Heard this on the radio, so I decided to look it up. Kind on interesting, won't happen again for 150 years...
In 2008, St. Patrick's Day falls during Holy Week. This is a very rare occurrence. In fact, the last time it happened was in 1940 and it won't happen again for another 150 years.
This is affecting many Catholic churches as well as others who both observe Holy Week and celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Holy Week is the last week before Easter. There are three days that are typically observed - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and the washing of the apostles' feet. Many churches have a service with Holy Communion and a foot washing on this day. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. This is often observed in churches with a solemn service ending with the lights down and everybody leaving in complete silence.
Holy Week is supposed to be a very somber commemoration until Easter Sunday when Jesus' resurrection is celebrated.
St. Patrick's Day falls on the Monday after Palm Sunday. While that Monday is not usually observed as a special day, it is still supposed to be very somber as Catholics and other Christians are to reflect on their sins and Jesus's sacrifice in order to save mankind. It is a time to think about Jesus's getting ready to go die on the cross.
St. Patrick's Day is a feast day in the Catholic church. It is a celebration and not a somber observance. It tends to be celebrated with a feast and many times lots of food and partying. In fact, St. Patrick's Day only used to be celebrated by the religious until it became a public holiday in 1903 because of Ireland's Bank Holiday Act that was passed that year.
Surprisingly, Ireland did not start using St. Patrick's Day to show the Irish culture until the mid-1990s
However, Holy Week takes precedence as any commemoration of Jesus's life takes precedence over a feast or celebration of a patron saint.
In 1940, St. Patrick's Day was observed on April 3. This year, many church authorities are asking others to move the date of St. Patrick's Day again. The official date set by the Catholics for St. Patrick's Day in 2008 is March 15 (Yes, the Ides of March) or April 2 but some of the churches are just foregoing any celebration of St. Patrick's Day and observing Holy Week.
In 2008, St. Patrick's Day falls during Holy Week. This is a very rare occurrence. In fact, the last time it happened was in 1940 and it won't happen again for another 150 years.
This is affecting many Catholic churches as well as others who both observe Holy Week and celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Holy Week is the last week before Easter. There are three days that are typically observed - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus's entry into Jerusalem. Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and the washing of the apostles' feet. Many churches have a service with Holy Communion and a foot washing on this day. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. This is often observed in churches with a solemn service ending with the lights down and everybody leaving in complete silence.
Holy Week is supposed to be a very somber commemoration until Easter Sunday when Jesus' resurrection is celebrated.
St. Patrick's Day falls on the Monday after Palm Sunday. While that Monday is not usually observed as a special day, it is still supposed to be very somber as Catholics and other Christians are to reflect on their sins and Jesus's sacrifice in order to save mankind. It is a time to think about Jesus's getting ready to go die on the cross.
St. Patrick's Day is a feast day in the Catholic church. It is a celebration and not a somber observance. It tends to be celebrated with a feast and many times lots of food and partying. In fact, St. Patrick's Day only used to be celebrated by the religious until it became a public holiday in 1903 because of Ireland's Bank Holiday Act that was passed that year.
Surprisingly, Ireland did not start using St. Patrick's Day to show the Irish culture until the mid-1990s
However, Holy Week takes precedence as any commemoration of Jesus's life takes precedence over a feast or celebration of a patron saint.
In 1940, St. Patrick's Day was observed on April 3. This year, many church authorities are asking others to move the date of St. Patrick's Day again. The official date set by the Catholics for St. Patrick's Day in 2008 is March 15 (Yes, the Ides of March) or April 2 but some of the churches are just foregoing any celebration of St. Patrick's Day and observing Holy Week.
