Traditions > Holidays > Lent
Lent
The Große Fasten (the Great Lent) began on Ash Wednesday, which was 40 days before Easter. It was a time of self-examination, self-denial, and preparation for the Holy Day of Easter. The Lent season begins after Fastnacht.
In Norka, as with all the Volga German colonies, there were no public weddings or parties during the solemn season of Lent. Every Friday during Lent was a day of fasting. This was especially the case on Karfreitag (Good Friday). On Good Friday, the older people did not eat or drink anything. Fasting was also a part of the preparation each time a person received the Lord’s Supper (the Holy Communion).
In Norka, as with all the Volga German colonies, there were no public weddings or parties during the solemn season of Lent. Every Friday during Lent was a day of fasting. This was especially the case on Karfreitag (Good Friday). On Good Friday, the older people did not eat or drink anything. Fasting was also a part of the preparation each time a person received the Lord’s Supper (the Holy Communion).
Source
Seib, Eduard. "Der Wolgadeutsche im Spiegel seines Brauchtums." Heimatbuch Der Deutschen Aus Russland 1967/1968 (1968): Print.
Last updated November 28, 2023