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Numerous religious traditions, most of them inherited from one generation to the next, are part of the Paschal celebrations in the Maltese Islands. ==Lent== Lent begins by Ash Wednesday (''Ras ir-Randan''), that is obligatory for fasting. On this day celebrate mass by putting ash on people head so sometimes called it also ''l-Erbgħa tal-Irmied'' and after the evening mass held a procession like a pilgrimage with the statute of the Redeemer (''Ir-Redentur'') among the centre of many localities in Malta and Gozo, the biggest pilgrimage held at Senglea. Preparations for the solemn Easter festivities commence forty (40) days before Easter Sunday (''Ħadd il-Għid''), starting on Ash Wednesday, which in itself is the first day of penitential period following the end of the Carnival celebrations. The older generation will recall that not so many years ago fasting (''sawm'') on a daily basis was obligatory. Rules in this respect have now been relaxed considerably, and obligatory fasting is now limited to Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. There are also people that do not eat meat and sweets, every Wednesday and Friday throughout these 40 days. Holy week starts during the last week of lent with Palm Sunday, commemorated a week before Easter Sunday. Until recently, throughout the Lenten period, the interior of Maltese churches would be draped in purple, with statues and paintings covered in mourning crêpe. Lenten sermons (''eżerċizzji''), meant to bring about reconciliation between man and his Creator, are held in all parishes in Malta and Gozo over a number of days, generally in the evenings. The traditional Way of the Cross is another very popular devotion during this period, with the faithful meditating at the fourteen Stations of the Cross (Via Sagra) relating various episodes of the Passion and Crucifixion of Our Lord. A number of penitential pilgrimages are also held, and statues depicting scenes from the Passion are venerated in several churches. And some churches also dress in black damask. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lent in Malta」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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