When is Easter for Catholics? Catholic Easter: history and traditions of celebration

Easter is celebrated by Christians of all denominations. Its name is taken from the Jewish day of exodus from Egyptian slavery, but in Christianity it acquired a completely different meaning. Believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many rituals and traditions of the celebration are taken from more ancient religious cults and symbolize dying and reborn gods, as well as the spring awakening of nature.

Orthodox and Catholic Easter are almost the same in the basic principles of celebration. True, they are celebrated on different dates. Catholics usually celebrate Easter Sunday a little earlier than Orthodox Christians. This is due to the different dates of Christmas and Lent, from which the date of Easter is counted. After all, Orthodox Christians live according to the Julian calendar, while the rest of the world and the Catholic Church adhere to the Gregorian calendar. But every three years these dates coincide. What date is Catholic Easter celebrated? church calendar? In 2014, the Catholic celebration coincides with the Orthodox one and is celebrated on April 20.

Basic customs of celebrating Catholic Easter

1. During the festive service, the Easter fire is lit in the church and carried from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is carried to all churches, and the priests distribute the fire to everyone who wants it. In Catholic churches, a special candle is lit from it - Easter. It is believed that this fire is sacred, and people strive to keep it at home in lamps until next year. This Holy Fire symbolizes the light of God.
2. After the service, all Catholics perform procession. They walk around the temples singing and praying. The Easter service is very solemn, the priests remember the feat of Jesus Christ, glorify him and sing hymns.
3. In addition to lighting the Holy Fire, the traditions of Catholic Easter include dyeing eggs. Moreover, these may not necessarily be natural eggs. IN last years Wooden, plastic and wax have become more popular. And children love chocolate ones most of all, especially if they have a surprise inside.
4. The symbol of Catholic Easter in some Catholic countries is. For some reason, it is believed that he is the one who brings eggs to the holiday. And the chicken is recognized as unworthy of giving people this symbol of life. They decorate houses and apartments with rabbit figures, give each other postcards with his image, and bake buns in this shape. Often an egg is baked in them. Chocolate bunnies are very popular among children. For example, during Catholic Easter in Germany hundreds of tons of such sweet figurines are sold. And the next morning on Easter Day, all the children are looking for painted eggs and small gifts, supposedly hidden by the Easter Bunny.
5. Another tradition of Catholic Easter is a festive family dinner. It is customary to set a rich table with delicious dishes. They vary depending on the customs of the people, but baked goods, eggs and baked meat dishes are mandatory. Everyone congratulates each other, plays different games, dances and has fun.

Despite the apparent similarities, there are some differences in the celebration of Orthodox and Catholic Easter.

The essence of Easter is the same for all Christians: on this day believers celebrate the bright Resurrection of Christ. But the traditions and even, oddly enough, the date of Easter celebration among Orthodox and Catholics differ. Why this happens and how it is customary to celebrate Easter in the Catholic tradition, the site explains.

1 When is Catholic Easter in 2018?

2 Why are the dates of Orthodox and Catholic Easter different?

The dates of Easter for Orthodox and Catholics began to differ after the introduction Roman Catholic Church Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar is based on the solar-lunar system, while the Gregorian calendar is based only on the solar system.

Catholic Easter sometimes comes earlier than the Jewish one. In Orthodoxy this is considered unacceptable, because Christ was resurrected on the first Sunday after this holiday.

3 How long do Catholics fast before Easter?

Lent in the Catholic tradition it lasts 45 days. The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday. Catholic Church talks about the need to observe strict fasting (without meat, dairy products and eggs) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On the remaining days of Lent, you cannot eat meat, but milk and eggs are allowed.

4 Do Catholics dye eggs?

Yes, in the Catholic tradition, as in Orthodoxy, the painted egg is one of the main Easter symbols.

Catholics in Central Europe decorate Easter eggs using various techniques, while in Western Europe traditional red eggs without designs are more common.

Catholic Easter - main religious holiday, which has been celebrated since ancient times in the countries of the Old World and Latin America, where predominantly representatives of Catholicism live. This bright holiday is dedicated gospel history about the miraculous resurrection of the Son of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. How do Catholics celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord and what date will Catholic Easter be in 2019? What rituals are associated with this holiday and why do Catholic and Orthodox Easter do not coincide in date?

When is Catholic Easter 2019?

Representatives of the Catholic denomination will celebrate Easter on April 21 in 2019 - a week earlier than Orthodox Christians, who will celebrate April 28.

The temporary difference in the days of celebrating Catholic and Orthodox Easter is explained by the fact that Orthodox Christian church lives according to the Gregorian calendar, and the Catholic one lives according to the Julian calendar. The difference in the calculation of solar and lunar cycles, as well as the time of determining the day of the vernal equinox, is the reason that Catholic Easter comes earlier than Orthodox Easter by one or several weeks.

Only once every few years does the date of Easter coincide. The last such coincidence was in 2017, and then, when the Resurrection of the Lord will be celebrated simultaneously by Orthodox and Catholics, it will fall in 2025.

Many attempts to unify (unite) the date of Easter, which were made at different times, were unsuccessful. Catholics and Orthodox Christians were never able to agree on the holiday Christ's Sunday was always celebrated at the same time.

Celebration traditions

Many rituals and traditions of celebrating Catholic Easter arose during the Middle Ages, but they are still observed.

On Saturday evening, believers go to the church, where Easter services are held. The service begins with the Liturgy of Light, when the lights in the church are completely turned off and everyone goes outside to light a fire. From this fire a special Easter candle is lit, which is then brought into the temple. All parishioners receive fire from this candle. Easter must burn in the church for seven days.

After the blessing of Easter baskets with food, believers go home to share the joy of the Resurrection of Christ with the whole family.

Regarding what you should not do on Easter, everything is very clear here. All housework and housework are prohibited. You cannot garden, clean, repair, wash, iron, sew... In general, any household work on this day and the next is not blessed.

Culinary traditions of Catholic Easter

Painted eggs and Easter cakes are traditionally considered an obligatory attribute of the festive feast. But these dishes are not dominant. Lent has ended, so on this day you can eat everything: fish, meat, eggs, and dairy products. Housewives decide what to cook for Easter long before the long-awaited celebration.

Starting from Thursday, meat and stuffed fish are baked in the oven, homemade sausage is prepared, preparations are made for salads, compotes and uzvar are cooked. The variety of dishes and their quantity on the table depends on the national cuisine of the country where I celebrate Catholic Easter.

In France and Germany, for example, they bake duck, rabbit or lamb, in Poland they make sweet mazurka, and in Greece they treat themselves to a hearty and rich lamb liver soup.

Similarities and differences between Orthodox and Catholic Easter traditions

Despite the fact that this holiday is called the same by both Orthodox and Catholics, and is also celebrated in memory of the same biblical event, there are certain differences in the features of its celebration. But first, about the similarities. So, for Catholic and Orthodox Easter the following are the same:

• Observance of the pre-Easter fast
• Baking holiday cakes
• Coloring chicken eggs in different colors
• Blessing of Easter baskets with food
• Celebration with family
• Greeting with the words: “Christ is Risen!” - “Truly He is Risen!”
• Official holiday days are Sunday and Monday

And here are the ritual differences in the celebration of Easter by different faiths:

Events and traditions	Orthodox Easter	Catholic Easter
Beginning of Lent	Monday after Forgiveness Sunday	Wednesday (Ash)
Duration of Lent	40 days	46 days (Catholics do not fast on Sundays)
The severity of Lent	Strict	Moderate (allows dairy products and eggs, and also has fun outside of certain days)
Procession for Easter	Before the start of the service	After the service
Easter fire	Descends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem	Lighted from a fire near the church (Easter)
Baptism on Easter	Absent	Not only infants, but also adults who have converted to Catholicism can undergo baptism
Holiday symbol	Painted and colored chicken eggs	Hare or rabbit, as well as chocolate eggs

Many signs and prohibitions are associated with Easter and preparations for the celebration. In particular, they say that when Easter cakes are baked in the oven, the house should be quiet. Loud talking, laughter, crying or quarrel can ruin the baked goods. Easter cakes may not rise.

Despite a number of formal differences in the celebration of Easter among different faiths, the meaning of this bright holiday does not change. Easter is a symbol of victory over death, a day of praise to the Lord God, a holiday of faith, hope and love... That is why it is treated with special honor throughout the world and celebrated according to established traditions.

Catholic Easter, like Easter, is celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, so quite often it falls on a different day than Orthodox Christians celebrate this holiday. In 2015, Catholics will remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ on April 5th.

Easter is the central Christian holiday, equally honored by all churches. Like the Orthodox, Catholics adhere to the 40-day period of Lent and break their fast only on Easter morning.
The holiday begins with attending a divine service. Even at night, believers gather in churches to praise Jesus and his miraculous resurrection.

The main symbol of the holiday is considered to be fire, which personifies divine light. Therefore, large bonfires are lit in the courtyards of Catholic churches, and Easter candles are lit inside, from which fire is distributed to all parishioners. Candles lit from Easter are necessarily carried home - it is believed that their warmth and light cleanse the house and bring grace into it.

In general, in different countries There are national traditions for celebrating Easter, which, however, in any case are based on a religious component. For example, in Spain and Italy, costumed processions are held on this day, in which both ordinary townspeople and representatives of the clergy and monasticism take part.

People carry candles and crosses, images of saints and entire sculptural compositions, and during the course of the action they act out entire performances, depicting scenes from the life of Christ and his entourage. Each city has its own traditions of holding the Easter procession, but everywhere this event is citywide.

Catholics also love Easter fairs, where all kinds of sweets and decorative items are sold. Here you can also buy colorfully painted eggs - main symbol holiday.

Fairs are brightly decorated with various compositions symbolizing renewal and joy. All kinds of entertainment events take place here: exhibitions, theatrical performances, fun programs for children. The most famous Easter fairs are organized in Vienna and Prague - these cities are rightfully proud of their customs of holding this traditional Easter holiday.

For Catholics, as for Orthodox Christians, Easter is family celebration, which is characterized by obligatory meals, delicious treats, visits to relatives and the exchange of colored eggs. Houses are decorated with flower arrangements, garlands, beautiful green wreaths that are hung on entrance doors, and candles.

Children are especially looking forward to Easter, since on this day they will receive traditional gifts from the Easter Bunny. This wonderful tradition has ancient roots and is widespread in many countries. Germany is considered to be the birthplace of the Easter Bunny - this is where this character appeared.

On the eve of the holiday, parents collect gift baskets for children with sweets, small souvenirs and colored eggs and hide them so that in the morning the kids will find what they have prepared, which, according to legend, the Easter Bunny left for them. Easter morning is marked by joyful bustle and childish joy from found gifts.

Similar children's parties are held in parks and city squares. Eggs are also hidden here for the kids to look for. The winner of the impromptu competition is the child who collects the largest amount of his favorite treat.

The rabbit is such a popular character during the holidays that his image can be found everywhere: on postcards, boxes of chocolates, tablecloths and other items. Another unchanging tradition is to make chocolate bunnies, which are sold on every corner and in mandatory present in gift baskets for children.

Treats for the festive table are prepared in large quantities so that there is enough for all the guests.

In Italy, lamb is always baked for Easter and served with artichokes. Here it is customary to make traditional pastries for the holiday, which is called “colomba”. Colomba is a lemon cake with almond glaze, a unique type of Easter cake.

In Great Britain, such ritual baked goods are buns with raisins, which are decorated with cross-shaped notches.

In Austria they bake randling - a yeast pie filled with nuts, cinnamon and raisins.

And in Spain, they serve special pastries with almonds and honey, called pestinos, for the holiday table.

In France, they prepare omelettes and other egg dishes and always serve baked chicken.

There is also an unusual tradition in this country: here on Easter it is customary to ring small bells. This melodious sound can be heard from all sides in this country during the holidays.
These are the wonderful traditions of celebrating Easter that Catholics observe. Each of them is a beautiful reminder of a bright day that is honored and loved in many countries around the world.