What Are Some of the Sundays and Weeks Within Eastertide Called?
The Easter Octave (Easter Sunday through the Second Sunday of Easter, 8 days total) is called Bright Week, and the custom is to wear new clothes. The name probably comes from the bright white clothes the newly baptized wore to Mass during the Easter Octave. The Second Sunday of Easter is known as Low Sunday, to distinguish it from the “high” feast of Easter. However, the name could come from the fact that attendance was usually low the Sunday following Easter. Finally, the days between Ascension and Pentecost (which includes one Sunday) are referred to as Expectation Week, because the Apostles prayed with expectant faith for the coming of the Holy Spirit during this week.
