The Easter Season

The Church's celebration of Easter is a season of fifty days, beginning with the Sunday of the Resurrection through Pentecost, that are to be celebrated in joy and exultation as one feast day, as one great Sunday. These are days above all others in which the Alleluia is sung.

The Liturgical norms guiding this season are as follows:

• The first eight days of the season make up the "octave" of Easter and are celebrated as "solemnities." During these days, as well as at Pentecost, a double "alleluia" is added to the dismissal of the Mass.
• The sequence Victimae Paschali (the Paschal Victim) is sung at the Mass of Easter Sunday.
• During the season special prayers should be included at Mass for the newly baptized.
• The paschal candle, a symbol of the Risen Christ among His people, remains in the sanctuary near the altar or the ambo. It should be lighted at all liturgical services during this season.
• A vessel containing water blessed at the Solemn Easter Vigil could be put in a suitable place in church, available for the faithful.