|
Easter
in Ireland is celebrated in much the same way as in most western
countries, with Easter Holidays, Easter Eggs and even a visit from
the Easter Bunny to Ireland.
Easter takes its name from the pagan goddess of spring 'Eostre'
and many of the traditional Easter icons were originally Anglo Saxon
fertility symbols, before being transported to the United States.
The Irish have welcomed these symbols and celebrate Easter with
chocolate Easter Eggs and Easter Egg painting in similar fashion,
while the streets are often decked with green and yellow.
Additionally in Ireland, the religious significance of Easter is
widely celebrated and Catholic tradition is more strictly adhered
to than in some other countries. Irish Easter tradition stems from
the Christian view of Easter as the time of Christ's Resurrection.
As with most predominantly Catholic countries this period begins
with the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, known as Lent. This
time begins with Ash Wednesday, when the faithful are anointed with
ashes and during Lent people are required to give something up as
an act of penance. The Sunday before Easter is Palm Sunday, when
palm leaves are hung to mark Christ's entrance into Jerusalem
and the Friday before is Good Friday.
On Good Friday, the day Christ died, you'll find everywhere
is closed in Ireland. The day is a Bank Holiday, the banks, schools,
businesses and even the pubs are all closed! People don't
eat meat on Good Friday and traditionally people in Ireland would
go barefoot on this day. Many ate nothing until midday, no wood
was to be burned, no nails were driven and no animals were slaughtered
on this day.
But come Easter Sunday, everyone is out celebrating, Christ is
risen, Lent is over and the pubs are open! Many towns and villages
hold processions of some sort, while out in the countryside, Easter
Sunday is usually a high point of the social calendar with events
such as fairs and horse races packing out the pubs. And as the following
Monday is also a Bank Holiday, you don't have to worry about
work in the morning.
In some circles in Ireland, Easter Sunday is a time when people
remember the Easter Uprising of 1916, a hugely significant event
in the shaping of recent Irish history, with processions and rallies
held by Republicans.
|
