<P> A problem with the general rule above arises in certain Christian churches that solemnly observe a Sabbath day as a particular day of the week, when those churches are located in countries near the Date Line . Notwithstanding the difference in dates, the same sunrise happened over American Samoa as happens over Samoa a few minutes later, and the same sunset happens over Samoa as happened over American Samoa a few minutes earlier . In other words, the secular days are legally different but they are physically the same; and that causes questions to arise under religious law . </P> <P> Because the Date Line was an arbitrary imposition, the question can arise as to which Saturday on either side of the Date Line (or, more fundamentally, on either side of 180 degrees longitude) is the "real" Saturday . This issue (which also arises in Judaism) is a particular problem for Seventh Day Adventists, Seventh Day Baptists, and similar churches located in countries near the Date Line . </P> <P> In Tonga, Seventh Day Adventists (who usually observe Saturday, the seventh - day Sabbath) observe Sunday due to their understanding of the International Date Line, as Tonga lies east of the 180 ° meridian . Sunday as observed in Tonga (as with Kiribati, Samoa, and parts of Fiji and Tuvalu) is considered by the Seventh - day Adventist Church to be the same day as Saturday observed in most other places . </P> <P> Most Seventh Day Adventists in Samoa planned to observe Sabbath on Sunday after Samoa's crossing the date line in December 2011, but SDA groups in Samatau village and other places (approx. 300 members) decided to accept the IDL adjustment and observe the Sabbath on Saturday . Debate continues within the Seventh - day Adventist community in the Pacific as to which day is really the seventh - day Sabbath . </P>

Where do you cross the international date line