Easter Sunday, perhaps the holiest day on the Christian calendar, will be celebrated by Christians around the world on April 20 this year. Yet this date has a more complex legacy, one tied to historical injustices that loom over any attempts to celebrate it. Atop these are the birthdates of Adolf Hitler in 1889 and the infamous Columbine High School shooting in 1999. These events have played a role in serving as poignant reminders of the other, darker side that accompanies this otherwise joyous occasion.
Easter’s date is based on the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. That means if you are the Christian world – the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches – Easter Sunday can fall anywhere between March 22 and April 25. Come 2025, April 20 will hold particular significance. It happens to fall on 4/20 this year, an unofficial holiday for cannabis culture. As luck would have it, this date has been eerily tied to several other watershed moments in American history.
Historical Significance of April 20
April 20 also has some other noteworthy historical significance. The man whose name now resides at the bottom of history’s cesspool, Adolf Hitler, was born on this date in 1889. His pursuit of power and the horrors that followed during his reign became a historically significant lesson never to be forgotten. As we approach this year’s Easter Sunday, it is time to reflect. This day represents hope, and yet despair as deeply as possible.
Plus, it was the Columbine High School shooting on April 20, 1999. This unfortunate circumstance led to the death of 12 students and one teacher, as well as the injuring of 17 more. The shooting launched a national outcry and initiation of important conversations around gun violence and school safety. This year, as Easter Sunday overlaps on the same date, that contrast between celebration and remembrance is especially poignant.
Environmental Catastrophes on April 20
Besides the enormous human tragedies, April 20th has seen enormous environmental disasters. As shining examples of what sensitive habitats want no part of, on this date in 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded. The disaster resulted in the Deepwater Horizon incident becoming the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history. It released approximately 210 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. That disastrous event burned for 87 days. It took a toll on marine life greater than the initial blast radius, killing about 45 percent of the species in its path.
The effects of this disaster will be felt for years to come. It underscores the dire need for environmental protection and worker safety regulations in extractive industries that damage our natural resources. As our country remembers this date, we can’t forget to recognize what we’ve accomplished. In the process, we need to acknowledge and honor the hard-won lessons of today’s greatest tragedies.
Looking Ahead to Future Easters
As Easter Sunday approaches this year, the historical importance of April 20 calls us to memory the ways in which we inhabit joy and sorrow at the same time. In 2025, Easter will land on this date again, making it 4/20 – Easter Sunday edition. This once-in-a-lifetime overlap will surely incite reflection on the celebration and remembrance meanings of these words.
Easter Sunday will be April 20 in both 2014 and 2087. Religiously, these years will be marked in the calendar with high religious significance for religious observance and reflection. The diverse events associated with this date highlight the complexities of human experience, where joy can coexist with tragedy.
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