Easter is one of the most important religious holidays not only in the Orthodox Church, but also in the Catholic Church. However, Catholics have their own customs and traditions that accompany this solemn day for believers.
Instruction manual
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So-called practicing Catholics who regularly attend church should begin their Easter celebration with a Mass held on the night of Saturday to Sunday before a significant day. Catholic Easter is calculated according to the Gregorian calendar and usually falls on a date earlier than the Orthodox holiday. In some years they coincide.
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An important component of the holiday is folklore elements that have become part of the tradition even for those residents of Catholic countries who do not attend church. These include traditional Easter dishes, especially eggs. The tradition of coloring eggs is not developed in all Catholic countries. On a modern table, they are often replaced by eggs made of chocolate. The traditional dish on the Easter table in France and Germany is the lamb. In Germany, it can be accompanied or replaced with a sweet biscuit in the form of a lamb. These symbols have largely pagan roots and symbolize the sacrificial animal, which later became part of the Christian tradition. In Italy, special muffins are baked for Easter, in appearance and composition similar to Russian Easter cakes.
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Symbolism in the form of animals in general is often present in the Easter tradition of Catholics. In France, chicken becomes such an element. Often a chocolate hen is sold with eggs and served as a dessert. A character such as the Easter Bunny is used in the design of homes and institutions. Also, for Easter, bouquets of fresh flowers are set in the houses and the mistletoe is hung - a symbol that is also popular for Christmas.
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An interesting entertainment for children is the so-called egg hunt. Parents hide chocolate eggs in the house or in the garden, and the child must look for them. Such entertainments are often organized jointly, for example, by several families of neighbors for their children.
