Easter meaning (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Easter:

Holy Week, known as Semana Mayor, is an eight-day period that begins with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday.

With Easter, the Christian commemorates the Easter Triduum, that is, the moments of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Holy Week is preceded by Lent, which recalls the 40-day preparation time that Jesus Christ spent in the desert.

The central celebrations of Holy Week are Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Holy Week is a time to dedicate to prayer and reflect on Jesus Christ and the moments of the Easter Triduum, since Jesus, with his infinite mercy, decides to take the place of men and receive punishment to free humanity from sin.

In addition, Easter is the ideal time for human beings to meditate on their actions and the changes they must make to get closer to God and fulfill his commandments.

During Holy Week, the Catholic performs various acts, such as processions, the staging of the drama of the death and passion of Christ, among others.

Penitents submit to heavy burdens as a symbol of their self-sacrifice and, on Good Friday, the faithful must fast and abstain from eating meat.

Easter Triduum of Holy Week

The Easter Triduum is called the three days of Holy Week in which the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are commemorated: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

The Easter Triduum, in this sense, concentrates the most important moments of the liturgical year in Christianity.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday celebrates the last supper of Jesus of Nazareth with his disciples, the institution of the Eucharist, the priestly order and the washing of the feet.

On this day, Catholics visit the seven temples or churches, with the aim of thanking God for the gift of the Eucharist and priesthood.

Holy Friday

During Good Friday the passion of Christ and the moment of his crucifixion on Calvary are remembered to save man from sin and give him eternal life.

This day, the faithful of Catholicism keep fasting and abstinence from meat as penance.

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday is the day that mediates between the death and resurrection of Jesus. A paschal vigil is held, in which it is customary to bless the water and light the candles as a sign of the resurrection of Jesus, which occurs on Sunday morning.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday, also known as Easter Sunday, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion and his first appearance before his disciples. It is a day of great joy for the faithful and is interpreted as the hope of a new life.