Easter is always:

• on Sunday
• on the first Sunday after a full moon
• on or after the Spring Equinox

Put all of this together and you know that Easter is on the first Sunday following the full moon that is on or follows the Spring Equinox. 

So when is Easter in 2009?

Spring equinox was March 19.

The first full-moon after March 19 is on April 9.

The first Sunday after April 9 is April 12. 

Easter in 2009 is April 12.

One pre-Easter event that stands out is Peter denying that he knew Jesus. In fact, Peter not only denied knowing Jesus three times, but Jesus had told him in advance that he would do this. As soon as Peter had made the third denial, he remembered Jesus’ words.

Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said.  “The rooster will crow,” Jesus had told him.  “Before it does, you will say three times that you don’t know me.”  Peter went outside.  He broke down and sobbed.  Matthew 26:75

For more information about this event, read  Matthew 26:34-35, 69-75 in your Bible.

Kids can change a plastic  cup into a noise maker that sounds like a rooster. Both hens and roosters make clucking sounds, but only roosters crow. You can make the noisemaker cluck and crow. The rooster sounds will be a reminder to be a bold witness for Jesus.

For detailed instructions for making this noise maker, see:

For more information about Easter and fun, hands-on Easter Activities, see Janice VanCleave’s Hands-On Bible Explorations.

Photo by nal from miami