Holy Week 2022 formally began on April 10, with the day known as Palm Sunday and will end on the 17th of the same month on the so-called Easter, the day of the resurrection of Jesus.
But despite the fact that for some this time is vacation and rest season; for others it is taken as a week of reflection and many come closer to their religious beliefs.
The believers live the main week fulfilling a series of traditions that they respect and that continue to be repeated despite the passing of the years. One of the most striking is the prohibition of eating red meat on days that are considered holy.
For these days, the parishioners by tradition do not eat any type of red meat, specifically it happens two days, the first is Holy Thursday, which is when the Institution of the Eucharist is commemorated, which is a current representation of the last supper that Jesus had with the apostles.
The other is Good Friday, which commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus on the cross, so meat is not consumed, for it is a day of mourning in honor of the son of God. So, out of respect, believers avoid these red meats and often replace them with fish.
What is the history of this celebration?
Since the second century, following Christ, Holy Week has been organized as the commemoration of the sacred triduum: the passion, the burial and the resurrection of the Lord. The new liturgical calendar instituted Holy Week, destined to commemorate the passion of Christ, from his entry to Jerusalem. For many, Easter Sunday is the most important day of Holy Week, since it is the day of Easter, of the Resurrection and of Christian life.
In addition, Holy Saturday was designated as the day of fasting, with the absence of liturgical celebrations. It is the passage from death to life, which is Easter. In the fourth century, importance was given to Good Friday, which it is related to the adoration of the holy cross, the emblem of Christianity, which summarizes in its figure the redemption of the world. Over time, the Good Friday procession of the Way of the Cross became institutionalized.
The last supper of Jesus with the twelve disciples appears in the 5th century and, since then, it has been celebrated on Holy Thursday. When the time came, Jesus sat down at the table with the apostles and said to them: “I had a great desire to eat this Passover with you before suffering. Because I tell you that I will not eat it once more until it is the new and perfect Passover in the Kingdom of God, because one of you will betray me. Jesus’ statement “one of you will betray me” causes consternation in the twelve followers of Jesus. At the end, Jesus performed the washing of the feet, a Christian act that is a lesson in humility and service.
For this reason, on Holy Thursday the Institution of the Eucharist is commemorated in the celebration of the Holy Offices. For its part, Holy Wednesday marks the end of the first part of Holy Week, the day on which, according to the texts, Judas Iscariot met with the Sanhedrin to condemn Jesus.
The Easter Vigil is a special and very important liturgical commemoration with which the resurrection of Jesus is celebrated.. The Easter Vigil marks the end of the Easter Triduum. This celebration takes place on the night of Holy Saturday during the eve of Resurrection Sunday or Easter.
The Easter Vigil is carried out with the celebration of a special liturgy, for which both priests and deacons wear white to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.