Easter Water is the name given to water used in rituals during the Easter Vigil in the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches, and Anglican Communion. A part of this water is set aside for use as a sacramental in the church and at home, the remainder being ceremonially mixed with consecrated oils and used for baptisms in the church.[1]
Easter Water is water blessed in special ceremonies on Holy Saturday (as in the Roman Catholic Church) at sunrise, or during the last few minutes before dawn. Part of the ceremony involves lowering the Easter Candle into the blessed water three times, representing the death and rebirth of Christ. The water symbolizes life and death, as well as repentance of sin and rebirth into a new life.[2] The blessing of the Easter water, according to The Lutheran Missal, takes place according to the following form:[3]
The priest, other sacred ministers, and baptismal candidates proceed to the font as a litany is sung, bringing the paschal candle with them. After a brief prayer, the priest proceeds into a sung preface equal to or slightly lengthier than the Exultet. During the singing of this preface, the water is divided repeatedly in the shape of a cross, the priest blows on the water in an exsufflation similar to that at baptism, and he takes water in his hand and sprinkles it in four directions, representing the rivers of Paradise. Finally, the base of the blessed paschal candle, lit with the new fire, is dipped into the font, and the priest again blows on the water, this time in the shape of the Greek letter Ψ (psi) or the Hebrew letter ש (shin/sin), depending on the source in question. This dipping of the paschal candle and the subsequent exsufflation are done three times in total. Once this preface has come to its conclusion, the priest takes one spatula in each hand, one dipped in chrism, the other in the oil of catechumens, using them to make the sign of the cross in the water three times. Following this, any baptismal candidates are baptized, and a brief litany might be sung, or the completion of the litany begun before the blessing of the font, or the Kyrie in the paschal tone is simply intoned.[3]
In Christian Churches of the Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican traditions, the Easter Water is then used for baptisms after the Easter Vigil.[4]
The water is blessed by Christian clergy using the following prayer:
"Whatever it sprinkles in the homes of the faithful, may it be cleansed and delivered from harm. Let such homes enjoy a spirit of goodness and an atmosphere of tranquility, freed from harmful or hidden snares. By the sprinkling of this water, may everything opposed to the safety of them that dwell there be banished, so that they may possess the well-being they seek in calling upon Thy holy Name, protected from every evil."[5]
This Easter water may be taken home to bless the house, as well as Easter food.[5] The head of household of a Christian family (along with the entire family) may recite the aforementioned prayer as well.[5]
InNormandy, Saxony, and Silesia, Easter Water has been thought by some to have dermatological properties against eczema, acne, and even leprosy.[citation needed]InQuebec and northern regions of France, it is believed also to have healing effects on vision and is used as a valuable eye lotion.[citation needed] Easter Water has also been used for the treatment of diarrhea and fever.[citation needed]
In Quebec, it was thought to protect against elements such as lightning, thunder, and even the wind. It was also believed to keep away evil spirits, misfortunes, and fatalities. Easter Water is still used in ceremonies to bless homes using the blessed branches.[6]
Washing in Easter Water was believed to afford long-lasting freshness of the skin and to give women who bathed in a stream or river on the eve of Easter, "beauty and seduction, provided it had done so in silence and in secret." It is also said that men plunged into a river on Easter morning to "gain strength and health throughout the year."[7]
