What date is Catholic Easter celebrated, why are Catholic and Orthodox Easter celebrated on different days, how is Catholic Easter celebrated.
Easter is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year for everyone. Especially her arrival is expected by people who are devoted to their religion. This event dates back to ancient times.
It takes pride of place along with Christmas. Easter is celebrated on a large scale, so advance preparation for it is recommended. To do this, you need to know the exact date of the celebration of Catholic Easter in 2019.
When is Catholic and Orthodox Easter in 2019? What before?
Light Christ's Resurrection noted not only in catholic faith, but also in the Orthodox. Despite this, the holiday falls every year at different times, only the dates of the celebration differ. So, Catholic Easter in 2019 will come on April 21. This day is the first Monday after the first spring full moon.
The countdown is not from March 1, but after the equinox. Otherwise, the date of the Bright Resurrection will be considered incorrect. As for the Orthodox celebration, in 2019 it will be celebrated on April 28. Catholic Church will proclaim the holy triumph a week earlier than the Orthodox.
Regardless of faith, these two events are preceded by fasting. In the Catholic faith, it is not as strict as in the Orthodox. Those who are fasting may eat some meat or milk.
Easter in 2019: when do Orthodox and Catholics celebrate the Resurrection of Christ?
In 2019, the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ falls in April. Traditionally, this holiday ends great post. In the Orthodox Church, it will be held from March 11 to April 27. During fasting, the use of many foods is prohibited. Also, people are cleansed of sins and rethink their lives spiritually.
On Holy Sunday, Orthodox Christians attend church. The holiday is accompanied by certain attributes and service. People on this day go to visit each other and christen with the words "Christ is Risen!" - "Truly Risen!"
The Catholic Church also celebrates Easter with its own symbols and traditions. However, this celebration takes place a little earlier than in Orthodox world. Catholics calculate the date of the holiday based on the Gregorian calendar, while the Orthodox Church uses the Julian calendar. It is for this reason that the Catholic Easter in 2019 will be on April 21, and the Orthodox Easter on April 28.
Catholic Easter in 2019
Catholic Easter, as a rule, is celebrated earlier than Orthodox within one to three weeks, but this is not always the case. Every three years, Great Lent and Easter unite the entire Christian world. This allows many people of different faiths to spend holy days together. (see 2019)
In 2019 this Holy holiday will come on different days for Catholics and for Christians. You can congratulate your loved ones who profess the Catholic faith on April 21.
Celebration of Catholic Easter
Any holiday requires careful preparation. And here there are a number of traditions, as well as symbols and customs corresponding to this event. Holiday planning starts well in advance. Moreover, it is necessary to start preparing well before the set date.
The main rule in preparing for the celebration is the cleansing of the soul from sins. To achieve this goal, believers strictly adhere to the rules prescribed by Great Lent. They limit themselves in many worldly pleasures, read prayers.
As the date of the celebration draws nearer, preparations take a different direction. So, in each house, the preparation of symbolic dishes begins. The hosts are taken for cleaning the home for the proper reception of guests. On the eve of the holiday, people buy food, in particular - meat, dairy products and eggs.
All major holidays have one thing in common: the presence of traditions and symbols. As for the Catholic Easter, there are many such customs. Pay special attention to the following symbols:
- Easter wreath;
- Image or figurine of a rabbit;
- Painted eggs.
The Easter wreath on the door is a very beautiful and noble symbol. Each person who is waiting for the arrival of the Bright Holiday decorates the front door of his house with it. Such products can be purchased in stores shortly before the holiday or made independently. As a rule, such a wreath consists of willow twigs, green grass and ribbons.
A baked Easter wreath is the main decoration of the festive table. It performs a decorative function and is used as a stand filled with colored eggs.
Eggs are one of the most ancient symbols of Easter, both in the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Catholics decorate them with their own hands. For this, various materials for decoration are actively used. Beads, ribbons, and napkins are especially popular. When is Maslenitsa in 2019? What funny names are the days of the week of the holiday? You will learn the answers to these and other questions from our article.
It is worth noting that in the Catholic faith, eggs are treated with special attention. They are presented on a baked Easter wreath or in a special basket. It is allowed to spread them on sprouted cereals, such as wheat or oats.
Catholic Easter customs
There are no special differences in the field of customs between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Catholics prepare for Easter just as carefully, but during Lent they observe much fewer rules. So, on certain days, they are allowed to eat meat and dairy products. The celebration also has a lot of differences.
So, the British call Bright Thursday, which is customary for Orthodox Christians, Thursday of alms. On this day, they help those in need, and also devote themselves to charity. All this ends with a solemn meal, which includes baked fish, lamb, an abundance of fruits and vegetables.
On the day of the celebration, Catholics also attend church. They come with baskets full of colored eggs and also take part in the solemn divine service. It is accompanied by organ music and prayers. Interestingly, in the church, water and fire are illuminated. Therefore, parishioners go home with holy water and a candle lit from holy fire. It is generally accepted that the blessed fire and water will save the inhabitants of the house from negativity and give peace.
As mentioned above, the chronology in the Orthodox and Catholic churches takes into account different calendars. In the first case, this is the Julian calendar, and in the second, the Gregorian. This is the reason for the discrepancy in the dates of the feast between the two churches. In 2019, Catholic Easter will come a week earlier than Orthodox. Catholics will celebrate the Resurrection of Christ on April 21, and Orthodox Christians on April 28.
In European countries, the celebration is given Special attention. The French on this day start a fun game for children with the search for eggs, which are hidden in advance by adults in different places. With the help of such uncomplicated entertainment, in France, another main symbol of Catholic Easter is revered - the Easter Bunny.
Guests are offered a variety of treats such as fried chicken, as well as all kinds of chocolate desserts. In 2019, Easter for French Catholics will be marked by the ringing of bells throughout the country. This tradition dates back to ancient times and is still relevant today. (see for 2019)
Easter in Italy
Undoubtedly, the most grandiose celebration of Easter in the Catholic world takes place in Italy. On this holy day, Italians gather in the main square or in front of televisions to listen to the speech of the Pope. After the solemn part is over, the residents begin the actual celebration.
On the festive table in the families of Italy, the following dishes must be present:
- cheese pies with eggs;
- lamb and artichoke dishes;
- colomba.
Otherwise, the celebration in Italy is no different from other European countries.
In Germany, residents will celebrate Easter on April 21, like other representatives Catholic world. The Germans have their own specific traditions that distinguish this event from the rest. So, in Germany it is customary to light a fire not only in churches, but simply on the streets. Thus, the inhabitants see off the winter and invite the spring.
It is worth noting that entertainment for children with the search for colored eggs, as well as the Easter Bunny, owes its origin to the people of Germany. So the Germans will certainly celebrate with this game. The tables of the Germans on this day are decorated with an abundance of egg dishes, as well as bacon and delicious sausages.
What does a bunny mean for Easter?
It is believed that the Easter Bunny on the night before the Resurrection of Christ colors the eggs and hides them all over the world. The idea of creating this symbol belongs to the Germans. They decided to choose this particular character, despite the fact that the chicken, not the rabbit, lays the eggs. This tradition was to the taste of the Catholics, who annually organize fun contests for their children. How to remember all the Orthodox events of the coming year? No matter how long you have been a believer, without Orthodox calendar not enough.
Similarities and differences between Orthodox and Catholic Easter traditions
Based on the above, the Catholic Easter has a few differences from the Orthodox. Both faiths have similar customs and symbols. So, Catholics and Orthodox Christians carefully prepare for the upcoming celebration, prepare pastries, paint eggs and engage in spiritual cleansing. There are days off that allow you to fully celebrate the Great Holiday, as well as the consecration of products in churches.
If we talk about the differences, then it is worth mentioning the significant indulgences during Lent in relation to Catholic Christians. There are also some discrepancies in the dishes, the presence of which is necessary on the festive table. For Orthodox faith symbols such as the Easter Bunny or the wreath are not common.
Every hostess who honors traditions and follows the rules for preparing for this important day knows all the important dishes for this day by heart. Of course, the most important on the table are eggs and Easter cakes. At the end of Lent, the use of products prohibited during this period is allowed. That is why the tables are filled with dishes of meat, fish and eggs. Dairy products are also very popular.
Catholic Easter in 2019 will come on April 21, but you can plan some events for this Holy Day today. To do this, it is enough to know about the traditions and symbols of this celebration. The key to a successful holiday is careful and rational preparation. Only in this way will it be possible to make a proper impression on the guests and receive only positive emotions from the Bright Resurrection of Christ.
- ancient Christian holiday, the most important holiday of the liturgical year, established in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a movable holiday - its date in each year is calculated according to the lunisolar calendar.
In 2018, Holy Sunday of Christ is celebrated by Catholics on April 1st.
The word "Passover" comes from the Hebrew "Pesach" and literally translates as "passing by", meaning deliverance, the transition from death to life. The celebration of Easter among the Jews was established by the prophet Moses in honor of the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Latest gospel events take place during the Jewish Passover.
In the New Testament Church, Easter is celebrated to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Last Supper, the suffering and death of Christ took place on the eve of the Resurrection of Christ, and on the first day of the week after the first day of Jewish Passover, the Lord rose from the dead.
After Pentecost (the Day of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles), Christians began to celebrate the first liturgies, similar in form to the Jewish Easter, as well as the sacrament of the Eucharist established by Jesus Christ. The liturgies were celebrated as the Last Supper - Pascha of suffering, associated with the death of the Cross and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Initially, the death and resurrection of Christ were celebrated weekly: Friday was a day of fasting and mourning in remembrance of his suffering, and Sunday was a day of joy.
In the churches of Asia Minor, especially by Jewish Christians, in the 1st century the holiday was celebrated annually along with the Jewish Passover - the 14th day of the spring month of Nisan, since both Jews and Christians expected the coming of the Messiah on this day. Some churches moved the celebration to the first Sunday after the Jewish Passover, because Jesus Christ was executed on the day of Passover and resurrected according to the Gospels on the day after Saturday.
In the II century, the holiday was celebrated annually in all churches. It follows from the writings of Christian writers that initially the suffering and death of Christ were celebrated as "Easter of the Cross" with a special fast, which coincided with the Jewish Passover, the fast lasted until Sunday night. After it, the Resurrection of Christ was celebrated as Easter of Joy or "Easter Sunday".
In 325, the First Ecumenical Council of Bishops in Nicea forbade the celebration of Easter "before the spring equinox together with the Jews."
In the 4th century, Easter and Sunday were already combined both in the West and in the East. In the 5th century, the name Easter became generally accepted to refer to the actual feast of the Resurrection of Christ.
In the 8th century, Rome adopted the Eastern Paschalia. In 1583, in the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new Paschal, called the Gregorian. As a result of the change in Paschalia, the whole calendar has changed. Currently, the date of Catholic Easter is determined from the ratio of the lunar and solar calendars. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon. The spring full moon is the first full moon after the spring equinox.
Catholic Easter is often celebrated earlier than Jewish or on the same day, and sometimes precedes Orthodox Easter by more than a month.
On Easter, as the most important holiday church year, a particularly solemn divine service is performed. It was formed in the first centuries of Christianity as baptismal. Most of the catechumens after the preparatory fast were baptized on this special day. In the church since ancient times there has been a tradition of performing Easter service at night.
The Easter fire is of great importance in worship. It symbolizes the Light of God, enlightening all nations after Christ's Resurrection.
In Catholic worship, a large bonfire is lit on the temple grounds, from which, before the start of the Easter service, Paschal is lit - a special Easter candle, the fire from which is distributed to all believers.
Paschal is brought into a dark temple to the ancient hymn Exsultet ("Let them rejoice"). This hymn informs the believers of the resurrection of Christ, and the believers alternately light their candles from Paschal.
In the Roman Catholic Church procession It is celebrated on the Liturgy of Pascha Vigil after the Liturgy.
Starting from Easter night and the next forty days (until Easter is given away), it is customary to celebrate Christ, that is, to greet each other with the words: "Christ is Risen!" - "Truly Risen!", while kissing three times. This custom has been going on since apostolic times.
On Easter Sunday, after a solemn Easter mass, from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the Pope of Rome announces the good news of the resurrection of Christ to thousands of believers who have come to the square.
The Bright Resurrection of Christ or Easter is one of the most revered and ancient church holidays. Easter has no exact date celebrations - annually it is calculated according to a special church calendar and falls in the spring.
In 2019, Orthodox Easter will be celebrated on April 28, and Catholic Easter on April 21.
Usually Orthodox and Catholics meet the Bright Resurrection of Christ at different times. The last time the celebration of Easter among Catholics and Orthodox coincided in 2017.
Story
Easter is the first Christian holiday, not only in meaning, but also in time. The disciples of Jesus celebrated it from the very moment of this great event and commanded all believers.
The word "Passover" is from the Hebrew "Pesach", meaning "passing, deliverance". The Old Testament Passover (Pesach) was celebrated in memory of how the Lord led the people of Israel out of Egyptian slavery.
© photo: Sputnik / Valery Shustov
Pharaoh did not want to let these people out of his country. God, after another refusal of the pharaoh, warned that if his perseverance continued, then the first-born, that is, the eldest son, would die in every Egyptian family.
According to the Bible, by God's command, the fathers of families anointed the doorposts in Jewish dwellings with the blood of the sacrificial lamb, and the destroying angel passed by their homes without harming them.
Israel left Egypt the next day. The sacrificial lamb was baked and eaten by the whole family before a long journey in every Jewish home. This was the feast of Passover. And in the future, from year to year, until Golgotha, on the eve of Easter, they slaughtered the Paschal lamb.
© photo: Sputnik / Vitaly Belousov
The lamb symbolized the Son of God - Christ, Who one day, just as innocent as the lamb, will die for the sins of people on the Cross. But after the Calvary sacrifice of Christ, this holiday, according to the Bible, was abolished, "for our Easter, Christ, was slain for us." This is how the apostle Paul explains Easter in the New Testament.
Date difference
At first, all Christians celebrated Easter according to the Jewish calendar. The holiday began on the 14th of the month of Nisan - the first month of the year in the Jewish calendar, which corresponds to March - April according to the Gregorian (modern) calendar.
But, already from the II century, the date of the celebration of Christian Easter was moved to another day that does not coincide with the Easter of the Jews. The date of the celebration was postponed at the initiative of Bishop Sixtus, who led the Roman Church from 116 to 126.
The new date for Christian Easter caused controversy within the Church, which continued between the bishops, who used various "paschalia" (a system for calculating the date of Easter), until the Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine in 325.
© photo: Sputnik / Nataliya Seliverstova
On the first Ecumenical Council was taken general rule Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon, but not before the spring equinox (March 21).
The difference in determining the date of the celebration among Catholics and Orthodox arose after the calendar reform carried out by the Roman Catholic Church in 1582 and the adoption of new rules for calculating Paschalia, which were not recognized by the Orthodox Church.
Pope Gregory introduced a new, Gregorian calendar (new style), and the Orthodox Church continued to celebrate church holidays in the old way - the Julian calendar.
Due to the difference in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and in this century it is 13 days, the calculation of the date by Catholics and Orthodox leads to different dates for Easter in different years. Sometimes it is one week, sometimes several, and sometimes these dates coincide.
Similarities and differences
The Easter holiday is preceded by Great Lent - the time of spiritual and physical preparation for the "triumph of celebrations" - bright resurrection Christ.
Great Lent was established in apostolic times. Initially, fasting lasted from 24 to 40 hours, during which Christians completely refused food. At the beginning of the 5th century, all local churches come to the idea of a 40-day Lent as a tithe of the year.
Despite the general meaning, the Orthodox Great Lent is very different from the pre-Easter fast of Western Christians.
Orthodox is longer and stricter - it consists of two parts - Holy Forty Day and Holy Week and lasts a total of seven weeks. Especially the last - Holy Week, which is dedicated to memories of last days earthly life, suffering and death of Jesus Christ.
The Catholic fast lasts 45 calendar days - the fasting time is 6 weeks (excluding Sundays) and 4 days. In 2019 Orthodox post begins on March 11 on Clean Monday, and Catholic - on Ash Wednesday, March 6.
The Catholic fast differs from the Orthodox fast not only in duration, but also in traditions. Refusal of certain products and physical cleansing is one of the important components of Great Lent.
Orthodox, who do not have health problems, during the period of fasting must first of all refuse any food of animal origin. It includes all varieties of meat and poultry, eggs, animal fats, dairy products, as well as everything that contains elements of these products.
© photo: Sputnik / Vladimir Fedorenko
It is also forbidden to eat fish on these days, except for two days. The main foods that can be taken during fasting are cereals, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits and all other plant products.
According to Orthodox church canons, the Lenten menu should be compiled according to the following principles: Monday, Wednesday, Friday - dry eating, that is, it is allowed to eat bread, fruits, vegetables; Tuesday, Thursday - you can eat hot food of plant origin without oil; Saturday, Sunday (except the final week of fasting) - vegetable food with vegetable oil is allowed.
Alena Savelyeva
Painting by Niko Pirosmani "Easter"
The Catholic Church requires adherence strict fast only on Ash Wednesday Good Friday and Holy Saturday. These days you can not eat meat and dairy products. And on other days of fasting, it is forbidden to eat meat, but dairy products and eggs are allowed. Such "mitigation" of the posts among Catholics came into force after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65).
Fasting is not only abstinence in food, it is sorrow, repentance and the rejection of all pleasures. And this is much more than just not eating enough. Any clergyman, whether Catholic or Orthodox, will tell you so.
The material was prepared on the basis of open sources.
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 various techniques, and in Western Europe, traditional red eggs without patterns are more common.
