What is Holy Week?

Holy Week is the week before Easter, which is the interval between Palm Sunday and Easter. Several events and celebrations take place during this time. During this week, the crucifixion, resurrection and events just prior to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are celebrated by Christians all over the world. Because people who study the Bible have a good record of what happened in the last week of Jesus' life, Christians have been able to celebrate the events that occurred even in the early days of Christianity.

The first of the celebrations of Holy Week is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is known by several different names, including Passion Sunday, Lazarus Sunday, or Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion. Palm Sunday commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into the city of Jerusalem just prior to his crucifixion. In this celebration, Jesus is hailed as a triumphant king, the Son of David. Celebrations of Palm Sunday include processions, songs honoring the coming of triumphant coming of Christ, and waving palm branches or fronds. Another mark of the Palm Sunday service is the reading of the Passion of Christ, with members of the congregations reading the various parts of the Passion story, and the congregation reading the words of the crowd.

The next celebration in Holy Week is Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday is also called Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, and Holy Thursday of Mysteries. Maundy Thursday is always celebrated on the Thursday just before Easter Sunday. One of the main ideas of Maundy Thursday is to remember the last meal celebrated by Jesus Christ with his disciples in the Upper Room just before his crucifixion. The Holy Eucharist, also known as communion in some churches, is celebrated. The ceremony of the washing of feet is in remembrance of Jesus' washing of the feet of the disciples, and is one of the oldest ceremonies on record in the Christian faith. Some also equate Maundy Thursday with the Last Supper and the Jewish Seder feast.

Holy Wednesday is always celebrated on the Wednesday before Easter. It is sometimes called Spy Wednesday, because traditionally the traitorous deeds of Judas Iscariot are remembered on this day. In some cases, a communal penance service is held on this day.

Good Friday is also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, and Great Friday. This solemn service is always held on the Friday before Easter. The Good Friday service commemorates the trial, suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. While ideally celebrated at 3 o'clock p.m., the time Christ was crucified, it can be celebrated at other times during the day. In some churches, the Way of the Cross is said, which is a series of prayers that take worshipers through the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Easter Vigil, also known as the Great Vigil of Easter, is the first service of Easter, and is celebrated in the evening on the Saturday before Easter Sunday. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated at this mass. In some churches, baptisms, confirmations, and acceptance of new members into the church also take place during the Easter Vigil service.

Easter Sunday is the traditional celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a movable feast of the Christian church, which means it is celebrated on varying dates annually in the spring. This celebration is the most important mass or church service of the liturgical year for Christians all over the world. The resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter is the primary doctrine of Christianity, because the resurrection is the event that gives Christians salvation.