Why Do Catholics ...?

Why do Catholics celebrate Easter for a whole season?

“The word ‘Easter’ comes from Old English, meaning simply the ‘East,’” explains USCCB.org, the website for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “The sun which rises in the East, bringing light, warmth and hope, is a symbol for the Christian of the rising Christ, who is the true Light of the world.”

“The 50 days from the Sunday of the Resurrection to Pentecost Sunday are celebrated in joy and exultation as one feast day, indeed as one ‘great Sunday.’ These are the days above all others in which the Alleluia is sung,” explains Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Calendar. “The Sundays of this time of year are considered to be Sundays of Easter and are called, after Easter Sunday itself, the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Sundays of Easter. This sacred period of 50 days concludes with Pentecost Sunday.”

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