Holy Saturday

noun

1. the Saturday in Holy Week.

Holy Saturday

noun

1. the Saturday before Easter Sunday

Word History and Origins

Origin of Holy Saturday¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

More About Holy Saturday

What is Holy Saturday?

Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday, which marks Jesus’s crucifixion and death, and Easter, on which Christians celebrate Jesus’s resurrection.

Holy Saturday is the last day of Holy Week, which is the week before Easter. For many Christians, it is the last day of Lent, the season of fasting and penitence that precedes Easter.

When is Holy Saturday?

In 2024, Holy Saturday will fall on March 30. In 2025, it will fall on April 19.

Holy Saturday is always the Saturday before Easter, but Easter moves every year. This means that Holy Saturday can fall anytime between March 21 and April 24.

In the Orthodox Church, the date of Easter is calculated in a different way.

In 2024, the Orthodox Church will observe Holy Saturday on May 4. In 2025, the Orthodox Church will observe Holy Saturday on April 19.

More information and context on Holy Saturday

The first records of the term Holy Saturday come from the 1300s.

Because Christians observe Good Friday as the anniversary of the day that Jesus was crucified and died, both Good Friday and Holy Saturday are typically treated as days for somber reflection before the Easter celebration. Some people fast for the day or continue the fast they observed throughout Lent.

Some churches hold an Easter vigil on the evening of Holy Saturday.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing Holy Saturday?

• Good Friday
• Easter
• Holy Week
• Lent
• vigil

How is Holy Saturday discussed in real life?

Holy Saturday is part of the Easter weekend, but it’s not talked about very often.

Pictures of #PopeFrancis celebrating the Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Basilica on Holy Saturday. #EasterAtHomehttps://t.co/WhQwUJFR1E pic.twitter.com/ec4cdFAynH

— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) April 12, 2020

Holy Saturday service at Faith Centered Church-Northport, AL. April 19/5pm. Pastor P & myself to bring the Word together. Don't miss it!!!!

— Felicia Poe (@PoeFelicia) April 16, 2014

On Holy Saturday in Poland 🇵🇱, Christians bring their #święconki, or #Easter baskets 🧺, to their local churches to be blessed.

Neatly arranged inside each ornate basket are tiny portions of egg, sausage, and bread to be symbolically consumed during Easter breakfast. 😋 pic.twitter.com/sn57LmSPDh

— Embassy of Poland U.S. (@PolishEmbassyUS) April 11, 2020

 

 

Try using Holy Saturday!

True or False?

The date of Holy Saturday changes every year.