Holy Week or Spring Break

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Why does spring break always seem to coincide with Holy Week? Holy week is the culmination of the entire liturgical year and the holiest of times within the Church for the celebration of our salvation history. Yet it seems that with all the spring break revelry that goes on that Ancient Rome, Babylon and all else that was evil and sinful is resurrected in a satanic orgy of sin. What is seen during this most holy season is everything that is totally opposed to what we believe and practice as Catholics. Yet it seems that this is what the secular world stresses should be celebrated. A rite of passage. To what? A total celebration of sin and abandonment of all values that have been taught. It only seems to get worse each year. Why???
Deacon Ed B

 

[childofmary1143]

Why does spring break always seem to coincide with Holy Week? Holy week is the culmination of the entire liturgical year and the holiest of times within the Church for the celebration of our salvation history. Yet it seems that with all the spring break revelry that goes on that Ancient Rome, Babylon and all else that was evil and sinful is resurrected in a satanic orgy of sin. What is seen during this most holy season is everything that is totally opposed to what we believe and practice as Catholics. Yet it seems that this is what the secular world stresses should be celebrated. A rite of passage. To what? A total celebration of sin and abandonment of all values that have been taught. It only seems to get worse each year. Why???
Deacon Ed B

I don’t know how they can always coincide as this year is very unique for Easter. The earliest Easter can occur is March 22 and its on March 23. March break is always in March, though which week in March depends greatly on where you live. For me it was last week. In Ontario (Canada) its this week.

 

[Adonis33]

This is the only time in memory that Spring Break coincided with Holy Week.

 

[Joannm]

Most colleges these days stagger their breaks. I know a few colleges who had break last week and some this week.

 

[rwoehmke]

Spring Break used to be the Easter Break until the Public School Systems got heat for having an Easter Break. It has been secularized as befits the Wall of Separation between Church and State. Since kids from most Catholic Schools in suburban and rural areas ride the same school buses the breaks coincide. Then we had Colleges go from the Semester to the Trimester or Quarter Systems and the Spring time separation became, whoopie, Spring Break. Good fortune deemed my College Age children too short of cash to ever go South for Sun, Sex, and Alcohol. I thank God for many favors including that one. To be honest with the kids all grown up and away, I am no longer aware that Spring Break ever overlaps Holy Week.

High School Graduates traveling to places like Aruba for a Senior trip? Too much loose money out there. My kids were already working to get a jump on their upcoming college expenses.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Spring Break used to be the Easter Break until the Public School Systems got heat for having an Easter Break.

Im glad you mentioned this, this is a important point to make…Im embarrassed to say I didnt know this until a few days ago.

Im going to make a point of calling it Easter Break (just like Christmas Break) and I think all Catholics (and Protestants) should start too.

 

[THutch04]

My school is combining spring break and Easter break together, since Easter comes so early. Which of course, that actually means we get less time off than if we would have split the two…

Oh well, I never go anywhere for spring break anyway. I don’t have the money to travel.

 

[Freshman88]

Well, as a struggling young Catholic in the midst of these things, all I can say is, I don’t know.

Just our nature I suppose. Spring break is just an opportunity, why we take this opportunity to do what we do is as varied as the motives behind every sin. - to get away from the stress of life, enter into a rite of passage, to create memories of “good times”, or just to know those forbidden fruits.

I know better, and yet I still get caught up in this - and I consider myself a practicing Catholic. I go to mass weekly, sometimes daily, I do regular confession, pray irregularly and still I swear to myself I won’t do what I did last year, and still it happens.

Just be sure that as much as we may want to write off these kids, know that many will regret their break from the good life.

 

[NetNuncio]

Spring Break is also dependent upon each school or school district. In Oregon, spring break also occurred during Holy Week in 2005. I know because half my choir was gone and I was really cranky!

As it was pointed out, Spring Break used to be Easter Break. Many Catholic schools/colleges still take this as their spring break or at least take the second half of the week off.

Unfortunately, some families prefer to take a vacation in the sun rather than remember the saving acts of Jesus Christ.

 

[puzzleannie]

Texas week is usually the 3rd full week of March, but the timing of Easter and hence Holy Week varies, actually it rarely comes this early, so spring break normally takes place during Lent sometime. In Mexico and places here that adhere to their traditions, the tradition is to take time off from school and work because Holy Week, Semana Santa, with all the liturgical celebrations from Palm Sunday through Easter day are very big in the culture. Of course that has degenerated to a secular holiday, but the religious underpinnings are still evident.

 

[Corki]

Texas week is usually the 3rd full week of March, but the timing of Easter and hence Holy Week varies, actually it rarely comes this early, so spring break normally takes place during Lent sometime. In Mexico and places here that adhere to their traditions, the tradition is to take time off from school and work because Holy Week, Semana Santa, with all the liturgical celebrations from Palm Sunday through Easter day are very big in the culture. Of course that has degenerated to a secular holiday, but the religious underpinnings are still evident.

I am reveling in this since it will probably be the only time we have Holy Week off in Texas while my kids are still school age. Traditionally they only get Good Friday and Easter Monday off and Spring Break is a completely different week. The Texas legislature mandated a later Aug. start date this year and this was great for the schools near me who could combine the two and save a day so they don’t have to go to school in June.

When I was growing up, break was always either Holy Week plus Easter Monday or Good Friday plus Easter Week. This enabled us to spend many Easters with my grandparents who lived a two-day car trip away.