it is the oldest and most important holiday in the Christian tradition. It is a testimony of the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It symbolizes rebirth and a new beginning. However, unlike Christmas, Easter is a movable holiday, without a fixed date in the calendar.
When is Easter and why do we celebrate it once in March and once in April?
Do you know when Easter is this year? At the beginning, it is worth mentioning that the variable date is related to the change of seasons. Saying goodbye to winter and welcoming spring translates into a celebration of life, an exit from darkness and the beginning of a new, better life. When was the decision on the flexible deadline made? During the Council of Nicaea (4th century AD), it was decided that Easter would be celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon that appeared in the sky after the arrival of spring.
When is Easter this year? Red card on the calendar
This year we will celebrate spring holidays at the end of March. When exactly is Easter this year? This is March 31sti.e. just over a month from the end of the last winter break in the following voivodeships: Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubuskie, Lesser Poland, Świętokrzyskie, Greater Poland (February 12-15, 2024).
Easter – when do they fall and what do the key events of Holy Week symbolize?
We already know when Easter falls, so it is worth checking what each holiday day symbolizes. Holy Week for Christians commemorates the last days of Jesus Christ. This special time is called the Paschal Triduum, the essence of which is the celebration of three stages: passion, death and resurrection. The Paschal Triduum begins with Mass on Maundy Thursday and ends with Vespers on Holy Sunday.
When is Easter? Here is the schedule and symbolism of Holy Week
- Palm Sunday (March 24) – the day that commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. According to tradition, small palms made of dried plants are blessed in the church. This custom is an announcement of the upcoming holidays and a kind of protective shield for the home. Palm trees stuck inside a house or apartment are supposed to drive out evil forces and protect household members against diseases and misfortune.
- Maundy Thursday (March 28), which is associated with a special ritual: on this day in the church, priests wash the feet of twelve people who symbolize the twelve apostles during the Last Supper.
- Good Friday (March 29) means a time of silence. There are no masses in the Catholic church on this day, but the faithful can gather in the temple to pray together. In the evenings there is the Stations of the Cross, and sometimes there is a night vigil at the grave of Jesus.
- Holy Saturday (March 30), also known as Easter Eve. During the services on Holy Saturday, fire, water and thorns are blessed. According to the liturgical rite, on this day foods are blessed that will later appear on the Easter table.
- Holy Sunday (March 31), the feast of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A day of meetings at the family table.
- Easter Monday (April 1), the Slavic holiday of Śmigus-dyngus, which refers to the pagan practices of pouring water, a symbol of waking up to life.
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Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
