We spend 40 days sweating through Lent—fasting, praying, giving up chocolate, and waking up early. We treat Lent like a marathon. Then Easter Sunday comes. We eat a ham, hunt for eggs, go to Mass, and... go back to normal on Monday.
Stop! You are doing it wrong.
The Church in her wisdom gives us 50 days of Easter (Eastertide), lasting from Easter Sunday all the way to Pentecost. Notice the math: The season of creating joy (50 days) is longer than the season of fasting (40 days). Why? Because the Resurrection is more powerful than death. Feasting conquers fasting.
If you stop celebrating on Easter Monday, you are missing 98% of the party. Here is your complete guide to keeping the "Alleluia" ringing for a full seven weeks.
What is Eastertide?
Eastertide is the period of 50 days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. It is celebrated as one joyful festival. Historically, it corresponds to the Jewish "Feast of Weeks" (Shavuot), which occurred 50 days after Passover.
- Passover = Freedom from Egypt (Easter = Freedom from Sin).
- Shavuot = Giving of the Law on Sinai (Pentecost = Giving of the Spirit in the Upper Room).
The Church breaks this season into three parts:
- The Octave of Easter: The first 8 days.
- The Season of Joy: Days 9-39.
- Ascension & Pentecost: Days 40-50.
Phase 1: The Octave (Days 1-8)
This is the "high voltage" week. From liturgical perspective, every single day from Easter Sunday to Divine Mercy Sunday is treated as Easter Sunday.
- The Gloria is sung every day.
- The sequence Victimae Paschali Laudes can be chanted daily.
- Meatless Friday? Cancelled. The Friday within the Octave is a Solemnity, meaning abstinence from meat is not required. In fact, you should feast!
How to Live It:
- Treat every dinner this week like a Sunday feast.
- Go to daily Mass if you can. It’s glorious.
- Keep the chocolate out.
Phase 2: The Season (Days 9-39)
After the Octave, we settle into the rhythm of the season. Jesus is appearing to His disciples—cooking breakfast on the beach, walking to Emmaus, walking through locked doors. We are called to "walk with Him."
1. The Via Lucis (Way of Light)
During Lent, we walked the Way of the Cross (Via Crucis). During Easter, the Church encourages the Way of Light (Via Lucis). It has 14 stations, but they focus on the Resurrection appearances:
- Jesus Rises from the Dead.
- The Finding of the Empty Tomb.
- Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene.
- Jesus Appears on the Road to Emmaus.
- Jesus Breaks Bread at Emmaus.
- Jesus Appears to the Disciples in Jerusalem.
- Jesus Gives the Power to Forgive Sins.
- Jesus Confirms the Faith of Thomas.
- Jesus Appears by the Sea of Tiberias.
- Jesus Forgives Peter ("Do you love me?").
- The Great Commission.
- The Ascension.
- Waiting for the Holy Spirit with Mary.
- Pentecost.
Tip: Pray the Via Lucis on Fridays instead of the Sorrowful Mysteries.
2. Switch the Angelus for the Regina Caeli
For centuries, Catholics have prayed the Angelus at 6 AM, Noon, and 6 PM. During Eastertide, we swap it for the Regina Caeli (Queen of Heaven). It is a short, joyful chant:
V. Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. R. For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. V. Has risen, as he said, alleluia. R. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
3. Read the Acts of the Apostles
Have you noticed that the First Reading at Mass changes? We stop reading the Old Testament and start reading the Acts of the Apostles. Why? Because Acts is the story of "what happens next." It is the explosion of the Gospel. It shows the Apostles going from fearful cowards to fearless martyrs. Challenge: Read one chapter of Acts every night with your family.
Phase 3: The Climax (Days 40-50)
Ascension Thursday (Day 40)
Forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus ascends into Heaven. Wait, didn't He leave us? No. He ascended so He could send the Holy Spirit. He took His humanity (our skin and bones) into the very heart of the Trinity. Tradition: In some countries, people eat poultry on this day because Jesus "flew" to Heaven!
The First Novena (Days 41-49)
The Apostles spent the 9 days between Ascension and Pentecost in the Upper Room with Mary, praying for the Holy Spirit. This was the first Novena in history. Join the Church in praying a Novena to the Holy Spirit during these nine days.
Pentecost (Day 50)
The birthday of the Church! The Holy Spirit descends as tongues of fire.
- Wear Red: It is the color of the Holy Spirit.
- Spicy Food: Eat something with heat to symbolize the fire of God's love.
- Confirmation: Renew your Confirmation promises.
Practical Ideas for the Home
- Keep the Decorations Up: Don't put the bunnies and lilies away on Easter Monday. Keep fresh flowers on the table for all 50 days. As long as the Paschal Candle is lit at Mass, your home should look like Easter.
- The "Alleluia" Jar: If you "buried the Alleluia" during Lent, bring it back. Maybe write "Alleluia" on slips of paper and hide them in lunchboxes.
- Easter Water: Bring home a bottle of the new Easter Water blessed at the Vigil. Use it to bless your home, your kids, and even your cooking!
- Gardening: Easter is springtime. Plant seeds. As they rise from the earth, teach your children about the Resurrection.
Conclusion: We are Easter People
St. Augustine famously said: "We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song." The world wants us to be cynical, bored, and tired. The Resurrection says: Wake up. Life has conquered death. Don't let the party end early.
Need the Regina Caeli or the Via Lucis prayers? Find them all in the MyPrayerTower app.