My understanding is that this was already Jewish tradition--that the day God created the world was the vernal equinox. I have no specific citation. My source is standard books on the church calendar designed for parish instruction etc. I would assume that the tradition is found in the Jewish commentaries on the Torah. Perhaps someone knows more about this than I. It probably reappears in Christian patristic commentaries, but I know it only from secondary accounts.
Dennis Martin
>>> [log in to unmask] 02/06/01 08:20AM >>>
Dennis,
When you say that March 25 was understood, traditionally, as the day of
creation, is this because it's the day on which God was understood to have
begun the work of creation in the beginning? Can you point to a discussion
of this anywhere?
Thanks for your help,
Tom Ryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Dennis Martin [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2001 2:55 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Annunciation
I am no expert in this, but while saints' feasts may be transferred when
they fall during Lent, I would be surprised to find that a Solemnity like
the Annunciation has ever been transferred. It is not a saints' feast,
rather a Marian and Christological feast of the highest level. Moreover
there was the tradition that March 25 was the day of creation (vernal
equinox) and of the new creation (Incarnation). I'd be surprised that it
was ever transferred. Perhaps someone who really does know the answer can
respond. And, of course, as someone point out, it always falls during Lent,
so "transfer" would not be the right word. There are few saints days
clustered near to the general range of Easter dates that would be similar.
The saints' feasts that get transferred tend to be the ones in February or
April which some years are within and some years outside Lent. The
Annunciation is very close to Easter--nearly always within four weeks and
there is even a tradition that placed the Passover in the year Christ was
crucified on the vernal equinox, making the Triduum coincide, more or less,
with the Annunciation. But I have no clear details on this.
Dennis Martin
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