Easter Monday for Western Christians (Catholics)

Easter Monday is one of the most revered holidays of Catholicism, a symbol of remembrance of the first day following the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The date is variable: it changes for each year. Directly depends on the date when Easter is celebrated, calculated according to the lunar calendar. The holiday is an indicator of the divergence between the basic dogmas of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. One of the key points emerges: the Catholic Church recognizes the right of the procession of the holy spirit from God the Son, while Orthodox Christians recognize the procession only from God the Father. Therefore, the biblical tradition of Jesus’ appearance to two of his disciples evokes special reverence in the Catholic world. Remaining unrecognized, he shared a journey with them to the suburb of Jerusalem - the village of Emmaus. Only after the dinner, which he blessed, did they receive their sight and were able to recognize God the Son in their companion. But he immediately became invisible. Then the disciples came to Jerusalem and, together with the Apostles, began to glorify the true resurrection of Jesus. The population of many countries professing the Catholic religion receive an additional day off this Monday, fixed at the state level: the Czech Republic, Spain, Australia, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, and others. All Catholic holidays, Easter Monday is no exception, this is a complex combination of religious rituals and folk customs. In addition to the most important symbol - the cross, the most common are eggs, rabbits, and lambs. They are a sign of the birth of a new life, the awakening of nature and its fertility after the winter period. Especially for young Catholics in many countries, the tradition of giving Easter eggs has undergone changes: now they are chocolate. Another distinctive legacy of the past is pouring water on each other, widespread in Austria, England, mainly among Western Christians in central and eastern Europe. This symbolizes getting rid of the bad and gives the holiday another common name - Watering Monday. But the primary and main tradition of the celebration is to gather at the festive table with treats for the whole family after the service.