Why Easter Moves

(and Why It Matters This Year)

If Easter ever feels like it sneaks up on you, you’re not imagining things. Unlike Christmas, which arrives faithfully every December 25, Easter seems to wander around the calendar. Some years it falls in late April. Other years, like this one, it shows up surprisingly early, April 5^th to be exact.

The reason has to do with the moon, the spring equinox and decisions made by religious councils hundreds of years ago. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Because of this, Easter can fall anywhere between late March and late April. This year, it lands early, which means Holy Week begins on March 29.

In Mexico, Semana Santa is one of the most important weeks of the year. It’s a time of religious observance, family gatherings, travel, and rest. Many offices close or operate on limited hours. Banks, government offices, and some businesses may shut down entirely. Highways fill, buses sell out, and popular destinations become lively with visitors.

The following week, Semana de Pascua, often continues at a slower pace, especially in towns like Ajijic and Chapala, where both residents and visitors take advantage of the pause. Because Easter falls early this year, the shift can catch people by surprise. Appointments may be harder to schedule. Deliveries may be delayed. Regular routines may briefly disappear.

Easter has always been a movable feast, shaped by the lunar calendar and tradition rather than strict adherence to a particular date. It resists being pinned down. And in a way, Semana Santa does the same. It asks us to slow, to adjust, to notice that the rhythm of life has changed for a moment. So, if the bank is closed, the bus is full, or your favorite café is taking the week off, consider it part of the design. Spring has arrived, the calendar has turned, and for a few days, the world runs on a different timetable.