Eastertide: The 50 days of Easter

For most people, Easter is only one weekend in the year that begins with Good Friday and ends with Resurrection Sunday; or for more secular people, it is a long weekend to enjoy to the fullest - since many countries Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays. Unfortunately, what many do not understand (even some Catholics) is that Easter is not just one day or one weekend, it is a whole season. In fact, Eastertide or Paschal time as it is also known lasts a full 50 days, from Resurrection Sunday till the Pentecost. This makes it the longest liturgical season in the liturgical year, longer than both Christmas or lent.

Why is this not common knowledge?

Part of the reason is that Easter does not have the same commercial appeal that Christmas has for example. However, it is also important to understand that Eastertide is not an open invitation to party on for 50 days straight (so if you were thinking of eating Easter eggs every day you can put those thoughts to rest). Instead, we should consider the Easter season as an invitation to explore more deeply, and celebrate our relationship with God, and his presence in the world. To reflect on what was a crucial period of time for the early days of the church, which defined early Christianity’s existence.

The Tradition behind Eastertide

In Christianity, the 50 days which pass between Easter Sunday and the Pentecost are symbolic of the days that passed between Christ’s resurrection and the Pentecost, which if you were not aware of commemorates the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early followers of Christ. This moment was instrumental in cementing Christianity’s place in history. It should also be noted that the Easter season corresponds to pre-existing Jewish feats: The first day of Pesach and the holiday of Shavu’ot. In the Jewish tradition, the 49 days between these holidays are known as the Counting of the Omer. If you would like to learn more about Eastertide click here.

What can I do to connect more closely with God during this time?

Attending church throughout this time is important. One way the Church welcomes this period, and reflects more deeply on it is through reading the Acts of the Apostles at Masses all through Eastertide. These readings of course tell the story of the church’s earliest days, and the struggles and strife as it persevered in spreading the faith throughout the ancient world. We celebrate the stories of heroism, contention, miracles and persecution as a testament to the presence of a Risen Christ in the world, and the actions of the Holy Spirit, operating through the lives of his disciples.

This year of course Eastertide began on the 27^th of March, and it will end with Pentecost Sunday on the 15^th of May. This should be considered a time of hope, a time as was then where war and violence were all too commonplace, and yet God as he demonstrated then has not abandoned us. So use the remaining days to find hope and encouragement through faith.