Lunar Calendars: Lunar New Year, Easter, Rosh Hashanah, Ramadan

Have you ever wondered why Easter is scheduled on a different date every year unlike, for example, Christmas? The calculation of the date of Easter is based on astronomy.

With this activity, your students will explore the cycles that dictate the dating of Easter. Comparisons are made between Easter and other religious holidays such as Lunar New Year, Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan. The students will also explore the different types of calendars used for these holidays, calendars based on the moon, sun, or both. The basis for the counting of years for each system is also presented. For example, the Common Era (BCE/CE) counting system is based upon the birth of Jesus. The Jewish calendar is based on the Genesis account of creation occurring approximately 6000 years ago, and the Islamic calendar is based upon the Hegira, an event in the life of the prophet Mohammed. The Chinese Lunar Calendar began around 2696 BCE.

The students will be able to create a chart of the dates of Lunar New Year, Easter, Rosh Hashanah, and Ramadan for a twenty year span of time. The influences of the yearly cycle of earth's revolution and the monthly cycle of the moon's revolution around the earth create the patterns seen in the chart.

The lab includes a detailed introduction and questions to accompany the graphing activity. Your students will create their graphs using colored pencils and the lab packet.

This lab will be a practical exercise to share with your studentsIf if you are interested in teaching some of the history behind calendars and the specifics of differing faiths.

The Zip file download contains the lab handout and a key.