Why is the Monday after Easter called Easter Monday?
Easter Monday, the Monday after Easter Sunday, is also known as Angel Monday or Little Easter. In Italy, it is a public holiday both in the liturgical calendar and civil and often it is celebrated with barbecues, trips out of town and not only.
The Monday following Easter Sunday is a feast day. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of the Lord and is the most important feast of the liturgical calendar. The following Monday is dedicated to the remembrance of the encounter mentioned in the Gospel in which women, after the death of Christ, go to the tomb of Jesus. When they arrive, they do not find the body of the Master – who has risen – but an angel of the Lord, who awaits them in that place. From the angel, they receive the great news: “Do not be afraid, you! I know you are looking for Jesus crucified. He is not here! He has risen as he said; come and see the place where he was placed”. This passage contains the very important message of the Resurrection and the joy that comes with it. That is why it is remembered on a specific day. The name “Angel Monday” comes from this passage of the Gospel. An angel announces to the women that Jesus has risen!
. Easter Monday is also the Monday of the Octave of Easter and every day of the Octave is an extension of Easter itself.
The term “Little Easter” instead is of popular tradition. The word Little Easter is a term of the word Easter: Little Easter is a small Easter, another day to celebrate, not as important as Easter Sunday, but extending the joy of the previous Sunday. Little Easter also entered the civil tradition as a public holiday and recreation.
In several Italian areas Easter Monday is celebrated with celebrations and religious parades. At Mongiuffi Melia (ME) the meeting between the Risen Jesus and the Virgin Mary is celebrated. The statue of Jesus Risen starts from the church of San Sebastiano, that of Mary from the church of San Nicolò di Bari, covered by a black veil. The two statues meet at the “Piano degli Angeli”, the veil of Mary is replaced with a white veil and the Virgin is crowned with flowers. The meeting between the two statues is accompanied by the songs of children between 5 and 10 years, nicknamed “angels of Mary”. Parete (CE) celebrates the patron saint feast of Maria SS. della Rotonda. For the occasion of staging the “flight of angels”: statues of angels are raised with cables and precede the procession of the Virgin. In Santa Venerina (CT) are opened only for the occasion three chapels where the Eucharistic celebrations are held: Santa Venera, Madonna delle Grazie, Maria Santissima del Carmelo.
Easter Monday, the Monday after Easter Sunday, is also known as Angel Monday or Little Easter. In Italy, it is a public holiday both in the liturgical calendar and civil and often it is celebrated with barbecues, trips out of town and not only.
The Monday following Easter Sunday is a feast day. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of the Lord and is the most important feast of the liturgical calendar. The following Monday is dedicated to the remembrance of the encounter mentioned in the Gospel in which women, after the death of Christ, go to the tomb of Jesus. When they arrive, they do not find the body of the Master – who has risen – but an angel of the Lord, who awaits them in that place. From the angel, they receive the great news: “Do not be afraid, you! I know you are looking for Jesus crucified. He is not here! He has risen as he said; come and see the place where he was placed”. This passage contains the very important message of the Resurrection and the joy that comes with it. That is why it is remembered on a specific day. The name “Angel Monday” comes from this passage of the Gospel. An angel announces to the women that Jesus has risen!
. Easter Monday is also the Monday of the Octave of Easter and every day of the Octave is an extension of Easter itself.
The term “Little Easter” instead is of popular tradition. The word Little Easter is a term of the word Easter: Little Easter is a small Easter, another day to celebrate, not as important as Easter Sunday, but extending the joy of the previous Sunday. Little Easter also entered the civil tradition as a public holiday and recreation.
In several Italian areas Easter Monday is celebrated with celebrations and religious parades. At Mongiuffi Melia (ME) the meeting between the Risen Jesus and the Virgin Mary is celebrated. The statue of Jesus Risen starts from the church of San Sebastiano, that of Mary from the church of San Nicolò di Bari, covered by a black veil. The two statues meet at the “Piano degli Angeli”, the veil of Mary is replaced with a white veil and the Virgin is crowned with flowers. The meeting between the two statues is accompanied by the songs of children between 5 and 10 years, nicknamed “angels of Mary”. Parete (CE) celebrates the patron saint feast of Maria SS. della Rotonda. For the occasion of staging the “flight of angels”: statues of angels are raised with cables and precede the procession of the Virgin. In Santa Venerina (CT) are opened only for the occasion three chapels where the Eucharistic celebrations are held: Santa Venera, Madonna delle Grazie, Maria Santissima del Carmelo.
Source: Holyart.com
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