10. Go to loads of mass

Is there anything to be said for saying another mass? Of course the biggest thing about Holy Week is the litany of masses that you have to go to.

But this year, why not be extra good and rather than just going to Good Friday service, and Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday, why not go to as many as possible? If you try hard enough you should be able to squeeze in at least five a day.

9. Play priest vestment colour roulette

And here's a way to spice up those two-hour-long Passion gospels. On special days of Holy Week, the priest wears different coloured vestments. 

It's the perfect opportunity to start a gambling syndicate down the back of the chapel, taking bets on which shade he'll arrive out in this time.

8. Go fishing

Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence so unfortunately the fry-up and steak dinners will have to be thrown in the bin for 24 hours.

Of course the church doesn't want you dying of the hunger so it's OK to eat fish apparently because ... I don't know ... But anyhow, take an evening this week to go out and catch Friday's dinner.

7. Get kissing lessons

Speaking of Good Friday, it's also the day we all have to kiss the cross. A terrifying experience for all involved, it's best to show up prepared.

So get some smooching practice in beforehand if you don't want to seem a prude.

6. Bury your Easter eggs in the garden

All that chocolate lying around the house is just too damn tempting so be gone with you demon food!!

The only solution to it is to bury it in the deepest, darkest corner of the garden.

5. Get your feet washed

The priest will of course need 12 volunteers on Holy Thursday to get their feet washed at mass. Now usually the people that do it spend all Thursday getting a pedicure because they don't want to present embarrassing feet to the priest come show time but sure that defies the whole idea!

So instead walk around barefoot in the days before it, making sure to walk through at least one cattle shed in the process.

4. Practice shouting out 'Crucify him! Crucify him!'

One Passion down, one more to go! In case you don't know what The Passion is, it's the long gospel that is read on Palm Sunday and Good Friday, telling the story of the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion.

There are three readers usually and the whole congregation plays the part of the 'crowd' in the story. This pretty much consists of shouting out 'Crucify him! Crucify him!' at every opportunity.

3. Get confession

The dreaded confessional box. The place where your parents made you go every Holy Week to tell all the sins your 10-year-old demonic self had committed.

Now, all these years later, maybe it's time to head back for an overdue sacrament of penance. Time to reel out the old reliables again; 'I'm sorry for when I fought with my sister,' 'When I used bad language,' 'When I didn't do what my parents told me.'

2. Play Stations of the Cross charades

The Stations of the Cross is another big practice during Holy Week but do you know what all 14 of them are? And what order they're in?

How about playing a game of Stations of the Cross charades!? Fun and educational!

1. Gather whatever loose change you have for the collections

Well if you're heading to 25 masses over the coming days that's going to be 25 collections. Not to mention the Trocaire box!

Categories: Holy week, Easter, mass