Easter Procession

On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, the friars walk in procession through Gravendam to bring symbols of the Easter celebration—fire and water—to the city’s gatekeepers. They sing Easter canciones from around the year 1350 A.D. Adults and children can join the procession in historical clothing with flags and guild banners to add grandeur to the event.

The Easter Procession starts in the early afternoon at 13:00.

Come to the monastery beforehand and see if there is a role for you in the procession (final times to be confirmed). We are looking for children dressed in medieval clothing to help as water carriers, incense bearers, and flag bearers. We are looking for adults who want to be Brother Firebearers. And we are looking for many singing participants, both young and old.

During the procession, the Easter fire, in the form of glowing embers, is carried through the medieval town of Gravendam, accompanied by water blessed during the Easter Vigil.

In a medieval town like Gravendam, around 1350, everyone was Roman Catholic*) and therefore these Christian symbols of Easter are carried through the streets.

Fire is the symbol of the purifying power of fire on sinful humans. It is also the symbol of light. After Jesus’ crucifixion on Good Friday, He brought light into darkness by granting us salvation through His resurrection. Fire warms and excites people. In the Easter Vigil, the fire was struck using flint stones. The Paschal candle was then lit from this fire. The Paschal candle symbolizes the Resurrection and the Eternal Light.

Water is the symbol of life. Because Christians are baptized with water, it gives life force to the Christian life. Water also symbolizes deliverance from slavery in Egypt: the crossing of the Red Sea. During the Easter Vigil, in Catholic churches, water is “blessed” through prayers and symbolism, becoming holy water, and with holy oil, it becomes baptismal water.

In many cultures and religions, the same symbolism appears. Christianity, with its Jewish roots, also incorporates pre-Christian symbolism in Easter. At its core, it goes back to fertility festivals, celebrating new life in nature with the arrival of spring. Young greenery signals the season, Easter bread (dough) represents germination, eggs symbolize new life, and a bread rooster at Palm Sunday represents victory. Fire symbolizes letting go of the old and rising from the ashes as new life. Christ died and rose again—this perfectly aligns with the symbolism. The cross represents suffering and death, and simultaneously salvation and life.

The Easter Procession dates back to the first year of Archeon. It originated from the absence of a church in Archeon, where people could participate in the Easter Vigil, during which the Easter fire is lit and the baptismal water blessed. The Franciscan friars came up with the solution of bringing the symbols to the city’s gatekeepers. It is therefore not entirely authentic, but it fits the medieval spirit of the friars. They brought devotion to people at home: Christmas carols, the nativity scene, Jesus on the cross with Mary and John.

After the procession, participants receive a small medieval treat.

In the Middle Ages around 1350, almost all of Western Europe was Roman Catholic. There were people who practiced Judaism, but they were a minority and were often blamed during times of adversity. In southern Spain, the Islamic kingdom of Granada existed. In other Mediterranean countries, Christians also had (trade) contacts with Muslims. There were also groups in Europe who deviated from Roman Catholic teachings and were called heretics.

The Apostle Thomas did not believe that Jesus had risen. After Jesus’ request, he placed his hand in His side and exclaimed: “My Lord and my God.” Jesus then said: “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:24-29).
Our expression “Doubting Thomas” comes from this story.
From the Evangeliarum of St. Martin, Cologne, 1st quarter of the 13th century, Royal Library Brussels

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