Catholic Easter: what date and how is this holiday celebrated in Italy. Easter Catholic Traditions When Easter is celebrated among Catholics

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 the celebration of Easter among the Orthodox and Catholics differ. Why this happens and how it is customary to celebrate Easter in the Catholic tradition, the site tells.

1 When is Catholic Easter in 2018?

2 Why do Orthodox and Catholic Easter have different dates?

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

Catholic Easter sometimes comes earlier than Jewish. 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 lasts 45 days. The first day of Lent is called Ash Wednesday. The Catholic Church speaks of the need to observe a strict fast (without meat, dairy products and eggs) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. On the rest of the days of Lent, you can not eat meat, but milk and eggs are allowed.

4 Do Catholics dye eggs?

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

Catholics in Central Europe paint Easter eggs using a variety of techniques, while in Western Europe traditional red eggs without designs are more common.

Easter is one of the 12 biggest and most revered holidays in the Christian world. This is a celebration of the great mystery of resurrection and rebirth. The date of this holiday does not have a specific reference to the calendar.

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Easter in 2018: what date is celebrated?

Let's start with the fact that Easter is a Jewish holiday, and Christians celebrate the Bright Resurrection of Christ. It just so happened that the Savior was crucified precisely during Passover, the day of the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. He became a kind of sacrifice in atonement for the sins of all mankind, like the traditional lamb.

The first Christians always celebrated the Resurrection of Christ on the third day of Passover (or Easter). During the first ecumenical council, when the first church laws appeared, the main rules for determining this bright day were established. We still use them today.

So, firstly, Christian Easter is never and under no circumstances celebrated on the day of Jewish Pesach - at least a week must pass between them.

Secondly, it should be exclusively after the spring solstice, and not calendar, but astronomical. The calculations are based on the solar and lunar calendar, as well as on the basis of observations of celestial bodies.

Third, it takes place after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Moreover, if the last one takes place before March 21, then the date is shifted by 30 days.

And fourthly, Easter is celebrated exclusively on Sunday and cannot be on any other day of the week. As you can see, the process of determining the correct holiday date is quite troublesome and requires the utmost precision of calculations.

After the split of the church into Orthodox and Catholic, at first the date of the Holy Resurrection of Christ completely coincided with them - the difference was only in the language of the divine liturgy (Catholics use only Latin, while Orthodox services are held in the language of the people), as well as in some rites. But with the adoption of the new Gregorian calendar, the difference between the churches increased - now there was not only a difference in rituals between them, but also as many as 13 days. That is why Catholics celebrate Christmas and other common Christian celebrations much earlier. The calculation of the day of Easter, although it follows the same rules, is nevertheless often different. Sometimes the dates of Catholic and Orthodox Easter coincide (on what date they are held), as was the case in 2016 and 2017. But this is more the exception than the rule. Often the difference is from a week to a month (or even up to 5 weeks).

In 2018, Holy Sunday for Western Rite Christians (for Catholics, Greek Catholics and Protestants) falls on April 1. This is one of the earliest dates possible. The huge difference between the dates can be judged by the date of the next Easter - in 2019 it falls on April 21, in 2020 - on April 12. The Orthodox will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on April 8 in 2018, April 28 in 2019 and April 19 in 2020. As you can see, the difference between the dates of different confessions is only a week. But this is not always the case - for example, in 2024, Catholic Easter will be celebrated on March 31, while the Orthodox will wait until May 5 for the beginning of this bright day, that is, more than 5 weeks.

But be that as it may, the main thing is that we are united by faith in the resurrection of the Savior, and it doesn’t matter what day it is celebrated.

By the way, the date of Easter is very important not only for the celebration of Christ's Resurrection, but also for determining the date of the holidays that depend on it. An example of this is the Trinity, which is celebrated on the 50th day after the Easter celebration.

Bright Resurrection of Christ: history

Easter is the day when Jesus Christ appeared before his disciples on the third day after his own death. According to the Gospel, it was on this day that Mary Magdalene and other myrrh-bearing women came to the tomb of the Lord and saw that it was empty. The grief of women knew no bounds, but they were comforted by Jesus himself, who appeared to them alive and unharmed. Mary Magdalene was the first to bring the good news, but she was not believed at first. And then Jesus himself came to the disciples and made them believe in the great miracle of the resurrection. He not only appeared before the apostles once, but was with them for 50 days until he ascended to heaven. That is why the Orthodox 40 days after Easter should greet each other "Christ is risen" and "Truly risen."

From ancient times, they prepared especially carefully for this holiday - they observed Great Lent, cleansed their thoughts and deeds from filth, and their homes from garbage. During fasting, it is customary to limit oneself in food, but this is not the only condition. Many confuse this post with a regular diet - eat only lean and that's it, but this is completely wrong. Church restriction concerns not only the products that a person consumes, but also monitors the purity of his thoughts. During Lent, you can not watch secular programs (films, entertainment programs), read non-church literature, hold magnificent celebrations, and even have intimate relationships. That is, a person in these 7 weeks must be completely cleansed of any filth (for Catholics, fasting lasts 40 days and starts on Ash Wednesday, for Orthodox - 48 days and starts on Clean Monday). The only relaxation in a fairly strict fast is possible only on the great feast of the Annunciation, which almost always falls during Great Lent (and 2018 is no exception). Especially a good sign it is considered if this day coincides with the date of Easter - this is the celebration of both the beginning and the end of the Savior's earthly journey. Such a Resurrection of Christ is considered dominant or Kyriopascha.

Easter celebration: rituals and traditions that are relevant in 2018

Catholic Easter includes many traditions that have been known since the 14th century. For Catholics, Easter time is the time when all nature awakens and turns to life again.

spring cleaning

Since ancient times, the beginning of spring among Catholics has been considered an excellent time for a great cleaning. They cleaned the apartments, painted the houses with fresh paint, decorated everything with festive decorations. This custom of cleaning at Easter has been preserved to this day. Also, according to the old tradition, people should also put themselves in order.

Egg painting

Dyeing eggs for Easter is a separate ritual. For example, in Poland, each region of the country has its own painting pattern. For Catholics, eggs are a symbol of prosperity and new life.

Holy Week

Holy Week for Catholics begins with Palm Sunday (for Orthodox it is called Palm Sunday). This day symbolizes the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. On this day, Catholics go to the Church to consecrate the so-called "palems", these are original bouquets of willow branches decorated with boxwood, flowers and sometimes willow. A long time ago, with such a "palemka" it was necessary to easily beat each member of the family. Later it was kept behind the icon or above the doors. Now it is a symbol of protection from storm and fire.

In very distant times, there was also one tradition, which was called the "Drowning of Judas." On Holy Wednesday, a straw doll, symbolizing Judas, was taken and dragged throughout the village. The inhabitants threw stones at her, and then threw the doll into the water, after which she drowned.

Easter Triduum

On Maundy Thursday, the Easter Triduum begins. On this day, all things are removed from the altar, and the bells are silent until the Resurrection of Christ.

Then, on Good Friday, the procession begins, during which the body of Christ is taken to the grave. Catholics are required to observe a strict fast on this day. Also one of the old traditions was nailing herring to a tree.

On Holy Saturday, Catholics are required to sprinkle their homes with holy water for prosperity. Also now on this day, all Catholics must go to the Church with an Easter basket to bless its contents. It should contain:

• a piece of lamb is a symbol of the resurrected Jesus;
• eggs are a symbol of newborn life;
• bread is a symbol of the body of Christ, prosperity and well-being;
• horseradish - a symbol of the Passion of the Lord;
• salt is a symbol of the essence of truth;
• cheese is a symbol of the unity of man and nature;
• Easter cake is a symbol of skill and skill.

For Catholics, all household chores and the preparation of Easter dishes must be completed before they go to the Church for the dedication of the Easter basket.

Easter Sunday

On Holy Sunday, Catholics always have a festive table. For example, the Poles on this day eat sourdough soup, white sausage, pate, various pastries and ham for breakfast. Also on the table should be present Easter cakes. AT different countries there is also such a custom as the search for the Easter bunny, namely after breakfast you can find a small gift in the house.

Interesting fact

In Catholic Poland, the Easter holidays last for five days. The fifth day - Easter Monday - they call "wet Monday" or "Schmingus-Dyngus". On this day, people pour water on each other.

Easter or Resurrection of Christ - the largest and most revered holiday in the Christian religion.

This is the main day of the year for Orthodox and Catholic Christians - it was on this day that Jesus Christ was resurrected.
The resurrection of Christ is historical event, which has its roots in the distant past. According to ancient legends, it was on this day that a miracle happened - Christ is Risen! Easter is celebrated according to ancient traditions that are still observed today.
The name "Passover" itself comes from the Hebrew word "Pesach" (passover). The Jews symbolize Passover with the liberation of the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. For Christians, Easter is a symbol of the atonement for human sins through the death of Jesus Christ and his subsequent resurrection. It is on this day that all believing Christians (Orthodox and Catholics) are given hope for salvation and resurrection after death. The resurrection of Christ is the main meaning of faith in the Christian religion.
The date of Easter is determined according to the lunisolar calendar and falls on Sunday - according to ancient tradition, Christ resurrected on the third day after the execution, on the night from Saturday to Sunday.

Easter is a movable holiday and each year the date is determined separately.
It is also necessary to know that the dates of Catholic and Orthodox Easter do not always coincide. This is due to the fact that the Orthodox Church uses the ancient Julian calendar for calculation, and the Catholic Church switched to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. And only 30% of Catholic and Orthodox Easter fall on the same day. The rest of the time, Catholic Easter comes earlier - the time difference can reach up to a month.

Calendar of Orthodox and Catholic Easter for 2015-2025

Catholic Easter is the main religious holiday, which has been celebrated since ancient times in the countries of the Old World and Latin America, where mainly representatives of Catholicism live. This bright holiday is dedicated to the gospel story of 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 rites are associated with this holiday and why do Catholic and Orthodox Easters not coincide in date?

When will Catholic Easter 2019 be?

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

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

Only once every few years the date of Easter coincides. 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 (combine) the date of the celebration of Easter, which were made at different times, were unsuccessful. Catholics and Orthodox have never been able to agree that the feast of Christ's Resurrection should always be celebrated at the same time.

Celebration traditions

Many rituals and traditions to celebrate Catholic Easter originated in 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 are completely extinguished in the temple and everyone goes out into the street, where they kindle a fire. A special Paschal candle is lit from this fire, which is then brought into the temple. All parishioners receive fire from this candle. Easter in the church must burn for seven days.

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

Regarding what cannot be done on Easter, everything is very clear here. All housework and household chores are prohibited. You can’t garden, clean, repair, wash, iron, sew ... In general, any household work on this and the next day is not blessed.

Culinary traditions of Catholic Easter

Colored eggs and Easter cakes are traditionally considered an obligatory attribute of a festive feast. But these dishes are not dominant. The fast is over, so on this day you can eat everything: fish, meat, eggs, and dairy products. Mistresses with what to cook for Easter are determined long before the long-awaited celebration.

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

In France and Germany, for example, they bake duck, rabbit or lamb, in Poland they make a sweet mazurka, and in Greece they are treated to 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, the similarities. So, for Catholic and Orthodox Easter the same are:

• Observance of the Easter fast
• Baking holiday cookies
• Coloring chicken eggs in different colors
• Consecration of Easter baskets with food
• Celebration in the family circle
• Greeting with the words: "Christ is Risen!" - "Truly Risen!"
• Official holiday days - Sunday and Monday

And here are the ritual differences in the celebration of Easter by various denominations:

Many signs and prohibitions are associated with Easter and the preparation 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 quarreling can spoil the pastries. Easter cakes may not rise.

Despite a number of formal differences in the celebration of Easter among different denominations, 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 all over the world and celebrated according to established traditions.