Eastertide

Easter is a festival season of fifty days whose first day is Easter Day, the Sunday of the Resurrection, and whose last day is the Day of Pentecost. Easter begins after sundown on Holy Saturday. The celebration of Easter is initiated with the Easter Vigil, which can be observed after sundown but ideally is kept just before sunrise, so that the proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection comes with the dawn of the new day.

Easter Day is the principal feast of the church year. The word "Easter" comes from Easter, a Teutonic goddess whose name is associated with springtime, growth, and fertility. In most languages the name of the day is Pascha, which means "Passover."

The highlight of all liturgies is the Great Vigil. We gather in tomb-like darkness of Holy Saturday until suddenly a great flame is lit among us which is the new flame of Christ. The Paschal candle is lighted from the fire and the celebrant processes through the church, representing the fire that led the Hebrews out of Egypt toward the promise land. The people light individual candles from the Paschal candle and light spreads through the darkness. With the first reading the lights come on and we find the church beautifully decorated for Easter with white flowers everywhere. We then share in the joy of the first Eucharist of Eastertide.

Eastertide begins with that first alleluia at the Great Vigil and continues through till the Day of Pentecost 50 days later. The color during this season is white and all liturgies are jubilant and inspiring. God has us from the despair of our lives on Ash Wednesday and brought us love and life. God does have the final say so in our lives. The Paschal Candle burns throughout the season and all baptisms and funerals. The liturgical color is white.