Now that the weather is warming up, the birds are singing, and the flowers are blooming, our minds are starting to fast-forward straight to summer. C’mon, how can you not?! Well, Easter, that’s why. This year, spring starts on March 19, but the season’s most celebrated holiday isn’t for weeks after that. And if you’re anything like us, you’re probably wondering the exact same thing …

Why is Easter so late this year?

Unlike fixed holidays like Halloween and Christmas, Easter is considered a “moveable feast and can fall anywhere from March 22 and April 25,” according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Since Easter falls on April 12 this year, it’s on the latter end of the date range.

Now that we have that out of the way, this brings us our next question:

How is Easter’s date determined?

Easter is traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday following the full Moon — officially called “Paschal Full Moon” — that lands on or just after the spring equinox. While the date of Easter is always in flux, the Christian Church calendars state that the spring equinox always falls on March 21, whether that’s scientifically correct or not (the date of the equinox varies between March 19 and March 22). This year, for example, the first full Moon after the spring equinox won’t happen until April 7, which means Easter falls on the following Sunday, April 12. If the first full moon falls on a Sunday, Easter is celebrated the following Sunday.

So why do we celebrate Easter in spring anyway? According to the Bible, Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection took place during the Jewish Passover, which typically falls in March or April.

If you thought Easter was late this year, wait until 2038 when we’ll celebrate on April 25, a.k.a. the last day possible. And hey, there are a few perks that come with having the holiday on a later date: You have more time to prep your feast, pull together Easter baskets, coordinate the Easter egg hunt, and whip up some picture-worthy desserts. Not so bad, eh?

When is Easter 2021?

Easter will fall on April 4, 2021, so a little earlier than this year. Another piece of trivia? Easter will be in April for the next three years to come!