when is the earliest easter can be

The earliest Easter can be is March 22 in the Western Gregorian calendar. That’s the earliest possible date because Easter is calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox.

Quick scoop

• Earliest possible Easter: March 22

• Latest possible Easter: April 25

• Last time Easter fell on March 22: 1818

• Next time it can happen again: 2285

Why it moves

Easter is a movable feast, so its date changes each year based on the lunar calendar and the spring equinox. In practice, that means Easter can fall anywhere from late March to late April.

One-line version

If you just need the short answer: Easter can be as early as March 22.