Easter
Easter is one of the most important religious holidays of the Christian calendar, steeped in tradition and ritual developed over centuries. It also has its secular side: the familiar bonnets, bunnies and those irresistible foil-wrapped chocolate eggs nestled into beds of neon grass. With all of these distractions, it’s easy to see how the religious message of Easter can sometimes get crowded out of the picture. This Web Guide can help you rediscover the history, beliefs, symbolism and practice of Easter.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat is Easter?
The sites below examine the meaning, the history and the traditions of Easter. While different ... read more »
Lent
The Easter season begins with Lent, a time for repentance and preparation that starts on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday.
Dulcinea's Insight
- During Lent, some Christians make sacrifices, such as giving up candy or other indulgences. Others focus instead on good works, giving money to charity or volunteering. Some Christians, particularly adult Catholics, will often abstain from meat on Fridays. IgnatiusInsight.com explains why Christians should fast during Lent.
- Lent officially lasts 40 days because Christ spent 40 days in the wilderness, preparing for his public ministry and rejecting the temptations of Satan. There are actually more than 40 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, but the Sundays don’t count as part of Lent; they’re traditionally considered feast days to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
- Christians in the United Kingdom celebrate Shrove Tuesday—the final day before Lent begins—with pancake races, running down the street while flipping a pancake.
- Pope Benedict XVI inaugurated the 2008 Lenten season with an Ash Wednesday homily.
Dulcinea's Picks
The Catholic Education Resource Center
presents an Arlington Catholic Herald article about the history of the Lenten ritual and its origins.
The BBC
examines the meaning and history of Lent, with special attention to Shrove Tuesday (the day before Lent begins) and Ash Wednesday.
ChurchYear.net
traces the history of Lent from a primarily Catholic perspective, summarizing its symbols and rituals (fasting, almsgiving and prayer). It also provides detailed information about the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday.
Holy Week
Holy Week is the final week of Lent, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter Sunday. Many ... read more »
Easter Sunday: Traditions and Symbols
After the somber and solemn Lenten season, Easter Sunday is a day teeming with energy and ... read more »
Celebrating Easter with Your Children
The following Web sites offer a few tips for parents who wish to emphasize the spiritual meaning of ... read more »
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