by Carla1SEMANA SANTA 2023
In addition to marking the beginning of the holiday season for most Mexicans, this date ends Lent.
For many Mexicans Holy Week means the beginning of the holidays, while in the Catholic religion it marks the end of Lent and the most important liturgical moment of the year since it commemorates the passion, death and resurrection of Christ so the church calls for prayer and reflection.
The date of Holy Week changes every year and by 2023 it will begin on April 2, while Good Thursday and Good Friday are the 6th and 7th of the same month. During this time the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem is remembered, the last supper with the apostles the passion in which the crowning of thorns, scourging and crucifixion occurred. It concludes on the 8th with the so-called Saturday of Glory, for the resurrection.
Why does the date change?
The liturgical year is based on the lunar cycle and, in history, it has been pointed out that it was the time when the Jewish people left Egypt, there was a full moon and that allowed them to avoid using lamps so that it would not be discovered by the pharaoh, explains catholic.net.
It has been pointed out that on the first Holy Thursday, the one on which Jesus celebrated the Jewish Passover with his disciples, there was a full moon and therefore the church has indicated this the day that begins the important dates of the liturgical calendar. From this moment on, 40 days ago are counted to know the date of Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of Lent.
What is Ash Wednesday?
This year Ash Wednesday will take place on February 22 and the faithful go to the church so that after the homily the priest or minister places on the forehead a cross with ashes while pronouncing the phrase “dust you are and in dust you will become” as part of its symbolic meaning of death, expiration, humility and penance, says ACI Prensa.
The ashes are obtained from the incineration of the bouquets blessed on Palm Sunday of the previous year. Fasting is something that is done during this day and consists of making a “strong” meal, as well as abstinence with which you should avoid consuming meat. This during Ash Wednesday and is repeated on Fridays of Lent and Good Friday.
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