How to have a Blessed, Irish Easter


© Lianne Bruynell Lopes

Irish Easter begins, as do most Irish seasonal celebrations, with cleansing. Houses are to be cleaned inside and out, and whitewashed if necessary. As is the custom in the United States and many other places around the world, it is a time to purchase new clothing.

Good Friday is a day of remembrance, for it is the day when the innocent Lord Jesus was crucified. There should be no work done in the fields, but only work on the house, preferably inside. No blood is to be shed, no hammering of nails, and no wood working, for to do so would be to equal oneself with the Roman soldiers who nailed the hands and feet of the Savior onto the wood of the cross. Fasting more than usual is a must. There must be absolute silence from noon until around three in the afternoon, for that was the time of the Lord's greatest agony on the cross. After a visit to church, Good Friday is a day for visiting graveyards and holy wells. There is to be no fishing done on this day, at least not with nets, boats or fishing lines. The evening meal is to be made of sea food, but that which can be gathered on the shore...shell fish, sea weed and such. To prevent headaches throughout the coming year, one must cut his or her hair, and also trim fingernails and toe nails. Despite the memory of the death of God's Son, it is a blessed day for life, for in His death, the Son brought life to any who would seek it. A baby born on Good Friday and baptized on Easter Sunday is believed to have special healing powers. If a son, he should go into the ministry. Even eggs hatched on this day will be sure to produce healthy chicks. Unhatched eggs gathered should be marked with a cross, and eaten by the family on Easter Sunday.

Easter Saturday is a little less heavy. Some water should be taken to be blessed, and three sips taken of the now "Holy water" by each member of the family. With what is left, everything in the house should be sprinkled for blessings in the year to come.

Easter Sunday is the big day, the day everyone has been waiting for. On this day, Jesus rose from the dead, and all is joy. Everyone must rise early, before the sunrise, as did the ladies who went to the tomb to tend to the slain Savior's body. But just as the sun rises in the sky, so did the Lord rise from the dead, and the ladies did not find his body there as they had expected. Even the sun seems to dance with joy for the return to life of his Creator. Children and adults alike will take a pail of water and watch the reflection of the sun, then jiggle it so the water moves, making the sun appear to dance.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

3.   Apr 20, 2001 11:56 AM
Good article Lianne.
Hope your Easter was good....

-- posted by Ireland


2.   Apr 14, 2001 6:15 AM
In response to message posted by Tina_Coruth:

Thank you, Tina, and a Happy Easter to you and yours. =) ...


-- posted by MercyWriter


1.   Apr 13, 2001 1:28 PM
Thank you for this wonderful look at an Irish Easter. I wish you and your family a Happy Easter!
Tina

-- posted by Tina_Coruth





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