How is The Date of Easter Calculated?

In the northern hemisphere the date of Easter is defined as the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the 21st March spring equinox.

The date of Easter Sunday therefore varies between 22nd March and 25th April.

In the southern hemisphere: Easter falls on the first Sunday on or after the first full moon after the Autumnal equinox, not after the first day of Autumn.

Schools generally are closed for 2 weeks during the UK Easter spring holidays.

Easter calendar dates.

As the date Easter falls on changes from year to year it is advisable to check with your local authority as to the exact times schools are closed.

Use our website to research the Easter school holidays in your area. Many local councils will publish school term dates up to 3 years in advance.

When Does British Summer Time Begin and End?

Year Clocks Forward Clocks Go Back
2013 Sunday 31st March. Sunday 27th October
2014 Sunday 30th March. Sunday 26th October
2015 Sunday 29th March. Sunday 25th October

In the UK the clocks go forward one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March and go back one hour at 2am on the last Sunday in October.

The period when the clocks are one hour ahead is called British Summer Time (BST).

This means there is more daylight in the evenings and less in the mornings. Often this is also referred to as Daylight Saving Time. It can be written as GMT+1

When the clocks are turned back one hour in October, the UK reverts back to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). Again often written as GMT+0.

Ireland also follows the same time zone as the UK and the clocks are put forward and back on the same dates.