When is Easter Sunday 2012?

Easter, the central feast day in the Christian calendar, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus, who rose according to the Bible on the third day after his crucifixion.

Easter Sunday 2012 will be celebrated on April 8, 2012.

Easter marks the end of Lent, the 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance observed by many Christians. The Holy Week consist of the last week of Lent, and Good Friday signifies the crucifixion and death of Jesus, while Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.

Easter is known as a moveable feast as it is not attached to the calender. Rather, the date of Easter is established by the first Sunday after the full moon following the northern hemisphere's vernal equinox. Therefore, Easter falls between March 22 and April 25 each year.

Eastern Greek Orthodox Easter is celebrated at a different time, however -- thought the days sometimes coincide. Eastern Orthodox Easter 2012 is April 15.

Eastern Orthodox Christianity bases its Easter date calculation on the Julian Calendar and the date varies between April 4 and March 8.

Easter