In 325 BCE, the Council of Nicaea set the date for the Easter for the Sunday following the first full moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox — the start of spring.
Theoretically, the Paschal full moon is the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox. However, this day can be figured in different ways. One way is by looking at the sky, which yields the astronomical spring equinox. But since this shifts from year to year, most people follow the calendrical spring equinox, which is calculated as March 21.
On the Gregorian calendar (the one that we use), Easter is the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon, which is the first full moon on or after March 21. Easter thus always falls between March 22 and April 25.
Now, to find Palm Sunday (the sixth Sunday of Lent) you start with the date of Easter and back up one week: It is the Sunday before Easter Sunday.
To find Ash Wednesday, you start with the date of Easter Sunday, back up six weeks (that gives you the first Sunday of Lent), and then back up four more days: Ash Wednesday is the Wednesday before the first Sunday of Lent.
You will hear these dates announced this Sunday on the feast of Epiphany.
On the Epiphany of the Lord, after the singing of the Gospel, a Deacon or cantor, in keeping with an ancient practice of Holy Church, announces from the ambo the moveable feasts of the current year according to this formula:
"Know, dear brethren, (brothers and sisters,) W - - - that, as we have rejoiced at the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Chri - so by leave of God's mercy we announce to you al- so- the joy of his Resurrection, who is our Savior. On the fourteenth day of February will fall Ash Wednesday,- and the beginning of the fast & of the most sacred Lenten sea son. - - On the thirty first day of March, you will celebrate with joy Easter Day - the Paschal feast of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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