Easter time comes but once a year.
And yes, the children become more and more excited about getting their baskets, coloring and hiding eggs to win the prize.
But, as Christians we know that’s not all there is to the Days of Easter – Not by a long shot!
That’s why I believe this article about the days leading to Easter is appropriate for the season.
Days of Easter – What are the Days Called Leading Up to Easter?
So, what are the days called leading up to Easter?
Lent
Lent is a forty-six day penitence season that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday.
It symbolizes the forty days Jesus spent out in the wilderness before His ministry.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, and gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful to remind them of the dust we all return to once we die.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is one week before the holiday and celebrates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. This begins the Holy Week. Maundy Thursday signifies the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples. Good Friday represents the crucifixion.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday celebrates Jesus’ resurrection and ascent to heaven.
Easter Triduum
Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday are known as the Triduum or Three Days.
Wiki explains this period as:
“.. The period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Sunday.It is a moveable observance recalling the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus, as portrayed in the canonical Gospels.”
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday, the day before, is when some churches start their celebration very late in the evening at service called the Easter Vigil.
The church extinguishes all light, and a single flame is brought into the pulpit by the minister. He then takes his flame and lights all the other candles with it.
In some churches, the congregation shares a meal after the lighting of the candles.
Eastertide
Eastertide, or the season of Easter, starts on Easter Sunday and lasts until seven weeks later on the Days of Pentecost.
Finally, most Christians celebrate this day with a sunrise service and highly festive music and singing.
They adorn the pulpit of the church with Easter Lilies.
Easter Sunday should be that Sunday following the first full moon — after the first day of spring or the Vernal Equinox.
More importantly, we celebrate these days to relive Jesus’ last days:
- The Last Supper,
- The Cross,
- and His Resurrection into heaven.
Now that you know the rest of the story, it’s time to move into the Easter season as Christians. We do this in reverence and remember why Jesus came to earth — to give us life with His death and resurrection.
Are You Celebrating the Days of Easter as a Christian this Year? If Not Please Read …
If you are not sure how to receive the love and life-changing experience of Jesus Christ, please take a moment to see John 3:16 here.
Thank you so much for reading. I hope this Easter will give you peace.
In Christ,
Bob