Holidays and Festivals

Holy Week

According to the Christian liturgical calendar, Holy Week begins Palm Sunday. During the week, solemn rites commemorate the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Special observances held throughout the week include scripture readings, prayer, and midnight vigil services. Most days of Holy Week hold a special observance. Here is a brief overview of those days.

Mardi Gras Festival

Mardi Gras was originally celebrated on Strove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. In more recent times, the Mardi Gras festival begins one week before Lent as a final opportunity for everyone to indulge in food and drink prior to the 40-day Lenten fast observed by the Roman Catholic church.

The festival includes pageants, masked balls, beautiful costumes, parades and floats, and people dancing through the streets. Famous Mardi Gras festivals are held in New Orleans, Louisiana; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Cologne, Germany; and Nice, France.

Ash Wednesday

The first day of the Lenten season, Ash Wednesday is so-called because of the ceremonial placing of ashes on one’s forehead as a sign of penitence. The Roman Catholic church uses the ashes of the burned palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday festivities for the Wednesday service. The ashes are blessed prior to the service, and then the priest who officiates places the ashes on the participant’s forehead.

Lent

The Lenten season traditionally consists of 40 days of fasting and self-denial in preparation of Easter. Although Eastern and Western churches count the 40 days in different forms, some including Sundays while others do not, and so forth, the result is the same. Since 1966, the Roman Catholic church only requires fasting and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Many protestants also fast during the Lenten season.

Maundy Thursday

Also called Holy Thursday, it is the Thursday before Easter Sunday and commemorates Christ’s Last Supper. In many circles, Maundy Thursday includes the ceremonial washing of the feet as Jesus Christ washed the feet of his 12 disciples.

Good Friday

Immediately preceding Easter, Good Friday is recognized as the day Christ was crucified on the cross at Calvary. Most churches honor the day with penance, fasting, and a solemn prayer service.

In the United States, some businesses are closed and many people, Catholics and Protestants alike, are allowed to attend the Friday afternoon service of their choice. In many countries including most of Europe, South America, Great Britain, and several U.S. States, Good Friday is a legal Holiday.

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