This year, Easter is March 23.
Does it feel early to you? According to Bill Nettles, a physics professor at Union University, a Christian liberal-arts university, in Jackson, Tenn,
for the years 1875 through 2124, there are only two occurrences of a March 23 Easter. The first one was in 1913, and this year will be the second one. The date for Easter is based on the lunar calendar. "You have to wait until the very first full moon after the equinox, and that could be a few weeks," he says. "This year, Easter happens to be the earliest it can be."
The holiday can be anytime from two days to 31 days after the first full moon of spring, Nettles says.
And this has to do with.....The Easter Island Traveling Exhibit!
Most people recognize the giant heads carved from stone that stand sentry around the tiny, isolated island.
The name Easter Island was given by its first recorded European visitor, the Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen, who encountered the 8 mile long island on Easter Sunday, 1722. The island's official Spanish name, Isla de Pascua, is Spanish for "Easter Island."
The fact it was so small and isolated is interesting, but the truly fascinating story is of the Rapa Nui, the indigenous people that carved the stone heads, then proceeded to move them several miles and erect them. Oh, and, all they had to do this were tress, rocks and ropes. An incredible feat, but their fate was not that of greatness. The Easter Island Traveling Exhibit tells the story of the islanders, their demise, and asks, are we really so different today?
Together with World Studies teacher, Zach Abeel, we created a Powerpoint program with the whole story. It's a fascinating tale of ecological disaster. Perfect for upcoming Earth Day celebrations. In fact, it's important for every day!
