Monday 25 March 2013

Rules for Calculating the Calendar

Beaker People have been asking me when it's going to be Lady Day.

A reasonable question, and one tied into the depths of Christian tradition, and the deep roots we have in both Judaism and the darker, more mysterious pre-Roman religions of these islands at the end of the Ancient world.

So the Feast of the Annunciation is dated to the traditional "real" date of Good Friday. And that is based on the Jewish Passover in the year that Jesus was crucified. And that was based on the full moon after the Spring Equinox. And that all gives us a date of 25 March. And that gives us the date of Christmas.

Or possibly vice-versa.

But 25 March this year is in Holy Week. So it has to be moved. Not the twenty-fifth itself - that would be foolish. Just Lady Day.

So given today is a Monday, and Sunday is Easter, and there's an "r" in the month, and carrying the one, and consulting in the little diary that Young Keith so kindly bought me as a Christmas present in the New Year sales, I can conclude that I've no idea when it will be Lady Day.

What do you think I am - Wikipedia?

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