Since 325 A.D., Christian churches in the Occident have been celebrating Easter according to the Gregorian calendar, that is, on the first Sunday after the full moon, following the spring equinox.
The Orthodox Church follows the Julian calendar and that is why their Easter does not fall on the same date as ours. However, the equinox is a strong symbol for all Christians alike, as this signifies the moment when day and night are of the same length all over the Earth.
Try our recipe for Easy Ham with Pineapple at your next Easter dinner.
Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on March 22, 2008.