Everything you ever wanted to know about this solemnity
Easter is the most important holiday in Christianity. The questions about this celebration are many and varied, and in this article we want to answer the most frequent ones.
Are you curious to know more? Read on ...
1) Who celebrates Easter? And what are we celebrating?
Passover is celebrated by both Jews and Christians.
Indeed, it has roots Jewish. Called "Pesach", it commemorates the liberation of the Jews from slavery under Egypt and the beginning of a new situation of freedom thanks to Moses.
On this occasion, two rites are solemnized: theimmolation of the lamb and the unleavened bread.
The first is because, during the tenth plague, the Lord "passed over" and spared the lives of those who had lamb's blood on their doorstep, thus affecting only the Egyptian firstborn males.
Unleavened bread refers to the food that the Jewish people ate during the flight from Egypt to the promised land. In this regard, in the week of Passover celebrations, Orthodox Jews refrain from consuming leavened bread, eating only this type of bread.
Easter Christian, on the other hand, it has a different meaning because it celebrates a moment of transition and passage, but that from death to the life of Jesus Christ. And with him, of all Christians, freed from original sin with his sacrifice on the cross.
For the Christian Church this feast is very important because it concentrates in itself the meaning of the mystery of Jesus on which the Christian religion itself is founded. This is why Christian Easter is also called "of resurrection”, Which took place, on the basis of the sacred readings, three days after Christ's death.
2) Where is Easter celebrated?
Considering only the Christian Easter, it is sanctified in all countries of the Christian religion.
Italy, Spain, Germany but also Sweden, Denmark, England, Greece, Romania, Mexico ... the list is long and each country celebrates this event according to its own ancient traditions.
3) How is Easter celebrated?
Traditionally, Easter is preceded by a period of abstinence and fasting of 40 days: the Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.
La Holy Week it is the one that precedes Easter and is characterized by many liturgical celebrations dedicated to contemplation and silence.
The first event is the Palm Sunday, in which the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the triumphal welcome of the population who waved palm leaves in greeting are remembered. Precisely for this reason, palm branches or, alternatively, olive branches are distributed to the faithful.
The last days of Holy Week mark the end of Lent and the beginning of the so-called "Easter Triduum”, Which runs from Thursday to Sunday.
In the mass of Holy Thursday, the sepulchers. Furthermore, the Bishop consecrates the holy oils which will then be used throughout the year for baptisms and confirmations, the ordination of new priests and the anointing of the sick.
On Good Friday, mass is not said but it is remembered Passion of the Lord and his death on the cross. Generally, processions are also organized.
Mass is not celebrated on Holy Saturday.
La Easter Vigil officiated on Saturday night, liturgically belongs to Sunday and announces the Resurrection of Jesus.
4) When is Easter "high" or "low"?
Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon (full moon) after the spring equinox. Conventionally, the Church has set the beginning of spring for March 21st, although at an astronomical level it fluctuates between 19th and 21st.
This means that its date varies from year to year, depending on the lunar cycles.
Easter day, therefore, can fall in a period of time that goes from March 22 to April 25.
- IS "Low Easter"From March 22 to April 2.
- There is also the "Average Easter”If it is celebrated between 3 and 13 April.
- And it's "High Easter"From 14 to 25 April.
This year Easter is celebrated on April 1st, consequently we speak of low Easter.
5) What is the typical Easter cake?
The desserts prepared during the Easter period are varied and with different ingredients and characteristics depending on the region of Italy considered.
For example:
- la dove, invented in Lombardy but now widespread throughout Italy;
- la cassata Sicilian;
- la Neapolitan pastry;
- la cuzupa , foot, typical of Calabria
- il tortano of Gaeta;
- la casadina Sardinian;
- la Easter Pizza of Civitavecchia;
- la smash Tuscany;
- la zambela Romagna;
- la past Lucca;
- thelamb from marzipan Sicilian;
- obviously the chocolate egg;
- and much more…
There is really no shortage of desserts in this period!
6) Why are eggs given away?
The eggs indicate a situation of rebirth, in which life begins again. That's why they were initially given as gifts real eggs, with the colored shell.
Over time, the habit of giving chocolate eggs as a gift has taken hold.
7) What are the symbols of Easter?
In liturgical celebrations, the Easter symbols are three: fire, candle and water.
Fire: expresses the triumph of light over darkness, of life over death.
Zero: during the Easter night the paschal candle is lit outside the Church and the faithful gather around it to pray. It symbolizes Christ and lighting indicates his resurrection.
Water: it is the element that purifies through the sacrament of Baptism. The Easter night is the baptismal moment par excellence, in which the faithful follow the same passage of Christ, from death to life.
The other symbols are:
- Le eggs or chick, which represent rebirth;
- La dove e the olive tree, symbols of peace;
- Le bells, who play on Easter Sunday to announce the rebirth of Jesus;
- THElamb, to which Jesus is compared because he sacrificed himself to save men;
- Il rabbit (or the hare), symbol of the resurrection.
8) When do schools close at Easter?
After having archived the Carnival holidays, Italian students are looking forward to the next school holidays: those for Easter!
As anticipated, this year Easter will be celebrated on Sunday 1 April and, in some regions, students will be able to stay at home for almost a week.
For most of the Italian regions, schools will remain closed from March 29th to April 3rd. Here are the exceptions:
- Abruzzo: from 28 March to 3 April 2018
- Marche: from 29 March to 2 April 2018
- Trentino Alto Adige: from 29 March to 2 April 2018
9) What does Easter Monday mean?
The term Easter Monday indicates the Easter Monday, also known as Easter Monday, which falls the day after Easter.
On this date we celebrate the meeting of the women who came to Christ's tomb with the angel, who warns them of his resurrection and instructs them to announce the news to the Apostles.
It is, therefore, a religious feast like Easter but, starting after the war, it was also included among the civil holidays. Traditionally, Easter Monday is a day dedicated to picnics, outings, picnics and outdoor activities with family or friends.
10) How will the weather be on Easter and Easter Monday?
Like every year one situation of uncertainty climatic will characterize Easter and Easter Monday.
According to the main weather information portals, Holy Week will see a temporary increase in temperatures, giving a mild climate to the southern regions of Italy. Good weather also in the North, where however spring temperatures are already being recorded these days.
The situation will change on Easter Sunday, April 1st, when a new deterioration will affect the old continent, and also part of Italy. Bad weather will be limited to the North/ West, where there may be sudden showers and thunderstorms, but with mild temperatures.
The situation will be different in thethe central and southern regions, hit by a heat wave coming from the Sahara, theAfrican anticyclone Hannibal. The expected temperatures are an early summer, with:
- 32-33 ° C in Sicily, Palermo and the Tyrrhenian belt;
- 30 ° C in Puglia and Calabria;
- 28 ° C in the Marche and Abruzzo;
- 25 ° C in Lazio and Campania.
On Easter Monday, the Atlantic disturbance could then move to the Tyrrhenian regions of the Center and South, bringing with it torrential rains and a drop in temperatures.
In short, the forecast for Easter and Easter Monday will be, as always, rather unstable.
