The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HOLY THURSDAY

EASTER ACTUALLY BEGINS ON HOLY THURSDAY (JULIAN CALENDER) WITH
EVENING SERVICES AT WHICH THE GOSPEL FOR EACH OF THE APOSTLES IS
SAID. ONE LARGE CANDLE IS LIT AND RE_LIT UNTIL EASTER SUNDAY.
AFTER THAT THE CANDLE IS THEN PRESERVED FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR IN A BOX.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT RELATED THAT DETROIT'S ADVENT OF THE HOLY GHOST
ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH HAS AN ENTIRE ROOM FILLED WITH CANDLES.
NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHY THE ORTHODOX CONSIDER THE CANDLE A
SACRED OBJECT.

Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Keyword(s): RELIGIOUS CUSTOM

Date learned: 10-20-1971