Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday, also called Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the quiet day between Good Friday (when Jesus was crucified) and Easter Sunday (the day of Jesus' resurrection). In 2025, it falls on April 19.
This day marks the end of Holy Week and the 40-day Lenten season, a time for reflection and anticipation before the joyful celebration of Christ's resurrection on Easter.
Holy Saturday is not a public holiday in the US, UK or Canada.
About Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday commemorates the day Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb after His crucifixion on Good Friday. It is a day of quiet contemplation, as Christians reflect on the significance of Christ's sacrifice and await the hope of His resurrection. The day symbolizes the transition from death to life, darkness to light, and despair to hope.
The Bible mentions that women, including Mary Magdalene, visited the tomb to anoint Jesus' body with oils and spices but found it empty, signifying His resurrection.
"but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?"
-Luke 24:2-5
Holy Saturday Celebration
Easter Vigil: Many Christian denominations hold a vigil service after sundown, symbolizing the wait for Christ's resurrection. The service often includes the lighting of candles, representing Christ as the Light of the World, and the blessing of the Easter fire.
Baptism Ceremonies: In the early church, Holy Saturday was a traditional day for baptisms, symbolizing new life in Christ.
Many families use Holy Saturday to prepare for Easter Sunday by decorating eggs, baking special foods, and attending church services.
Celebration Around the Globe
- In Mexico, effigies of Judas Iscariot, the betrayer of Jesus, are burned.
- In the Czech Republic, the day is called 'White Saturday,; symbolizing purity and renewal.
- In Orthodox Christianity, there is a ceremony called 'Holy Fire' in Jerusalem. This is a significant event, where a miraculous flame is said to ignite in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Holy Saturday: The Harrowing of Hell and Christ’s Victory Over Death
On Holy Saturday, many Christians believe Jesus went to the realm of the dead (Hades/Sheol) to free the righteous who had died before His crucifixion. This event, called the Harrowing of Hell, shows His victory over death.
In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, He didn’t go to the place of the damned but to those awaiting salvation. Orthodox icons often show Jesus breaking open Hades’ gates and leading Adam, Eve, and others to paradise.
This moment connects the sorrow of Good Friday to the joy of Easter, symbolizing the passage from death to eternal life.
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