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Religious Observances of Easter
Easter
is the center of an entire season of the Christian year. The first and
best known
part of
the season is Lent, a period of about 40 days before Easter Sunday. Some
churches
exclude
Sundays, and others exclude Saturdays and Sundays, from this period. During
Lent,
Christians
prepare for Easter. They consider it a time for penance that is, a time
to show
sorrow
for sins and to seek forgiveness. One common form of Lenten penance is
fasting,
which
limits the kinds or amounts of food eaten. Christians patterned Lent after
the 40
days Jesus
prayed and fasted in the wilderness to prepare for teaching and leading
His
people.
Easter Sunday is followed by a 50 day period ending on Pentecost, the seventh
Sunday
after Easter. Pentecost is a festival in memory of the descent of the Holy
Spirit
upon the
apostles.
The beginning
of Lent. In Western churches, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Many
churches,
especially Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran, hold special services
on this
day. This
service often includes the blessing of ashes on the foreheads of worshipers,
and
words
based on Genesis 3: 19, "for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return."
The
ceremony
reminds participants that they should begin their Lenten penance in a humble
spirit.
In the
Eastern Orthodox Churches, members attend an evening service on the Sunday
before
Ash Wednesday. This Sunday is sometimes called Forgiveness Sunday because
at
the end
of the service worshipers ask the priest and one another for forgiveness
for their
sins. Lent officially begins in the Eastern Orthodox Churches on the next
day,
called
Pure Monday.
Holy Week
is the final week of Lent. Some churches hold special services every day
of the
week.
Holy Week recalls the events leading to Jesus' death and Resurrection.
For more
information
about these events, see JESUS CHRIST (The Passion).
Palm Sunday
is the first day of Holy Week. It celebrates the story of Jesus' triumphal
entry
into Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing before Him.
During
Palm Sunday
services, many churches distribute cut palm leaves, sometimes woven into
the
shape
of a cross. Greek Orthodox Christians receive branches of fragrant bay
leaves. The
leaves
are then used in cooking during the year.
Maundy
Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, recalls Jesus' last meal and His arrest
and
imprisonment.
Many Protestant churches hold Communion services on this day.
During
Maundy Thursday Mass, Roman Catholic priests often wash the feet
of 12
church members or poor people in remembrance of how Jesus washed the feet
of
His 12 disciples at the time of the final meal. A priest takes
the Host (the wafer
of bread
regarded as Jesus' body) from the main altar to a shrine on the side.
The shrine
symbolizes
the place where Jesus was held prisoner after His arrest. All decorations
are
removed
from the main altar as a symbol of the stripping of Jesus' garments before
the Crucifixion.
Good Friday
observes the death of Jesus on the cross. Most churches hold mourning
services.
Some services last from noon until 3 p.m. to symbolize the last three hours
of
darkness
while Jesus suffered on the cross. The Eastern Orthodox Churches follow
services
with ceremonies recalling how Jesus was taken from the cross and
placed
inside a tomb. In many Spanish speaking countries, Christians hold
processions
in which people carry statues of the dying Jesus and His mother, Mary.
Many Christians
eat little or no food on Good Friday.
Holy Saturday
is chiefly a day of solemn vigil (watch). The major activity of the day
comes
at nightfall
as observance of the Resurrection approaches. Roman Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox
churches hold vigil services that often include the baptism of new members.
The
vigil
service leads up to a dramatic moment. The lights in each church are put
out, leaving
everyone
in darkness. Then, the priest lights one tall candle, representing the
risen Jesus.
The flame
from this candle is used to light other candles held by worshipers, which
symbolizes
the spreading of Jesus' light throughout the world. In Eastern Orthodox
Churches,
the ceremony is timed so that the priest lights his candle exactly at midnight.
After
all the candles have been lit, the service becomes an Easter celebration,
with joyous
music
and the reading of the Easter story from the Bible. Traditionally, newly
converted
Christians
were baptized on this day, after having received religious instruction
during Lent.
Easter
Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus. Roman Catholic and Eastern
Orthodox
churches
hold Saturday evening services, but most Protestant churches wait until
Sunday
morning
to hold their main Easter services. Many churches and communities, particularly
in
the United
States, have additional outdoor Easter services at sunrise. At that time,
the
light
of the rising sun recalls the light that comes back to the world with the
newly risen
Jesus.
Catholic and Orthodox churches also hold additional services on Easter
Sunday,
especially
for those who missed the long services of the preceding night. For many
Christians,
Easter Sunday is set aside for feasting and celebration.
The end
of the Easter season. During the 40 day period beginning with Easter Sunday,
Christians
celebrate the time when Jesus reappeared to some of His followers. This
period
ends on
Ascension Day, or Ascension Thursday. On this day, the story of Jesus'
rise to
heaven
is read in churches. In Catholic churches, the Easter paschal candle is
put out on
Ascension
Day. The Easter season concludes 10 days later with the feast of Pentecost,
when the
apostles reported that the Holy Spirit had entered into them. Christians
believe
that the
church began at that time.
-From
the World Book Encyclopedia
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