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West Central MN | Easter's date shifts each year according to rules set by the Roman Catholic Church hundreds of years ago: Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the vernal equinox.
But it's not that simple.
The church's version of a full moon isn't necessarily science's. And there's some disagreement about the vernal equinox as well.
According to the church's rules, the full moon comes 14 days after a new moon. Always. The astronomical full moon might be 15 days after, or less than 14. Similarly, the church's vernal equinox falls on March 21. Always. Astronomically, that's not always the case.
"It depends on orbits, other factors that were, perhaps, beyond the scope of folks at that time," Chester said.
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Snow on Easter then what?
