Catholics around the world celebrate Easter: the main traditions of Western rite Christians

In 2023, Catholic Easter is celebrated one week earlier than Orthodox Easter - on April 9. The date of Christ's Resurrection is calculated differently for Christians of the Eastern and Western rites, so it falls on different days.

The traditions of celebrating Easter among Catholics also have their own peculiarities. Read more about them in the OBOZREVATEL article below.

Why Catholic and Orthodox Easter are celebrated on different days

In 325, the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea decided to celebrate the great holiday dedicated to the Resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, on the first Sunday after the vernal equinox and full moon. Therefore, Easter is a transitional Christian holiday.

In the 16th century, the Catholic Church switched to the Gregorian calendar, while the Orthodox continued to use the Julian calendar. Therefore, the difference in the dates of Easter celebrations in the Eastern and Western churches can be more than a month.

How Catholics celebrate Easter

Lent, which is dedicated to preparing for Easter, is not as strict for Catholics as it is for Orthodox Christians: it does not last as long and on some days allows the consumption of dairy products.

On the Saturday before the holiday, churches perform a ritual of blessing fire and water and light an Easter candle.

On Easter, Lent ends and after attending Mass, people gather for a family breakfast. Festive meat dishes, dyed and chocolate eggs, and buttery pastries are served.

In Western countries, one of the symbols of Christ's Resurrection is the Easter bunny, which brings Easter eggs to children. Catholics celebrate the holiday throughout the week.

What not to do on Catholic Easter

On Easter, it is forbidden to engage in hard labour, housework, or needlework. It is strictly forbidden to be angry, swear and curse.

It is also considered a bad omen to be bored and stay at home on a big bright holiday.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told about the traditions of Easter among Orthodox Christians. In Ukraine, the Holy Resurrection of Christ is celebrated on April 16 in 2023.

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