Used in solemn Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Methodist celebrations of the Easter Vigil held after sunset on Holy Saturday, concluding the Paschal Triduum. Such a fire might be used to light a Paschal candle or other candles used symbolically before or during Mass or other religious celebration.[2][3][4]
As a sacrament in remembrance of the Resurrection of Jesus, the Catholic Mass according to Roman rite begins with a big celebration of light (Lucernarium): an open fire is lighted outside the church and blessed by the priest; when the Paschal candle is lit, the community ceremoniously enters the dark church chanting Lumen Christi and Deo gratias.
Though not documented before the 16th century, the custom presumably is based on Saxon, pre-Christian traditions, that are still performed each year. There are several explanations of the meaning of these fires. The Saxons probably believed that around the time of Easter, Spring becomes victorious over Winter. The fires were supposed to help chase the darkness and winter away. It was also a symbol of fertility, which works in a literal sense in that the ashes were scattered over the meadows and thereby fertilized the soil.[citation needed] Another possible origin of the Easter fire is that of St. Patrick lighting an unquenchable "High King" fire in defiance of the throne on the night before Easter of 432AD. The fire is symbolic of the undimmed light of Christ despite the pagan government's attempts to put it out and marked the beginning of the conversion of Ireland to Christianity. This fire reminds Christianity of the Eternal High Kingship of Christ.[6][unreliable source?]
In Fredericksburg, Texas, each year the residents have Easter Fires the night before Easter, commemorating a peace treaty with the Comanche Indians. In 1847 when the original treaty was signed, the Comanches lit signal fires on the area hills.[7]
^. Oldstmarys.org. 2006-01-29. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2013-12-30.
^Ramshaw, Gail (2004). The Three-Day Feast: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter. Augsburg Books. p. 7. ISBN9780806651156. Many Christians are already familiar with the ancient, and now recently restored, liturgies of the Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the great Easter Vigil service of light, readings, baptism, and communion. The worship resources published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Catholic Church include nearly identical versions of these liturgies.
^. pauline.leadpages.co. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
^Texas State Historical Commission. "The Easter Fires". Historical Marker.
^""Pročke", stari srpski običaj – "Krljaveštice" (Skakanje preko vatre)". Srbin.info. 2013-03-16.
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January 01, 1970
easter, fire, also, called, paschal, fires, typically, bonfires, easter, part, liturgical, cultural, celebrations, benedictine, monks, preparing, light, christ, candle, prior, easter, vigil, mass, morristown, jersey, contents, liturgy, customs, german, regions. Easter fires also called Paschal fires 1 are typically bonfires lit at Easter as part of liturgical and cultural celebrations Benedictine monks preparing to light the Christ candle prior to Easter Vigil mass Morristown New Jersey Contents 1 Liturgy 2 Customs 2 1 German regions 2 2 Netherlands 2 3 USA 2 4 South Slavs 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksLiturgy editMain article Easter VigilUsed in solemn Roman Catholic Lutheran Reformed Anglican and Methodist celebrations of the Easter Vigil held after sunset on Holy Saturday concluding the Paschal Triduum Such a fire might be used to light a Paschal candle or other candles used symbolically before or during Mass or other religious celebration 2 3 4 As a sacrament in remembrance of the Resurrection of Jesus the Catholic Mass according to Roman rite begins with a big celebration of light Lucernarium an open fire is lighted outside the church and blessed by the priest when the Paschal candle is lit the community ceremoniously enters the dark church chanting Lumen Christi and Deo gratias The Easter Vigil liturgies of the Roman Catholic Lutheran Anglican Methodist and Presbyterian Churches are nearly identical 5 According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition of the Holy Fire worshippers light candles from the Paschal trikirion during service at Saturday Midnight while the troparion is sung Customs editGerman regions edit source source source source source source source Video clip of a large Easter Fire in Hamburg on the Horner Rennbahn 2016 Though not documented before the 16th century the custom presumably is based on Saxon pre Christian traditions that are still performed each year There are several explanations of the meaning of these fires The Saxons probably believed that around the time of Easter Spring becomes victorious over Winter The fires were supposed to help chase the darkness and winter away It was also a symbol of fertility which works in a literal sense in that the ashes were scattered over the meadows and thereby fertilized the soil citation needed Another possible origin of the Easter fire is that of St Patrick lighting an unquenchable High King fire in defiance of the throne on the night before Easter of 432AD The fire is symbolic of the undimmed light of Christ despite the pagan government s attempts to put it out and marked the beginning of the conversion of Ireland to Christianity This fire reminds Christianity of the Eternal High Kingship of Christ 6 unreliable source In Northern Germany Easter Fires German Osterfeuer are lit around sunset on Holy Saturday In some Old Bavarian regions the Burning of Judas on Holy Saturday is still common Netherlands edit nbsp Easter Fire in Twente height 45 98 metres 150 9 ft Easter fires also exist in the Netherlands USA edit In Fredericksburg Texas each year the residents have Easter Fires the night before Easter commemorating a peace treaty with the Comanche Indians In 1847 when the original treaty was signed the Comanches lit signal fires on the area hills 7 South Slavs edit Amongst South Slavs Serbs Montenegrins Slovenes Croats Bulgarians Macedonians Bunjevci and Sokci it is required to jump over the flames of Easter Serbian Cyrillic Krљaveshtice romanized Krljavestice 8 See also editBiikebrennen similar custom in North Frisia Burgbrennen very similar custom in Luxembourg Chaharshanbe Suri similar custom in Iran Azerbaijan Afghanistan and Tajikistan Funkenfeuer similar custom in Swabian Alemannic area Holy Fire Huttenbrennen similar custom in the Eifel Luminaria vigil fire Sechselauten similar Swiss custom in Zurich Victimae paschali laudesReferences edit Feastday Highlights St Patrick and the Paschal Feast www catholicculture org Retrieved 2022 09 06 spirituality and worship Liturgy 2008 02 09 Retrieved 2013 12 30 Trinity Episcopal Church Photos trinityjanesville org 2009 12 24 Retrieved 2013 12 30 Old St Mary s Church Oldstmarys org 2006 01 29 Archived from the original on 2012 02 18 Retrieved 2013 12 30 Ramshaw Gail 2004 The Three Day Feast Maundy Thursday Good Friday and Easter Augsburg Books p 7 ISBN 9780806651156 Many Christians are already familiar with the ancient and now recently restored liturgies of the Three Days Maundy Thursday Good Friday and the great Easter Vigil service of light readings baptism and communion The worship resources published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the Episcopal Church the United Methodist Church the Presbyterian Church U S A and the Catholic Church include nearly identical versions of these liturgies Saint Patrick And The Easter Fire pauline leadpages co Archived from the original on 17 April 2019 Retrieved 17 June 2019 Texas State Historical Commission The Easter Fires Historical Marker Procke stari srpski obicaj Krljavestice Skakanje preko vatre Srbin info 2013 03 16 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Easter fires Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Easter fire amp oldid 1217090536, wikipedia, 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