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Ireland

Easter traditions in Ireland are both religious and secular. Easter in Ireland, together with St. Patrick's Day, is one of the most important dates for its people. It is rooted not only in Christianity, but also in the complex history of the country. After reading the article, you will learn more about Easter traditions in Ireland. Easter in Ireland is one important religious date for its people. This country is considered one of the most religious countries in the whole world, despite some decline in the influence of the church here in recent years. The vast majority of the population of Ireland (85%) professes Catholicism. And Easter Sunday falls on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25 each year. It has its own religious traditions and customs to celebrate Easter. The first preparation ceremony for Easter is Ash Wednesday, which takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday. On this day, people attend a special mass in the church, during which the priest makes the sign of the cross on their foreheads with ashes. The ashes come from the burnt branches of last year's Palm Sunday ceremony.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, which is a symbolic recreation of the biblical story. Easter week is the week preceding Easter Sunday. It begins on Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, a few days before his death and resurrection. When Jesus entered the city, crowds of his followers placed cloaks and palm branches on the path where he could walk. This was a custom reserved exclusively for a person worthy of the highest honor, and meant that they declared him their unofficial king.

On Palm Sunday, Irish parishioners take part in a procession carrying palm branches to the altar of the church. Good Thursday is another day to attend Mass. It recalls the story of the Last Supper, when Jesus shared the last meal with his disciples on the evening before his crucifixion and predicted his betrayal.

Good Friday is the darkest day of all the Easter holidays that mark the crucifixion of Jesus. People will only drink water and eat fish (afternoon) and bread (morning and evening).