| | CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Easter |
 | | At midnight, before Matins, the clergy in silence entered the dark church and removed the cross from the sepulchre to the high altar. |
 | | The Easter Fire is lit on the top of mountains (Easter mountain, Osterberg) and must be kindled from new fire, drawn from wood by friction (nodfyr); this is a custom of pagan origin in vogue all over Europe, signifying the victory of spring over winter. |
 | | The Church adopted the observance into the Easter ceremonies, referring it to the fiery column in the desert and to the Resurrection of Christ; the new fire on Holy Saturday is drawn from flint, symbolizing the Resurrection of the Light of the World from the tomb closed by a stone (Missale Rom.). |
| www.newadvent.org /cathen/05224d.htm (3990 words) |