Easter Sunday 2014 will fall on April 20 for Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches in the USA and Europe.
The Easter Sunday dates for Western Christianity (USA; Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican) and Eastern Orthodoxy (Europe; Greek, Russian Orthodox) normally do not coincide. For instance, in 2015, Western churches will celebrate Easter on April 5, while Eastern churches will celebrate on April 12.
The reason for the difference in dates is because Western Christianity follows the Gregorian Calendar while Eastern Orthodoxy follows the Julian Calendar. Since both Gregorian and Julian calenders are lunar calenders, the date of Easter Sunday changes each year. Easter Sunday will vary between March 22 and April 25 for Western Christianity, and April 4 and May 8 for Eastern Orthodoxy.
Easter Sunday commemorates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Here are some other important dates:
Ash Wednesday - March 5
Palm Sunday - April 13
Maundy (Holy) Thursday - April 17
Good Friday - April 18
Easter bunny via Shutterstock
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