Easter Triduum

Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, or Paschal Triduum is a term used by some Christian churches, particularly the Roman Catholic Church, the Lutheran Church, and many Anglicans, to denote, collectively, the three days from the evening of Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday) to the evening of Easter Sunday. The Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper (or, where this is not celebrated, Vespers of Holy Thursday) and ends after Vespers at sunset on Easter Day.

The term was used at the Second Vatican Council, when the revised liturgical calendar set the final part of Holy Week apart from Lent proper. Previously, these three days had already gained distinction from the rest of Holy Week with an observance of silence, which were also known as "the still days." [Catholic Encyclopedia [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07435a.htm Tenebrae - Holy Week] Retrieved April 5, 2007] During Mass, music was not to be played and all church bells were silenced. People were also encouraged to observe silence in their homes during this time.

Prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, weddings were prohibited throughout the entire season of Lent and during certain other periods as well. [Catholic Encyclopedia [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02255a.htm The Civil Law of Banns] Retrieved on April 5, 2007] Today, such celebrations are prohibited only during the Triduum and a few other solemnities. Lutherans still discourage weddings during the entirety of Holy Week and Triduum.

The tradition of silence and lack of music is continued in Vatican II practice.

Maundy/Holy Thursday

* An evening worship service or the Mass of the Lord's Supper is celebrated. During the Gloria, all church bells are rung; afterwards, they are silenced until the Gloria of the Easter Vigil. In place of bells, wooden clappers are used for the liturgy.
* Some churches that celebrate this day as Maundy Thursday engage in the ritual of ceremonial foot washing.
* The Mass concludes with a procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose.
* Eucharistic Adoration is common after the Holy Thursday Mass and continuing until midnight (occasionally re-commenced at dawn of Good Friday, continuing until the morning liturgy).
* Colours seen throughout the chapel or on vestments: White
* The sanctuary candle or paschal candle is extinguished or darkened, and not relit until the Easter Vigil.

Good Friday

* On this day, Christians ritually recall the Passion and crucifixion of Jesus.
* In the Roman, Lutheran, and High Anglican rites, a cross or crucifix (not necessarily the one which stands on or near the altar on other days of the year) is ceremoniously unveiled. [Catholic City [http://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/g/good_friday.html Good Friday] Retrieved on April 5, 2007] (In pre-Vatican II services, other crucifixes were to be unveiled, without ceremony, after the Good Friday service.)
* In Roman Catholicism, the clergy traditionally begin the service prostrate in front of the altar. Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday and the communion distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion is consecrated on Holy Thursday.
* Also in Roman Catholicism, images of saints are either kept or veiled until the Easter Vigil. Votive lights before these images are not lit. Crucifixes that are movable are hidden, while those that are not movable are veiled until the Easter Vigil.
** Only one cross or crucifix per church is unveiled throughout the entire Good Friday service, for the purpose of veneration by the congregation. Regardless of the size of the church or the congregation, it is not permissible to use two crucifixes for the said veneration.
* Colors seen throughout the chapel or on vestments: Vary
**No color, red, or black are used in different traditions.
**The Roman Catholic Church traditionally uses a combination red and black banner to signify the tearing of the large sanctuary veil in the temple of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus's death.
**Where colored hangings are removed for this day, liturgical color applies to vestments only.
* The priest wears a red vest to symbolise Jesus's blood.

Holy Saturday

* A commemoration of the day that Jesus lay in his tomb.
* In the Roman Catholic Church, daytime Masses are never offered.
* There are no colors seen or used throughout the chapel or on vestments.
* Known as Black Saturday in the Philippines.

Easter Vigil

* Held after nightfall of Holy Saturday, or before dawn on Easter Day, in anticipation of the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus.
* The ceremony of darkness and light is held in silence before the Mass.
* The paschal candle, representing Jesus's resurrection as the "return of light onto the world," is lit.
* In the dark church, the Exultet is intoned.
* The solemn procession to the altar with the Paschal candle is formed.
* The lights of the church are put on, and the Mass begins.
* The Paschal candle is used to bless the baptismal font to be used by the Elect.
* In pre- and post-Vatican II Roman Catholic practice, during the Gloria at the Mass, the organ and church bells are used in the liturgy for the first time in two days. [Catholic City [http://www.catholicity.com/encyclopedia/h/holy_week.html Tenbrae] Retrieved on April 5, 2007]
* The celebrant uses the term "Alleluia" for the first time since the beginning of Lent.
* People desiring to full initiation in the Church who have completed their training are formally initiated as members of the faith the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist).
* In current Vatican II practice, the use of lighting to signify the emergence from sin and the resurrection of Jesus vary, from the use of candles held by parishioners as well as candelabras lit throughout the church.
* Statues of Jesus, which have been veiled during Passion (usually throughout Lent), are unveiled.
* Colors seen throughout the chapel or on vestments: White, often together with gold, with yellow and white flowers often in use in many parishes.

Easter

*The date of Easter varies from year to year, but is always on a Sunday between the dates of March 22 and April 25.
*The Easter octave allows for no other feasts to be celebrated or commemorated during it (possible exception is the Greater Litanies if Easter falls later in the year). If Easter is so early that March 25 falls in Easter week, the feast of the Annunciation is postponed to the following week.
*Ascension is the fortieth day of Easter; which is always a Thursday. Pentecost (or Whitsun) is the fiftieth day.
*Easter Masses are held throughout the day and are similar in content to the Easter Vigil Mass. However, baptisms are not performed, and the ritual of the Paschal candle is not performed (the candle is placed next to the "ambo", or podium, throughout the Easter celebration).
*The Easter season extends from the Easter Vigil through Pentecost Sunday on the Catholic and Protestant calendars, normally the fiftieth day after Easter. On the calendar used by traditional Catholics, Eastertide lasts until the end of the Octave of Pentecost, at None of the following Ember Saturday.
*The colors seen throughout the chapel or on vestments during the fifty-day Easter period are white or gold. On Pentecost, the traditional color for banners and vestments is red.

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