As of: March 31, 2024, 6:21 a.m
By: Bjarne Kommnick
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Easter has many customs. According to religious tradition, some things are taboo these days. What should pious Christians do or not do at Easter?
Munich - Easter bunny, Easter fire, Easter breakfast, egg hunt - over time many Easter customs have crept in that have no Christian origins. Easter is considered the most important festival in Christianity, as Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on these days, as the Evangelical Church in Germany explains.
For some, the religious meaning is still in the foreground today. Some church customs are therefore retained to this day. But what traditions are common before and during Easter, which this year brings with it almost summery weather?
Dancing ban and church three times – this is how Christians celebrate Easter “properly”
The Evangelical Church in Germany states that Christians who want to celebrate Easter “properly” should attend church three times - on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Good Friday is particularly marked by silence. Some Christians even try to remain silent throughout the day. According to tradition, nothing fun should be done, dancing is taboo and only the bare essentials are eaten.
According to Christian customs, anyone who does gardening and field work during the Holy Week before Easter could disturb the peace of the dead. © IMAGO/Peter Widmann
In addition to these church customs, other traditions with religious origins have also been established over time, some of which are still maintained today. For example, there is a ban on washing during Holy Week, the days before Easter, which has Christian origins. This tradition is recorded in the “Middle Elvish Dictionary” and states that anyone who wears a shirt washed during Holy Week and becomes ill in it must expect an early death.
Cooking, gardening and butchering: Christians should not do these things before Easter
The same fate threatens Christians who cook peas, sew, chop wood or slaughter during Holy Week. Why this belief has become so entrenched is unclear. However, it is believed that people should focus primarily on Christian meaning during this period rather than doing household chores and personal hygiene.
The taboos in the strict Christian faith also include carrying out gardening and field work. Especially on Good Friday, this would disturb the peace of the dead and thus also the rest of Jesus' grave. Overall, Christians have traditionally fasted before Easter. It wasn't until Easter Sunday that everything could be eaten again. After Easter, according to custom, Christians are allowed to do laundry etc. again as usual. Easter shopping should also be done in good time, after all most supermarkets are closed at Easter.
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