which use different methods calculate the date of Easter.

For example, the Roman Catholic Church follows the Gregorian calendar which it introduced Pope Gregory XIII 1582 to correct time differences in the Julian calendar. Meanwhile, some orthodox church They still use the Julian calendar to calculate the date of Easter, which can result in significant differences in the date of Easter. Celebration compared to the Catholic Church.

According to National Geographic magazine, “the fact that it is always celebrated on Sunday is a consequence The First Council of Nicaea, which is celebrated in 325 AD, which determined that the festival is always held on this holy day of the week and therefore does not coincide with the Jewish Passover. With the goal of celebrating it once a year, these factors led to the agreement that it should be on the first Sunday after the first spring month.

Besides these differences between different Christian denominations, the date of Holy Week can also vary due to cultural considerations and traditionally in different regions of the world.