Do you have to go to church on Easter Monday? This is what the liturgical calendar says

Do you have to go to church on Easter Monday?

Easter is one of the most important Catholic holidays and – like Christmas – is celebrated in a special way for two days. The importance of the holiday is demonstrated by the fact that – in accordance with church commandments – people professing the Roman Catholic faith are obliged to confess and receive Holy Communion during Easter.

However, according to the calendar of church holidays of obligation, participation in mass is obligatory only on Easter Sunday. Masses will, of course, also be held on Easter Monday, but Catholics are not obliged to go to church that day. People who, for justified reasons (e.g. illness, accident) will not be able to appear in person at the church on Easter, may listen to the service via radio or television.

Easter Monday – mass and traditions related to Easter Monday

What else is Easter Monday associated with? Holy Mass is a form of celebrating a church ceremony in a spiritual way, but even people who do not celebrate it certainly know the centuries-old tradition characteristic of Easter Monday. We are, of course, talking about pouring water on each other.

Listening to the stories of grandmothers and grandfathers (especially those who lived in the countryside), you can learn that in the past, throwing water on each other was much more common. Today it is often treated symbolically. In the pre-Christmas period, on store shelves you will find a lot of different gadgets for dousing yourself with water (including plastic water guns or the so-called egg-shaped Śmigusówka/Dyngusówka).

The custom of throwing water at each other has changed over the years. It once symbolized cleansing from sins and was associated with love conquests. A girl who was not doused with water on Easter Monday was at risk of spinsterhood. Getting wet meant that the girl was very successful. Today, celebrating Lazy Monday is considered rather as entertainment and good fun, although in some regions of the country ancient traditions are still particularly cultivated.

Nowadays, unfortunately, it also happens that traditional throwing water turns into a hooligan prank. How to celebrate a rainy Monday sensibly so as not to hurt anyone or get a ticket? We write about it in the article below:

Is Easter Monday a day off from work?

Easter Monday means schools. This is guaranteed in the Act of January 18, 1951 on days off from work. In addition to national holidays (including National Independence Day, National Day of May 3), there are also church holidays listed there, which are days off from work, regardless of whether they are celebrated by a given person or not. Easter Monday, defined in this document as “the second day of Easter”, is therefore a day off from work, guaranteed by law.

Easter Monday – shops and shopping centers

Will we shop on Easter Monday 2024? Generally no: shops and shopping centers will be closed on that day due to the current trade ban. However, the regulations provide for an exception: small local stores or franchise outlets may be open on a holiday (as long as the store owner is behind the counter). However, the trade ban does not apply to pharmacies, gas stations or restaurants.

Due to the ban on trading on public holidays, many super- and hypermarkets extend their opening hours, e.g. in the last week before Christmas. It is worth adding, however, that on the day before the holiday, i.e. on Holy Saturday, retail outlets may be open shorter than on regular Saturdays. It is best to check the sign on the store door in advance or visit the website of a given retail chain.