Holy Saturday
Lent is considered to end at noon on Holy Saturday. Not only is the fast ended, but there takes place the dropping of the veils from the statues, the replacing on the empty alter of candles and flowers in preparation for the drama of the Resurrection. The anticipation of Easter is observed in various countries on Holy Saturday by religious processions, the lighting of new fires and other local customs. Sometimes a large bonfire of burning logs is made before the cathedrals in Germany and Austria and used for the new fire of the liturgical ceremonies. From these children take home pieces of burning wood, from which is lighted the fire for cooking the Easter food. In Italian homes various customs are observed. The parish priest goes from house to house blessing each with holy water. At dinner the head of the family blesses the table with a palm branch kept from Palm Sunday, and special cakes and pizza made with eggs are eaten.
