Easter Sunday takes place this Sunday, on 17 April, with the Friday (16 April)

that has just passed being Good Friday and the Monday coming known as Easter Monday (18 April).

Unlike other major holidays that take place throughout the year, such as Christmas or Halloween,

the date of Easter Sunday can vary year by year - and is actually dictated by the moon.

Easter Sunday is determined by the Sunday after the first full moon which follows the spring equinox.

The spring equinox always happens on 21 March

and the first full moon after that date this year is Saturday 16 April

which is why Sunday 17 April is Easter Sunday.

These rules mean that Easter Sunday can happen as early as 22 March

however the last time that that happened was in 1818.