View source for Holy Week

{{Short description|Week leading up to Easter}}
{{Redirect|Passion Week|the week before Holy Week|Passiontide}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = Holy Week
| type          = Christian
| longtype      = [[Christianity|Christian]]
| image         = Folio 173v - The Entry into Jerusalem.jpg
| image_size    = 250px
| caption       = The [[Triumphal entry into Jerusalem|entry of Jesus and his disciples into Jerusalem]] on [[Palm Sunday]] marks the beginning of Holy Week, is the last week of [[Lent]], between [[Palm Sunday]] and the dusk of [[Maundy Thursday]]. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Palm Sunday along with the Saturday of Lazarus marks the two-day transition between the 40 days of [[Great Lent]] and Holy Week.
| date          = Last week of Lent
| duration      = 7 days
| frequency     = Annual
| date{{#time:Y|-1 year}} = {{ubl|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|-1 year}}|day=-7|format=F j}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|-1 year}}|day=-1|format=F j}} (Western)|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|-1 year}}|day=-7|format=F j|method=Eastern}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|-1 year}}|day=-1|format=F j|method=Eastern}} (Eastern)}}
| date{{#time:Y}} = {{ubl|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y}}|day=-7|format=F j}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y}}|day=-1|format=F j}} (Western)|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y}}|day=-7|format=F j|method=Eastern}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y}}|day=-1|format=F j|method=Eastern}} (Eastern)}}
| date{{#time:Y|+1 year}} = {{ubl|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+1 year}}|day=-7|format=F j}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+1 year}}|day=-1|format=F j}} (Western)|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+1 year}}|day=-7|format=F j|method=Eastern}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+1 year}}|day=-1|format=F j|method=Eastern}} (Eastern)}}
| date{{#time:Y|+2 years}} = {{ubl|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+2 years}}|day=-7|format=F j}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+2 years}}|day=-1|format=F j}} (Western)|{{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+2 years}}|day=-7|format=F j|method=Eastern}}&nbsp;– {{#invoke:Easter|Calculate|{{#time:Y|+2 years}}|day=-1|format=F j|method=Eastern}} (Eastern)}}
| observances   = [[Palm Sunday]], [[Holy Monday]], [[Holy Tuesday]], [[Holy Wednesday]], [[Maundy Thursday]], [[Good Friday]], [[Holy Saturday]] and [[Easter Sunday]]
| relatedto     = [[Eastertide]]
| firsttime     = 
}}
{{Death of Jesus}}
'''Holy Week''' ({{langx|grc-x-koine|Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς|translit=Hagía kaì Megálē Hebdomás|lit=Holy and Great Week}}) commemorates the seven days leading up to [[Easter]]. It begins with the commemoration of [[Triumphal entry into Jerusalem|Christ's triumphal entry]] into [[Jerusalem]] on [[Palm Sunday]], marks the [[betrayal of Jesus]] on [[Spy Wednesday]] ([[Holy Wednesday]]), climaxing with the commemoration of the [[Last Supper]] on [[Maundy Thursday]] ([[Holy Thursday]]) and the [[Passion of Jesus]] on [[Good Friday]] ([[Holy Friday]]). Holy Week concludes with Christ's [[Crucifixion of Jesus|death]] and [[Harrowing of Hell|descent into hell]] on [[Holy Saturday]].<ref name=Cooper2013/><ref name="Brewer1896"/><ref name="Melton2011"/> For all Christian traditions, it is a [[Moveable feast|moveable observance]]. In [[Eastern Christianity]], which also calls it '''Great Week''', it is the week following [[Great Lent]] and [[Lazarus Saturday]], starting on the evening of [[Palm Sunday]] and concluding on the evening of [[Holy Saturday|Great Saturday]].<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|title=Great Week|encyclopedia=The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity |editor1-last=McGuckin |editor1-first=John Anthony |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-4051-8539-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/TheEncyclopediaOfEastern-byegyptianLibrary/page/n309/mode/2u |last=Vlavianos |first=Sotirios |page=281 |quote=Great Week (or Holy Week) is the most important part of the liturgical year for the Eastern Churches. It belongs to the moveable liturgical cycle and follows the Holy and Great Lenten period, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending on Great Saturday evening before the Divine Liturgy of the Resurrection (Pascha).}}</ref> In [[Western Christianity]],{{efn-ua|Western Christian denominations that observe Holy Week include the [[Roman Catholic]], [[Lutheran]], [[Western Orthodox]], [[Moravian Church|Moravian]], [[Anglican]], [[Irvingian]] and [[United Protestant]] denominations, as well as many [[Methodist]] churches and [[Reformed Christianity|Reformed]] (including certain [[Continental Reformed]], [[Presbyterian]] and [[Congregationalist]] churches) traditions.<ref name="Crump2021">{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=Encyclopedia of Easter Celebrations Worldwide |date=22 February 2021 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-4196-6 |page=128 |language=en}}</ref>}} Holy Week is the sixth and last week of [[Lent]], beginning with Palm Sunday and concluding on [[Holy Saturday]].<ref name="Blackwell2009">{{cite book |last1=Blackwell |first1=Amy Hackney |title=Lent, Yom Kippur, and Other Atonement Days |date=2009 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-2796-5 |pages=15–16 |language=en |quote=The last week of Lent is called ''Holy Week'' in the Western Churches, and ''Great and Holy Week'' in the Eastern. During this week, believers remember the events in the last week of Jesus Christ's life. These include Christ's entrance into Jerusalem and his suffering on the way to crucifixion, which are sometimes called the "Passion of Jesus Christ," or "Passion of Christ."}}</ref><ref name="Melton2011">{{cite book |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |title=Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations [2 volumes]|date=13 September 2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-206-7 |page=527 |language=en |quote=''Lent (Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday)'': The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and lasts until the final Saturday before Easter, Holy Saturday. It includes "Holy Week," the week before Easter. For six weeks preceding Easter, it is a time of penitential prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to prepare for the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. This season of Lent originally was also a time of preparation for baptismal candidates and those separated from the Church who were rejoining the community. Holy Week, the last week of Lent, commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. It covers the events of his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the last supper, the arrest, and his death by crucifixion. Beginning with the sixth Sunday of Lent, Holy Week includes Palm Sunday, Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.}}</ref><ref name=Cooper2013>{{cite book|last=Cooper|first=J.HB.|title=Dictionary of Christianity|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZC3AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA124|access-date=25 April 2014|date=23 October 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134265466|page=124|quote=Holy Week. The last week in LENT. It begins on PALM SUNDAY; the fourth day is called SPY WEDNESDAY; the fifth is MAUNDY THURSDAY or HOLY THURSDAY; the sixth is GOOD FRIDAY; and the last 'Holy Saturday', or the 'Great Sabbath'.}}</ref><ref name="Brewer1896">{{cite book|last=Brewer|first=Ebenezer Cobham|title=The Historic Notebook: With an Appendix of Battles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YphAAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA669|access-date=25 April 2014|year=1896|publisher=J. B. Lippincott|page=669|quote=The last seven days of this period constitute Holy Week. The first day of Holy Week is Palm Sunday, the fourth day is Spy Wednesday, the fifth Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, the sixth Good Friday or Holy Friday, and the last Holy Saturday or the Great Sabbath in Eastern Rite traditions.}}</ref>

Christians believe that Jesus rested in death from the ninth hour (3 pm) on Good Friday until just before dawn on Sunday morning, the day of [[Resurrection of Jesus|his resurrection from death]], known as Easter Sunday. However, in {{Bible verse|1 Peter|3:19}}, there may be a clue as to a task Jesus performed during this period between death and resurrection: "By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison." This marks the beginning of the season of [[Eastertide]], with its first week being known as [[Easter Week]] (or [[Bright Week]]).

Holy Week [[Christian liturgy|liturgies]] generally attract the largest crowds of the year. Many [[Christian culture]]s have different traditions such as special liturgies or services, floats, sculptures or live reenactments of Christ's life, his arrest and [[crucifixion]] (also called the Lord's Passion or [[Passion of Jesus]]); the latter are known as [[Passion Play]]s, which are often [[ecumenism|interdenominational]] productions.<ref>Monk, Charlene Faye, "Passion Plays in the United States: The Contemporary Outdoor Tradition." (1998). ''LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses''. 6691.</ref> In Eastern Rite Churches there are also many means to commemorate the [[Great Feasts]] and emphasize the theme of resurrection.<ref>Thomas M Landy, [https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/node/223/holy-week-easter "Holy Week And Easter"], ''Catholics & Cultures'' updated 17 February 2017</ref> Many television channels air films related to Holy Week, such as ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'', ''[[The Greatest Story Ever Told]]'' and ''[[The Jesus Film]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Delve deeper into Holy Week with Jesus films |url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/delve-deeper-into-holy-week-with-jesus-films |publisher=[[The United Methodist Church]] |access-date=4 April 2020 |language=en |date=3 March 2016}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Alfred Dehodencq A Confraternity in Procession along Calle Génova.jpg|thumb|''A Confraternity in Procession along Calle Génova, Seville'' by [[Alfred Dehodencq ]] (1851)]]
Holy Week in the [[liturgical year]] is the week immediately before Easter. The earliest allusion to the custom of marking this week as a whole with special observances is to be found in the [[Apostolical Constitutions]] (v. 18, 19), dating from the latter half of the 3rd century and 4th century. In this text, abstinence from flesh is commanded for all the days, while for the Friday and Saturday an [[Black Fast|absolute fast]] is commanded. Dionysius Alexandrinus in his canonical epistle (AD 260), refers to the 91 fasting days implying that the observance of them had already become an established usage in his time.<ref>Apostolical Constitutions v. 18, 19</ref>

There is some doubt about the genuineness of an ordinance attributed to Roman Emperor [[Constantine I|Constantine]], in which abstinence from public business was enforced for the seven days immediately preceding Easter Day, and also for the seven which followed it. The ''[[Codex Theodosianus]]'', however, is explicit in ordering that all actions at law should cease, and the doors of all courts of law be closed during those 15 days (1. ii. tit. viii.).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Of the particular days of the "great week" the earliest to emerge into special prominence was naturally Good Friday. Next came the ''Sabbatum Magnum'' ("Great Sabbath", i.e., [[Holy Saturday]] or Easter Eve) with its [[Paschal vigil|vigil]], which in the [[early church]] was associated with an expectation that the [[second advent]] would occur on an Easter Day.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Other writings that refer to related traditions of the early Church include, most notably, ''The Pilgrimage of Etheria'' (also known as ''The Pilgrimage of [[Egeria (pilgrim)|Egeria]]''), which details the whole observance of Holy Week at that time.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07435a.htm Thurston, Herbert. "Holy Week." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 2 April 2023 {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Today, in the [[Western Christian Church]], among Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, Presbyterians and Catholics, the liturgies used for Holy Week are nearly identical.<ref name="Ramshaw2004">{{cite book|last=Ramshaw|first=Gail|title=The Three-Day Feast: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tbb9axN6qFwC&pg=PA7|access-date=13 April 2014|year=2004|publisher=Augsburg Books|quote=Many Christians are already familiar with the ancient, and now recently restored, liturgies of the Three Days: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the great Easter Vigil service of light, readings, baptism, and communion. The worship resources published by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal Church, the United Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Catholic Church include nearly identical versions of these liturgies.|isbn=9780806651156|page=7}}</ref>  In the Episcopal Church, the main U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion, the 1979 Book of Common Prayer identifies Holy Week--comprising Palm Sunday (Sunday of the Passion) through Holy Saturday--as a separate season after Lent,<ref>{{Cite book |last=The Episcopal Church |title=The Book of Common Prayer |publisher=The Church Hymnal Corporation |year=1979 |location=New York |pages=31–32}}</ref> rather than as part of it; but the weekdays of Holy Week, like those of Lent, are Days of Special Devotion to be observed by special acts of discipline and self-denial,<ref>{{Cite book |last=The Episcopal Church |title=The Book of Common Prayer |publisher=The Church Hymnal Corporation |year=1979 |pages=17}}</ref> so the practical effect is the same as if Holy Week were considered part of Lent. 

In the [[Moravian Church]], the Holy Week services ([[Passion Week]]) are extensive, as the congregation follows the life of Christ through His final week in daily services dedicated to readings from a harmony of the Gospel stories, responding to the actions in hymns, prayers and litanies, beginning on the eve of Palm Sunday and culminating in the Easter Morning or Easter [[Sunrise service]] begun by the Moravians in 1732.<ref name="BMA">[http://www.moravianchurcharchives.org/documents/07aprilEaster.pdf The Easter Morning Sunrise Service], This Month in Moravian History, Number 18, 2007-04, Moravian Archives, Bethlehem NC.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.umc.org/en/content/easter-sunrise-services-a-celebration-of-resurrection|title=Easter sunrise services: A celebration of resurrection|website=The United Methodist Church}}</ref>

==Holy Week in Western Christianity==
===Palm Sunday (Sixth Sunday of Lent)===
{{Main|Palm Sunday}}
{{Further|Passion Sunday}}
Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, complete: Palm and Passion Sunday (Latin ''Dominica in Palmis de Passione Domini''). Traditionally, Palm Sunday commemorates the [[Triumphal entry into Jerusalem]] described in all four [[canonical gospel]]s. As described in these accounts, Christ's entry into Jerusalem was noted by the crowds present who shouted praises and waved [[Palm branch (symbol)|palm branches]]. In the Roman Rite, before 1955 it was known simply as Palm Sunday, and the preceding Sunday as Passion Sunday. From 1955 to 1971 it was called Second Sunday in [[Passiontide]] or Palm Sunday. Among Lutherans and Anglicans, the day is known as the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday.<ref name="Bower2003">{{cite book|last=Bower|first=Peter C.|title=The Companion to the Book of Common Worship|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dyWqm3hCMC0C&pg=PA111|access-date=13 April 2014|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Geneva Press|isbn=9780664502324|page=111|quote=Presbyterians, Methodists, and Roman Catholics call this day Passion/Palm Sunday; the United Church of Christ calls it Palm/Passion Sunday; Lutherans and Episcopalians call it The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday.}}</ref>

In many liturgical denominations, to commemorate Christ's entry into [[Jerusalem]] to accomplish his [[paschal mystery]], it is customary to have a blessing of [[Arecaceae|palm leaves]] or other branches, for example olive branches. The blessing ceremony includes the reading of a Gospel account of Jesus humbly riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, reminiscent of a Davidic victory procession, and people placing palm and other branches on the ground before him.

Immediately following this great time of celebration over the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem, he begins his journey to the cross. The blessing is thus followed by a procession or solemn entrance into the church, with the participants holding the blessed branches in their hands. The liturgy includes the solemn reading of the Passion, the narrative of Christ's capture, suffering and death, as recounted in one of the [[Synoptic Gospels]]. (In the [[Tridentine Mass]] the Passion is always that of St. Matthew.)<ref>[https://www.newliturgicalmovement.org/2020/03/the-blessing-of-palms-in-missal-of-st.html  The Blessing of Palms in the Missal of St Pius V (Part 1)]</ref>
{{Lent_calendar.svg}}

Before the reform of the rite by [[Pope Pius XII]], the blessing of the palms occurred inside the church within a liturgy that followed the general outline of a Mass, with Collect, Epistle and Gospel, as far as the Sanctus. The palms were then blessed with five prayers, and a procession went out of the church and on its return included a ceremony for the reopening of the doors, which had meanwhile been shut. After this the normal Mass was celebrated.<ref name=prePXII>{{cite web |url=http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/resources/missale-romanum.pdf |title=1920 typical edition of the Roman Missal |access-date=23 April 2009 |archive-date=3 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603084647/http://www.sanctamissa.org/en/resources/missale-romanum.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Churches of many [[Christian denominations|denominations]], including the Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, Anglican, Moravian and Reformed traditions, distribute palm branches to their congregations during their Palm Sunday liturgies. Christians take these palms, which are often blessed by clergy, to their homes where they hang them alongside [[Christian art]] (especially [[Christian cross|crosses]] and [[crucifix]]es) or keep them in their Bibles or devotionals.<ref name="Kirk2018">{{cite web |last1=Kirk |first1=Lisa |title=Ideas for Displaying Palm Sunday Palms Around Your Home |url=https://blessedisshe.net/blog/palm-sunday-palms/ |publisher=Blessed Is She |access-date=4 April 2020 |language=en |date=25 March 2018}}</ref>

===Holy Monday and Holy Tuesday===
[[File:Semana Santa1.JPG|thumb|[[Holy Tuesday]] in Venezuela]]

The days between Palm Sunday and Maundy Thursday are known as [[Holy Monday]], [[Holy Tuesday]] (Fig Tuesday), and [[Holy Wednesday]] (Spy Wednesday). There are traditional observances held by liturgical denominations to commemorate events from the last days of Jesus Christ's life. Among them:

* On Holy Monday, events observed in the liturgy may include Jesus [[cursing the fig tree]], the [[cleansing of the Temple]], the [[authority of Jesus questioned]], and the [[anointing of Jesus]] at Bethany ({{bibleverse||John|12:1–11|KJV}}), an event that in the Gospel of John occurred before Palm Sunday as in {{bibleverse||John|12:12–19|KJV}}. 
* On Holy Tuesday, some observe Christ's predictions of his own death, as described in {{bibleverse||John|12:20–36|KJV}} and {{bibleverse||John|13:21–38|KJV}}. (In the Tridentine Mass the Passion according to St. Mark is read instead.)

===Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday)===
{{Main|Holy Wednesday}}
[[File:Paso de misterio de El Olivo, Miércoles Santo, El Puerto.ogv|thumb|''Miércoles Santo'' (Holy Wednesday) in [[Cádiz]], [[Spain]]]]

On Holy Wednesday,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-09 |title=Wednesday Blessings |url=https://wednesday-blessings.com/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |language=en-US}}</ref> the story of Judas arranging his betrayal of Jesus with the chief priests is remembered; he was a spy among the disciples of Jesus ({{bibleverse||Matthew|26:14–25|KJV}}).<ref>{{cite book |title=Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2020 |date=2019 |publisher=Loyola Press |isbn=978-0-8294-4897-9 |language=en}}</ref> For this reason, the day is sometimes called "Spy Wednesday".<ref name=Cooper2013/> (In the Tridentine Mass the Passion according to St. Luke is read instead.) Other events connected with this date include events at the house of [[Simon the Leper]], especially the [[anointing of Jesus]] by [[Mary of Bethany]], which directly preceded the betrayal of Jesus by Judas to the Sanhedrin.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jesus, Easter , Bethany, Judas Iscariot, Crucifixion, Death |url=https://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN190-LAST_WEEK.htm#anointing |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=www.ccel.org}}</ref>

[[Tenebrae]] ([[Latin]] for "shadows" or "darkness") is celebrated within [[Western Christianity]] during Holy Week, especially on [[Spy Wednesday]].<ref name="Kosloski2018">{{cite web |last1=Kosloski |first1=Philip |title=What is "Spy Wednesday"? |url=https://aleteia.org/2018/03/28/what-is-spy-wednesday/ |publisher=Aleteia |access-date=17 April 2019 |language=en |date=28 March 2018 |quote=From Wednesday onward, Judas secretly watched for a chance to turn Jesus over to the chief priests, and so many Christians labeled this day as “Spy Wednesday.” In the same vein various cultures reflected the somber mood of this day by calling it “Black Wednesday” or “Wednesday of Shadows,” which also corresponds to the liturgical rite of Tenebrae that is celebrated on this day.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Book of Occasional Services |date=2018 |publisher=[[Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States]] |language=en |quote=In this book, provision is made for Tenebrae on Wednesday evening only, in order that the proper liturgies of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday may find their place as the principal services of those days.}}</ref> Tenebrae is distinctive for its gradual extinguishing of [[Candle#Christianity|candles]] while a series of readings and [[psalms]] is [[chant]]ed or recited. Tenebrae liturgies are celebrated by some [[parish]]es of the [[Roman Rite]] of the [[Catholic Church]], the [[Polish National Catholic Church]], the [[Lutheran Church]]es, the [[Moravian Church]], the [[Anglican Communion]], the [[Methodist Church]]es, and [[Western Rite Orthodoxy]] within the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ruehlmann |first1=Greg |url=https://bustedhalo.com/features/in-the-dark|title=In The Dark |publisher=Busted Halo |access-date=18 April 2019 |date=21 March 2008 |quote=It has not been popular in decades, and it would be misleading to call it a “best-kept secret” of the Catholic Church—it’s celebrated by some mainline Anglican and Lutheran communities as well.}}</ref>

===Maundy Thursday===
{{Main|Maundy Thursday}}
{{Further|Mass of the Lord's Supper|Stripping of the Altar}}
[[File:Maundy Thursday 07 washing feet diocese St Asaph.jpg|thumb|[[Maundy Thursday]] ceremony in a [[Church in Wales]] parish church during a Maundy Thursday [[Church service|service of worship]]]]
[[File:Bishop Sebouh - Washing of Feet.jpg|thumb|A [[Maundy (foot washing)|Washing of Feet]] ceremony on [[Holy Thursday]] in the Armenian Orthodox church]]
[[File:Chancel of Houston Memorial UMC on Good Friday.jpg|thumb|On Maundy Thursday, the altar of this Methodist church was [[Stripping of the Altar|stripped]] and the crucifix was veiled in black for Good Friday. A wooden cross sits in front of the bare chancel for the veneration of the cross ceremony.]]

Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) commemorates the [[Last Supper]], where Christ lays out the model for the [[Eucharist]] or Holy Communion. During the meal, Jesus predicted the events that would immediately follow, including his betrayal, the [[Denial of Peter]], and his death and resurrection. The liturgical celebration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the [[Paschal Triduum]]. Catholic and Lutheran parishes traditionally practice the [[Maundy (foot washing)|foot washing]] (Maundy) ceremony on [[Maundy Thursday]], a practice also kept in other denominations.<ref name="Gramenz2021">{{cite web |last1=Gramenz |first1=Stefan |title=Holy Week II: Maundy Thursday |url=https://lutheranmissal.home.blog/2021/03/26/holy-week-overview-ii-maundy-thursday/ |publisher=The Lutheran Missal |language=en |date=27 March 2021}}</ref>

In the Catholic Church, on this day the private celebration of [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] is forbidden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saginaw.org/images/LITguide08_PARTII.pdf|title=Holy Thursday: Number of Masses|accessdate=15 May 2024}}</ref> Thus, apart from the [[Chrism Mass]] for the blessing of the Holy Oils that the diocesan bishop may celebrate on the morning of [[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]], but also on some other day close to Easter, the only Mass on this day is the evening [[Mass of the Lord's Supper]], which inaugurates the period of three days known as the [[Easter Triduum]], that includes [[Good Friday]] (seen as beginning with the liturgy of the preceding evening), [[Holy Saturday]] and [[Easter]] Sunday up to [[Vespers|evening prayer]] on that day.<ref name=General>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/38/ContentIndex/101/Start/97 |title=General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 19 |access-date=18 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411120450/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/38/ContentIndex/101/Start/97 |archive-date=11 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Chrism Mass, whose texts the [[Roman Missal]] and the rubrics used in [[Lutheran Church]]es now give under Maundy Thursday, but before the [[Paschal Triduum]] which begins that evening, may be brought forward early in Holy Week, to facilitate participation by as many clergy of the diocese as possible together with the bishop.<ref name="ELCA2013">{{cite book|title=How is oil used in worship?|year=2013|publisher=[[Evangelical Lutheran Church in America]]|language=en|page=2|quote=This service, also called a Chrism Mass, is held during Holy Week and presided over by a synodical bishop. At this unique liturgy, the blessing of oil is coupled with a renewal of vows for rostered leaders. The traditional day for this service is Holy Thursday (when some traditions believe the first ordinations took place).}}</ref> This Mass was not included in editions of the Roman Missal before the time of Pope Pius XII. In this Mass, the bishop blesses separate oils for the sick (used in [[Anointing of the Sick]]), for [[catechumen]]s (used in [[baptism]]) and [[chrism]] (used in baptism, [[Confirmation in the Catholic Church|confirmation]] and the [[Ordination|Holy Orders]], as well as in rites such as the [[Consecration#Churches, altars, and other ritual objects|dedication]] of an altar and a church).<ref>[http://www.stjames-cathedral.org/Events/2017/album-chrismmass.aspx "Chrism Mass 2017", St. James Cathedral, Seattle, April 6, 2017]</ref>

The Mass of the Lord's Supper commemorates the [[Last Supper]] of Jesus with his [[Twelve Apostles]], "the institution of the [[Eucharist]], the institution of the [[priesthood (Catholic Church)|priesthood]], and the [[The New Commandment|commandment]] of brotherly love that Jesus gave after washing the feet of his disciples."<ref>[http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/38/ContentIndex/324/Start/319 Holy Thursday Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404061001/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/documenttext/index/2/subindex/38/contentindex/324/start/319 |date=4 April 2014 }}, 45</ref> All the [[church bell|bells of the church]], including altar bells, may be rung during the ''[[Gloria in Excelsis Deo]]'' of the Mass (the Gloria is not traditionally sung on Sundays in Lent). The bells then fall silent and the organ and other musical instruments may be used only to support the singing until the Gloria at the [[Easter Vigil]].<ref>Roman Missal, Thursday of the Lord's Supper, 7</ref><ref name="Gramenz2021"/> The Roman Missal recommends that, if considered pastorally appropriate, the priest should, immediately after the homily, celebrate the rite of [[Maundy (foot washing)#Catholic practice|washing the feet]] of customarily twelve men, recalling the number of the apostles.<ref>[https://archphila.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-Foot-Washing-1-27-16.pdf  ''Pastoral guidance for the readjusted rubric in the Roman Missal for the washing of feet'', Office for Divine Worship, Archdiocese of Philadelphia]</ref>

In the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churches of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, and in Anglican churches of an Anglo-Catholic churchmanship, a sufficient number of [[host (liturgy)|hosts]] are consecrated for use also in the Good Friday liturgy, and at the conclusion the Blessed Sacrament is carried in procession to a place of reposition away from the main body of the church, which, if it involves an altar, is often called an "[[altar of repose]]".<ref>{{cite book|title=The Anglican Service Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jN4wspXqHBkC&pg=PA171|year=1991|publisher=Good Shepherd Press|isbn=9780962995507|page=171|quote=Sufficient bread and wine may be consecrated on this day for the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday. The Sacrament is then taken to an altar of repose where the faithful are asked to "watch and pray". The altar, symbol of Christ is stripped of its vesture and the building is left bare for the solemnity of Good Friday.}}</ref><ref name="Gramenz2021"/> In some places, notably the Philippines and Malta, Catholics will travel from church to church praying at each church's altar of repose in a practice called "Visita Iglesia" or [[Seven Churches Visitation]].

In Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches, the altar has black paraments or the altar cloths are removed altogether.<ref name="Mueller2008">{{cite book|last=Mueller|first=Ella Numrich|title=Life in Germany During World War II: From Padew in Galizien, Poland to America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jvdRi81hVXwC&pg=PA25|access-date=13 April 2014|date=17 October 2008|isbn=9781463466923|page=25|publisher=AuthorHouse |quote=Good Friday was a largely celebrated day for Lutherans. The church bells did not ring, because Jesus was dead, and the altar at the church was draped in black.}}</ref><ref name="Duck2013">{{cite book|last=Duck|first=Ruth C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VcQ7AQAAQBAJ&pg=PA131|title=Worship for the Whole People of God: Vital Worship for the 21st Century|publisher=Westminster John Knox Press|year=2013|isbn=9780664234270|page=131|quote=The liturgical color is black-or no color if the paraments (altar cloths) have been stripped.|author-link=Ruth C. Duck|access-date=13 April 2014}}</ref> At the conclusion of the Maundy Thursday liturgy in Lutheran Churches, the "lectern and pulpit are [also] left bare until Easter to symbolize the humiliation and barrenness of the cross."<ref name="Fakes1994">{{cite book|last=Fakes|first=Dennis R.|title=Exploring Our Lutheran Liturgy|year=1994|publisher=CSS Publishing|language=en|isbn=9781556735967|page=34}}</ref> Methodist custom holds that apart from depictions of the [[Stations of the Cross]], other images (such as the altar cross) continue the Lenten habitude of being veiled.<ref name="Hickman2011">{{cite book|last=Hickman|first=Hoyt L.|title=United Methodist Altars: A Guide for the Congregation|date=1 July 2011|publisher=Abingdon Press|isbn=9781426730696|page=55|edition=Revised}}</ref> In the Catholic Church, the altars of the church (except the one used as the altar of repose) are later stripped quite bare and, as much as possible, crosses are removed from the church (or veiled in the pre-Vatican II rite), crucifixes and statues are covered with violet covers during Passiontide, but the crucifix covers can be white instead of violet on Maundy Thursday).<ref name="HerbermannPace1913">{{Cite CE1913 |id=07435a |title=Holy Week |last=Thurston |first=Herbert |access-date=24 March 2018 |quote=Finally, Maundy Thursday has from an early period been distinguished by the service of the Maundy, or Washing of the Feet, in memory of the preparation of Christ for the Last Supper, as also by the stripping and washing of the altars}}</ref>

===Good Friday===
{{Main|Good Friday}}
[[File:Img070406-194251.jpg|thumb|[[Good Friday]] in [[Enna]], Italy]]
[[File:Quito Proc del Jesus del Gran Poder 2010 a.jpg|thumb|A Good Friday procession in [[Ecuador]]. The man is shown holding a cross, representing the one upon which Jesus was crucified. ]]
[[File:SemanaSantaPucela.JPG|thumb|[[Holy Week in Valladolid|The General Good Friday Procession]] in [[Valladolid]], [[Spain]] in front of the City Hall. ]]
[[File:Processione delle Barette , Messina.JPG|thumb|A traditional procession of the "Barette", showing the passion of Christ, the Good Friday in [[Messina]], [[Sicily]], [[Italy]]]]

Good Friday commemorates the [[crucifixion of Jesus]] and his subsequent death. Commemorations of often solemn and mournful, many denominations use Good Friday to perform the [[Stations of the Cross]], or other commemorations of the Passion, either as a self-guided time of reflection and veneration or as a procession of statues or images of the stations.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The evening liturgical celebration on Holy Thursday begins the first of three days in the Easter Triduum, which continues in an atmosphere of liturgical mourning throughout the next day, in spite of the name "Good" given in English to the day.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

For Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, Reformed and Anglican Christians, Good Friday is widely observed as a [[fasting|fast day]].<ref name="RipleyDana1883">{{cite book|last1=Ripley|first1=George|last2=Dana|first2=Charles Anderson|title=The American Cyclopaedia: A Popular Dictionary for General Knowledge|url=https://archive.org/details/americancyclopa06danagoog|year=1883|publisher=D. Appleton and Company|language=en |page=[https://archive.org/details/americancyclopa06danagoog/page/n108 101]|quote=The Protestant Episcopal, Lutheran, and Reformed churches, as well as many Methodists, observe the day by fasting and special services.}}</ref> ''A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent'' recommends the Lutheran guideline to "fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday with only one simple meal during the day, usually without meat".<ref name="ELCA1978">{{cite web|url=http://www.ststephenlutheranchurch.org/pdf/Disciplines%20of%20Lent-%20Handbook.pdf|title=A Handbook for the Discipline of Lent|last=Weitzel|first=Thomas L.|year=1978|publisher=Evangelical Lutheran Church in America|language=en|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=17 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317164940/http://www.ststephenlutheranchurch.org/pdf/Disciplines%20of%20Lent-%20Handbook.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Western Catholic Church practice is to have only one full meal with, if needed, two small snacks that together do not make a full meal. The Anglican Communion defines fasting more generically as: "The amount of food eaten is reduced."<ref>{{cite book|title=A Catechism as used by – The Church of the Province of Southern Africa |url=http://www.anglicancommunion.org/resources/acis/docs/cat1.cfm|publisher=The Anglican Communion |quote=Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are Fast Days, when the amount of food eaten is reduced.}}</ref>

In some countries, such as Malta, Philippines, Italy, and Spain processions with statues representing the Passion of Christ are held.

* The church mourns for Christ's death, reveres the cross, and marvels at his life for his obedience until death.
* In the Catholic Church, the only sacraments celebrated are [[Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)|Penance]] and Anointing of the Sick. While there is no celebration of the Eucharist, Holy Communion is distributed to the faithful only in the Celebration of the Lord's Passion, but can be taken at any hour to the sick who are unable to attend this liturgy.
* Outside the afternoon liturgical celebration, the altar remains completely bare in Catholic churches, without altar cloth, candlesticks, or cross. In Lutheran and Methodist churches, the altar is usually draped in black.
* It is customary to empty the holy water fonts in preparation for the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/LawText/Index/6/LawIndex/46 |title=Letter of the Congregation for Divine Worship, 14 March 2003 |access-date=21 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419021227/http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/LawText/Index/6/LawIndex/46 |archive-date=19 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord takes place in the afternoon, ideally at three o'clock, but for pastoral reasons a later hour may be chosen.
* In the Catholic Church the colour of the vestments is red. The Lutheran Church, Methodist Church, and Presbyterian Church continue to use black, as was the practice of the Catholic Church until 1970. If a bishop celebrates, he wears a plain [[mitre]].
* The Roman Rite liturgy consists of three parts: the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.
:Liturgy of the Word
::''Prostration'' of the celebrant before the [[altar]].
::The ''readings'' from [[Book of Isaiah|Isaiah]] 53 (about the [[Isaiah 53|Suffering Servant]]) and the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] are read.
::The ''Passion narrative'' of the [[Gospel of John]] is sung or read, often divided between more than one singer or reader.
::''General Intercessions'': The congregation prays for the Church, the Pope, the Jews, non-Christians, unbelievers and others.
:''Veneration of the Cross'': A [[crucifix]] is solemnly unveiled before the congregation. The people venerate it on their knees. During this part, the "Reproaches" are often sung.
:''Distribution of Holy Communion'': Hosts consecrated at the Mass of the previous day are distributed to the people. (Before the reform of [[Pope Pius XII]], only the priest received Communion in the framework of what was called the "[[Mass of the Presanctified]]", which included the usual Offertory prayers, with the placing of wine in the chalice, but which omitted the [[Canon of the Mass]].<ref name=prePXII/>) The Good Friday liturgy is not a [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]], and in fact, celebration of Catholic Mass on Good Friday is forbidden. It is the [[Eucharist]] consecrated the evening before ([[Maundy Thursday|Holy Thursday]]) that is distributed.

* Even if music is used in the Liturgy, it is not used to open and close the Liturgy, nor is there a formal recessional (closing procession).
* The solemnity and somberness of the occasion has encouraged the persistence over the centuries of liturgical forms without substantial modification<!-- (Anton Baumstark) -->.
* It was once customary in some countries, especially England, to place a veiled [[monstrance]] with the [[Blessed Sacrament]] or a cross in a [[Easter Sepulchre|Holy Sepulchre]].<ref>[http://www.ecclsoc.org/ritesofdurham.html The Easter Sepulchre Ceremony in Durham Abbey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517114200/http://www.ecclsoc.org/ritesofdurham.html |date=17 May 2008 }}; [http://www.elfinspell.com/AndrewsEaster.html ''Old Church Lore'' by William Andrews]</ref>
* If crucifixes were covered starting with the next to last Sunday in Lent, they are unveiled without ceremony after the Good Friday liturgy.

In some parishes of the Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Lutheran Church, and Methodist Church, the "[[Three Hours' Agony|Three Hours Devotion]]" is observed. This traditionally consists of a series of sermons, interspersed with singing, one on each of the [[Seven Last Words from the Cross]], together with an introduction and a conclusion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=2719&repos=1&subrepos=0&searchid=1303558|title=Library : Sermons on the Three Hours' Agony|website=www.catholicculture.org}}</ref><ref name="Pfatteicher2013">{{cite book|last=Pfatteicher|first=Philip H.|title=Living the Liturgical Year|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X15pAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA212|access-date=13 April 2014|date=23 September 2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199997138|page=212|quote=The Three-Hour (''Tre-ore'') service, an extra-liturgical (that is, outside the liturgical tradition) service, held to mark the hours of Christ's passion from noon until three in the afternoon, was instituted by the Jesuits on the occasion of the [[1687 Peru earthquake]]. The service was introduced into the Church of England in the 1860s and was for a time widely observed in Anglican and Lutheran and some Catholic churches. A prominent feature was preaching on the "Seven Last Words" of Jesus from the cross, a conflation of the accounts in the four Gospels.}}</ref>

Another pious exercise carried out on Good Friday is that of the [[Stations of the Cross]], either within the church or outside. The celebration at the [[Colosseum]] with participation by the pope has become a traditional event.<ref>[https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-03/pope-himself-writing-mediations-for-via-crucis-at-rome-colosseum.html  ''Pope Francis writing meditations for Good Friday Way of the Cross'', Vatican News]</ref>

The [[Novena]] to the [[Divine Mercy (Catholic devotion)|Divine Mercy]] begins on that day and lasts until the Saturday before [[Divine Mercy Sunday|the Feast of Mercy]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.milosierdzie.pl/index.php/en/the-devotion-to-the-divine-mercy.html |title=Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy |access-date=28 April 2019 |archive-date=15 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515041244/https://www.milosierdzie.pl/index.php/en/the-devotion-to-the-divine-mercy.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://saint-faustina.net/swieto_milosierdzia/nowenna/novena.htm |title=Saint Faustina |access-date=28 April 2019 |archive-date=28 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428125543/http://saint-faustina.net/swieto_milosierdzia/nowenna/novena.htm |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

[[Moravian Church|Moravians]] hold a [[Lovefeast]] on Good Friday as they receive Holy Communion on [[Maundy Thursday]]. Communicants of the Moravian Church practice the Good Friday tradition of cleaning [[God's Acre|gravestones in Moravian cemeteries]].<ref name="WSJ2020">{{cite web |title=PHOTOS: Cleaning Moravian gravestones, a Good Friday tradition |url=https://www.journalnow.com/news/local/photos-cleaning-moravian-gravestones-a-good-friday-tradition |publisher=[[Winston-Salem Journal]] |access-date=11 April 2020 |language=en |date=10 April 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Holy Saturday (Black Saturday)===
{{Main|Holy Saturday}}
[[File:HolySaturdayDivineLiturgy.jpg|thumb|Divine Liturgy of [[Holy Saturday]] in a Greek Orthodox church in the United States]]
[[File:Caracolo.jpg|thumb|[[Holy Saturday]] in [[Caulonia]], Italy]]

Holy Saturday is the day between the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection. As the [[Sabbath day]], the Gospel accounts all note that Jesus was hurriedly buried in a cave tomb after his crucifixion, with the intent to finish proper embalming and burial ceremonies on Sunday, after the Sabbath had ended, as the Sabbath day prohibitions would have prevented observant Jews from completing a proper burial.

In the Catholic tradition after the Good Friday service, which represents the burial of Jesus, until the [[Easter Vigil]] on Saturday night, no mass takes place whatsoever on Holy Saturday. The celebration of the Easter Vigil liturgically belongs to Easter Sunday.
{{Blockquote|On Holy Saturday, the Church waits at the Lord's tomb, in prayer and fasting, meditating on his Passion and Death and on his Descent into Hell and awaiting his Resurrection. The Church abstains from the Sacrifice of the Mass, with the sacred table left bare, until after the solemn Vigil, that is, the anticipation by night of the Resurrection, when the time comes for paschal joys, the abundance of which overflows to occupy fifty days. Holy Communion may only be given on this day as [[Viaticum]].<ref>Roman Missal, Holy Saturday</ref>}}

In some Anglican churches, including the [[Episcopal Church in the United States]], there is provision for a simple liturgy of the word with readings commemorating the burial of Christ.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The doors of the empty tabernacle of the main altar are left open, to symbolise that Jesus Christ is gone. The lamp or candle usually situated next to the tabernacle denoting the presence of Christ is blown out.<ref>[https://nolacatholic.org/news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the  ''Everything You Need to Know about the Sacred Triduum'', Archdiocese of New Orleans]{{dead link|date=November 2024}}</ref>

{{Main|Easter Vigil}}
[[File:Praecentor.JPG|thumb|right|A Lutheran deacon holding the [[Paschal candle]] during the Easter Vigil]]

In the Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Presbyterian traditions, the Easter Vigil, one of the longest and most solemn of liturgical liturgies, lasts up to three or four hours, consists of four parts:<ref name="Ramshaw2004"/><ref name="Jr.2002">{{cite book|title=Presbyterian Worship: A Guide for Clergy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gNiHA25B2WQC&pg=PA102|access-date=13 April 2014|year=2002|publisher=Geneva Press|isbn=9780664502188|page=102|quote=The Easter Vigil consists of four parts: the Service of Light, the service of Readings (the Word), the celebration of Baptism, and the celebration of the Lord's Supper.|author=J. Dudley Weaver Jr.}}</ref>
# The Service of Light
# The Liturgy of the Word
# The Liturgy of Baptism: The sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation for new members of the Church and the Renewal of Baptismal Promises by the entire congregation.
# [[Holy Eucharist]]

The Liturgy begins after sundown on [[Holy Saturday]] as the crowd gathers inside the unlit church. In the darkness (often in a side chapel of the church building or, preferably, outside the church), a new fire is kindled and blessed by the priest. This new fire symbolizes the light of salvation and hope that God brought into the world through Christ's Resurrection, dispelling the darkness of sin and death. From this fire is lit the [[Paschal candle]], symbolizing the Light of Christ. This Paschal candle will be used throughout the Eastertide, remaining in the sanctuary of the Church or near the lectern, and is kept in the baptistry throughout the liturgical year so that in the celebrations of baptisms the candles of the baptized may be lit from the candle.<ref>''Paschale Sollemnitatis'', Circular Letter concerning the preparation and celebration of the Easter feasts, No. 99</ref>

[[File:Osternacht.jpg|thumb|Candles lit for the Easter Vigil at [[Heiligenkreuz Abbey]] in Austria]]
The candles of those present are lit from the Paschal candle. As this symbolic "light of Christ" spreads throughout those gathered, the darkness is decreased. A deacon, or the priest if there is no deacon, carries the Paschal Candle at the head of the entrance procession and, at three points, stops and chants the proclamation "The Light of Christ" (until Easter 2011, the official English text was "Christ our Light"), to which the people respond "Thanks be to God". Once the procession concludes with the singing of the third proclamation, the lights throughout the church are lit, except for the altar candles. Then the deacon or a cantor chants the [[Exultet]], also called the "Easter Proclamation". After that, the people extinguish their candles and sit down for the Liturgy of the Word.<ref name="schott.erzabtei-beuron.de">[https://schott.erzabtei-beuron.de/osterzeit/ostersonntag/NachtA.htm ''Hochfest der Auferstehung des Herrn, Die Feier der Osternacht'', Schott]</ref>

The Liturgy of the Word includes nine readings, seven (or at least three) from the [[Old Testament]], followed by two from the New (an Epistle and a Gospel). The reading of the crossing of the Red Sea (Ex 14) must never be omitted. Each Old Testament reading is followed by a psalm or canticle (such as Exodus 15:1–18 and a prayer relating what has been read to the Mystery of Christ.<ref name="schott.erzabtei-beuron.de"/>

After the Old Testament readings conclude, the [[Gloria in excelsis Deo]], which has been suspended during Lent, is intoned and bells are rung. A reading from the [[Epistle to the Romans]] is proclaimed. The [[Alleluia]] is sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent. The [[Gospel]] of the Resurrection then follows, together with the [[Responsorial psalmody]].<ref name="schott.erzabtei-beuron.de"/>

After the conclusion of the Liturgy of the Word, the water of the [[baptismal font]] is blessed and any [[catechumen]]s or candidates for full communion are initiated into the church, by [[baptism]] or [[Confirmation (sacrament)|confirmation]]. After the celebration of these sacraments of initiation, the congregation renews their baptismal vows and receive the sprinkling of [[holy water|baptismal water]]. The general intercessions follow.<ref name="schott.erzabtei-beuron.de"/>

After the Liturgy of Baptism, the Liturgy of the [[Eucharist]] continues as usual. This is the first Mass of Easter Day. During the Eucharist, the newly baptised receive Holy Communion for the first time. According to the rubrics of the [[Missal]], the Easter vigil "ends before the dawn on the Sunday".<ref>Roman Missal No. 21</ref>

===Easter Day===
{{Main|Easter}}
[[File:Last-supper-from-Kremikovtsi.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Last Supper]] celebrated by Jesus and his disciples. The early Christians, too, would have celebrated this meal to commemorate Jesus's death and subsequent resurrection.]]

Easter Day (or Easter Sunday), which immediately follows Holy Week and begins with the Easter Vigil, is the great feast day and apogee of the Christian liturgical year: on this day the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. It is the first day of the new season of the Great Fifty Days, or [[Eastertide]], which runs from Easter Day to [[Pentecost]] Sunday. The Resurrection of Christ on Easter Day is the main reason why Christians keep every Sunday as the primary day of religious observance.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Plenary indulgence===
In the Roman Catholic Church, plenary [[indulgence]] is granted once a day by the 1999 ''[[Enchiridion Indulgentiarum]]'', in the following cases:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/here-are-plenary-indulgences-available-during-holy-week|title=Here there are the plenary indulgence available during the Holy Week|date=18 April 2019 |publisher=[[National Catholic Register]]|access-date=March 26, 2024}}</ref>
# Adoration of the [[Blessed Sacrament]] for at least one half hour;
# The pious exercise of the [[Way of the Cross]];
# Recitation of the Marian [[Rosary]] or of the hymn ''[[Akathistos]]'', in church or an oratory; or in a family, a religious community, or a sodality of the faithful or, in general, when several of the faithful are gathered for any good purpose;
# The [[Faith|devout]] reading or listening to the Sacred Scriptures for at least a half an hour.

===Holy Week observances===
{{Liturgical year}}
Cities famous for their [[Holy Week procession]]s include:{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[File:LimaHolyWeek20050002.jpg|thumb|A Holy Monday Procession in [[Lima]], [[Peru]]]]

{| class="wikitable"	
|-
!Country
!City
|-
| Colombia
| [[Santa Cruz de Mompox]]<br /> [[Popayán]]<br /> [[Tunja]]<br /> [[Pamplona, Colombia|Pamplona]]
|-
| Costa Rica
| [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]]<br /> [[Heredia, Costa Rica|Heredia]]<br /> [[Cartago, Costa Rica|San Rafael de Oreamuno]]
|-
| India 
|[[Mumbai]] <br /> [[Delhi]] <br /> [[Chennai]] <br /> [[Kolkata]] <br /> [[Vasai-Virar]] <br />
|-
| Guatemala
| [[Holy Week processions in Guatemala]]<br /> [[Antigua Guatemala]]<br /> [[Guatemala City]]
|-
| Honduras
| [[Comayagua]]<br /> [[Tegucigalpa]]
|-
| Ecuador
| [[Quito]]
|-
| El Salvador
| [[Sonsonate, El Salvador|Sonsonate]]
|-
| Indonesia
| [[Larantuka]]
|-
| Mexico
|[[Holy Week in Mexico]]<br /> [[Passion Play of Iztapalapa|Iztapalapa]]
|-
| Nicaragua
| [[Managua]]<br /> [[Granada, Nicaragua|Granada]]<br /> [[León, Nicaragua|León]]
|-
| Philippines
| {{collapsible list|[[Angono, Rizal]] | [[Antipolo]] | [[Baguio]] | [[Good Friday processions in Baliuag|Baliuag, Bulacan]] | [[Bantayan Island]] | [[Cebu City]] | [[Capas, Tarlac]] | [[Guagua, Pampanga]] | [[Iloilo City]] | [[Legazpi, Albay|Legazpi]] | [[Oas, Albay]] | [[Makati]] | [[Manila]] | [[Manaoag, Pangasinan]] | [[Meycauayan]] | [[Mogpog]], [[Marinduque]] | [[Morong, Rizal]] | [[Naga, Camarines Sur]] | [[Paete, Laguna]] | [[Parañaque]] | [[San Pablo, Laguna]] | [[San Fernando, Pampanga]] | [[Santa Rita, Pampanga]] | [[Sasmuan, Pampanga]] | [[Vigan]] | [[Taguig]] | [[Las Piñas]] | [[Olongapo City]] | [[Zambales]]}}
|- 
| Peru
| [[Ayacucho]]<br /> [[Cusco]]<br /> [[Huaraz]]<br /> [[Tarma]]
|-
| [[Holy Week in Spain|Spain]]
| {{collapsible list | [[León, Spain|León]] | [[Seville]] | [[Valladolid]] | [[Zamora, Spain|Zamora]] | [[Jerez de la Frontera]] | [[Palencia]]  | [[Málaga]] | [[Cartagena, Spain|Cartagena]] | [[Cádiz]] | [[Murcia]] | [[Alicante]] | [[Ferrol, Galicia|Ferrol]]  | [[Ávila, Spain|Ávila]]}}
|-
| Venezuela 
| [[Tacarigua de Mamporal]]<br />[[Guatire]]<br /> [[Caracas]]<br /> [[Villa de Cura]]
|-
| Vietnam
| [[:vi:Tuần Thánh|Tuần Thánh]]
|}

==== Brazil ====
[[File:Igreja Santo Antônio, Florianópolis, Brasil 000.JPG|thumb|A church in [[Florianópolis]], Brazil, preparated for the Good Friday celebrations.]]

Holy Week has developed into one of Brazil's main symbols of community identity, more specifically in the southern town of Campanha. The Campanha Holy Week begins on the Monday evening with the Procession of the Deposit. The figure of Our Lord of the Stations, representing the blood-stained Jesus carrying the cross, is brought from the church in a large black box and displayed in the main square. Then it is solemnly taken to the church following a band and a procession of people.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|last=Ribeiro|first=Patricia|title=Easter in Brazil|url=http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/p/brazholyweek.htm|access-date=9 December 2013|archive-date=12 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212091157/http://gobrazil.about.com/od/festivalsevents/p/brazholyweek.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite journal|last=Reily|first=Suzel Ana |title=Remembering the Baroque Era: Historical Consciousness, Local Identity and the Holy Week Celebrations in a Former Mining Town in Brazil |journal=Ethnomusicology Forum|date=June 2006|volume=15|issue=1|pages=39–62|doi=10.1080/17411910600634247 |jstor=20184539|s2cid=161691187 }}</ref>

Outside the church, a sermon is delivered on the Easter story of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. After the sermon, a choir inside the open doors of the church sings the [[Psalm 51|Miserere]] by Manoel Dias de Oliveria, while the black box is brought inside the church, and people come in to kiss the human-sized figure of Christ. Processions on Tuesday and Wednesday stop at different chapels at each of which a large painting portrays episodes of the Way of the Cross and a related hymn is sung at each. On Thursday morning the Chrism Mass is celebrated, with a blessing of the oils.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>

Good Friday afternoon ceremonies are followed by the week's main spectacle of the Taking Down from the Cross in front of the cathedral followed by the Funeral Procession of Our Dead Lord. The drama shows Christ being taken from the cross and placed in a coffin, which is then taken around to the accompaniment of the "Song of Veronica". On Saturday morning a drama is performed by the youth.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>

The following night, the Paschal Vigil is celebrated, and the streets are transformed into a beautiful array of intricate, colorful carpets to prepare for the following day. Easter Sunday begins before sunrise with the singing of the choir and band performances to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Bells and fireworks are followed by a Mass that ends with the "Hallelujah Chorus".<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/>

==== Guatemala ====
[[File:Procesi%C3%B3n_de_Jes%C3%BAs_de_los_Milagros,_Iglesia_de_San_Jos%C3%A9,_ciudad_de_Guatemala,_en_Domingo_de_Ramos.JPG|thumb|Jesús de los Milagros procession, San José Church, [[Palm Sunday]] in [[Guatemala City]]]]

Holy Week in Guatemala incorporates processions with images of saints carried on huge wooden platforms. The heavy ''andas'' are held by the locals, both men and women, who are frequently in purple robes. The procession is led by a man holding a container of incense accompanied by a small horn and flute band. Intricate carpets (''alfombras'') line the streets during the week's celebration. Easter processions begin at sunrise and everyone comes to join the festivities.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

In Amatenango, the figure of Judas, who betrayed Christ has been the main point of focus during the Mayan Holy Week. The priest calls Judas the "killer of Christ". The figure used to be beaten after the Crucifixion performance on Good Friday, but is now treated more calmly.<ref>{{cite book|last=Shapiro|first=Michael|title=Guatemala: a Journey Through the Land of the Maya|year=2008|publisher=Purple Moon Publications; 1st edition|isbn=9780615210582}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Nash|first=June|title=Judas Transformed [Maya, Holy Week]|journal=Natural History|year=1994|volume=103|issue=3}}</ref>

==== Honduras ====
[[File:Holy Week procession Comayagua Honduras (2).jpg|thumb|Holy Week in [[Comayagua]], Honduras.]]

The hollyday is celebrated in [[Comayagua]]. The tradition its still practiced as the same way that was introduced in the 16th century by the Spanish conquerors. Every Holy Week people make the famous ''alfombras de aserrín'' or colored carpets made of wood dust that represent a scene of the life and death of [[Jesus Christ]] of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Virgin Mary]] and other saints or the [[Holy Spirit in Christianity|Holy spirit]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Holy Week is also widely celebrated in [[Tegucigalpa]] following similar traditions of Comayagua, mostly in the historic center of the city, Similar to Guatemala, the Honduran Holy Week incorporates processions with images of saints carried on huge wooden platforms. In other communities as [[Gracias|Gracias Lempira]] and different towns is still widely celebrated.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

====Italy====
{{main|Easter in Italy}}
[[File:A Nuttata Ri Misteri !.jpg|thumb|The "[[Misteri di Trapani|Misteri]]", the Holy Week procession in [[Trapani]]]]
[[File:SGB 19 04 2019 61.jpg|thumb|[[Holy Week in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto]], [[Italy]]]]
[[File:Otto Santi Ruvo 2023.jpg|thumb|[[Holy Week in Ruvo di Puglia]], [[Italy]]]]

[[Easter in Italy]] ({{langx|it|Pasqua}}, {{IPA|it|ˈpaskwa|pron}}) is one of the [[public holidays in Italy|country's major holidays]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ellci.net/easter-how-does-italy-celebrate-this-festivity/|title=Easter: How does Italy celebrate this festivity?|date=8 April 2019 |access-date=6 January 2024}}</ref> Holy Week ({{langx|it|Settimana santa}}, {{IPA|it|settiˈmaːna ˈsanta|pron}}) is observed in parts of [[Southern Italy]], notably [[Sicily]]. The most famous is the Holy Week of [[Trapani]], culminating in the [[Processione dei Misteri di Trapani]] or simply the ''Misteri di Trapani'' (in English the Procession of the Mysteries of Trapani or the Mysteries of Trapani). This is a day-long passion procession featuring 20 floats of lifelike sculptures made of wood, canvas and glue. These sculptures are of individual scenes of the events of the Passion, a passion play at the centre and the culmination of the Holy Week in Trapani. The ''Misteri'' are amongst the oldest continuously running religious events in Europe, having been played every [[Good Friday]] since before the Easter of 1612, and running for at least 16 continuous hours, but occasionally well beyond 24 hours, are the longest religious festivals in Sicily and in Italy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trapani and Its Mysteries |url=http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/religion-and-spirituality/italys-easter-celebrations/trapani-and-its-mysteries.html |website=Italian Tourism Official Website |language=en |date=23 March 2015 |access-date=5 January 2024 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617083713/http://www.italia.it/en/travel-ideas/religion-and-spirituality/italys-easter-celebrations/trapani-and-its-mysteries.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Holy Weeks worthy of note in Italy are also the [[Holy Week in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto]] and the [[Holy Week in Ruvo di Puglia]]. The Holy Week in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto is rooted in the history of Spanish Sicily (1516–1713) when the entire island subject to the domination of [[Crown of Aragon]], combined with the [[Kingdom of Naples]] passes under the jurisdiction of the [[Crown of Spain]]. In 1571 "Pozzogottesi" obtained from the Grand Court of the Archbishop of [[Messina]] permission to elect their chaplain stationed in [[Saint Vitus]] no longer depend from the Archpriest of [[Milazzo]]. The first procession is carried out in 1621 as a movement of protest against the Jurors of the city of [[Milazzo]], under whose jurisdiction Pozzo di Gotto depended politically and physically by providing a distant village and as a vow and promise to break the bond of subordination constraint which was permanently discontinued on the 22 May 1639.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.strettoweb.com/2021/04/sumana-santa-barcellona-pozzo-di-gotto-origini-vare-pasqua/1153791/|title=La Sumana Santa di Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto: le origini delle splendide Vare che celebrano la Pasqua siciliana|date=3 April 2021 |access-date=5 January 2024|language=it}}</ref>

The rites of the [[Holy Week in Ruvo di Puglia]] are the main event that takes place in the Apulian town. Folklore and sacred or secular traditions, typical of the ruvestine tradition, represent a great attraction for tourists from neighboring cities and the rest of Italy and Europe,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Di Palo |first=Francesco |title=I Giorni del Sacro |publisher=Centro Stampa Litografica |year=1999 |location=Terlizzi |pages=6 |language=Italian}}</ref> and have been included by the [[Istituto centrale per il patrimonio immateriale|I.D.E.A.]] among the events of the intangible heritage of Italy. The proof of the existence of the first Ruvestines confraternities can be found in the [[polyptych]], a [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] work signed Z. T., depicting the ''Madonna with Child and confreres'' in which the inscription ''"Hoc opus fieri fec(e)runt, confratres san(c)ti Cleti, anno salut(i)s 1537"'' and preserved in the church of Purgatory, in the left aisle, the one dedicated to Saint Anacletus.<ref>{{cite web|url=
http://www.pugliadigitallibrary.it/media/00/00/38/857.pdf|title=Cielo e terra|access-date=5 January 2024|language=it|page=134}}</ref>

====Malta====
{{Main|Holy Week in Malta}}

The Holy Week commemorations reach their paramount on Good Friday as the Catholic Church celebrates the passion of Jesus. Solemn celebrations take place in all churches together with processions in different villages around [[Malta]] and [[Gozo]]. During the celebration, the narrative of the passion is read in some localities. The Cross follows a significant Way of Jesus. Good Friday processions take place in [[Birgu]], [[Bormla]], [[Għaxaq]], [[Luqa]], [[Mosta]], [[Naxxar]], [[Paola, Malta|Paola]], [[Qormi]], [[Rabat]], [[Senglea]], [[Valletta]], [[Żebbuġ, Malta|Żebbuġ]] and [[Żejtun]]. Processions in Gozo will be in [[Nadur]], [[Victoria, Gozo|Victoria]], [[Xagħra]] Xewkija, and [[Żebbuġ, Gozo|Żebbuġ]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==== Mexico and United States: Yaqui Indians ====
{{Main|Holy Week in Mexico}}
[[File:Semana santa triqui en Santo Domingo del Estado.jpg|thumb|[[Holy Week in Mexico]]]]

Yaqui Holy Week is both ritualistic and dramaturgic in its celebrations. The rituals date back to the early seventeenth century, at the time of pioneering [[Jesuit]] priest.<ref name="rimjournal" /> The major event of the Yaqui Indians during Holy Week occurs on Wednesday evening in which people arrive at the church on horseback and begin to crawl and dance naked on the floor. Light begins to go out and people begin the whipping, screaming and crying to the sound of traditional music of sacrifice. In [[Tucson]], dancers are used to wear dark coats and black hide masks, instead of blankets.<ref name="rimjournal">{{Cite web|url=http://www.rimjournal.com/arizyson/easter.htm/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818031742/http://www.rimjournal.com/arizyson/easter.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 August 2000|title=Yaqui and Mayo Indian Easter ceremonies|accessdate=15 May 2024}}</ref>

Children in white robes with blue painted faces and a dark hooded figure, symbolizing the betrayer of Christ, join the Thursday morning procession to the church. There they promise to serve God for the next three or five years, until their eyes start to bleed just like Christ's would. That night, there is a symbolic search for Jesus when the "Pharisees" visit various crosses in the streets and capture the "old man" (symbolic Jesus). On Friday 
a member of the church who volunteers to represent Jesus is beaten and buried for two days. On Saturday, an image of Jesus Christ's betrayer, [[Judas Iscariot]], and takes place an [[apotropaic magic|apotropaic]] battle destroying the evil which has been accumulated in the town during the next year. Sunday celebrates Christ's resurrection filled with beautiful flowers and fireworks, while the volunteer rises from where he was buried. A dance drama is performed enacting evil being defeated by good.<ref>{{cite journal|last=McGuire|first=Thomas|title=Ritual, Theater, and the Persistence of the Ethnic Group: Interpreting Yaqui Semana Santa|journal=Journal of the Southwest|year=1989|volume=31|issue=2|pages=159–178|jstor=40169672}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Fein|first=Judith|title=Week Celebrations of the Yaqui Indians|url=http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2012/04/08/resurrection-reenacted-by-yaqui/|access-date=9 December 2013|work=Fox News|date=8 April 2012}}</ref>

====Philippines====
{{Main|Holy Week in the Philippines}}
[[File:Catholic devotees flock to the Manila Cathedral on Maundy Thursday (March 29, 2018) for the traditional Visita Iglesia, a Holy Week practice of visiting and praying in at least seven churches (ASC 1272).jpg|thumb|Catholic devotees flock to [[Manila Cathedral]] on March 29, 2018, for the traditional ''[[Visita Iglesia]]''.]]

In the predominantly Catholic [[Philippines]], Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are national holidays; work is suspended in government offices and private businesses. Most stores are closed and most people in the cities return to their home provinces to commemorate Holy Week in their home town.<ref name="UCANews-Philippines">{{cite news |last1=Lopez |first1=Eloisa |last2=Torres |first2=Joe |title=Traditions keep Holy Week alive in the Philippines |url=https://www.ucanews.com/news/traditions-keep-holy-week-alive-in-the-philippines/75536 |access-date=19 December 2022 |work=[[Union of Catholic Asian News]] |date=March 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403085538/https://www.ucanews.com/news/traditions-keep-holy-week-alive-in-the-philippines/75536 |archive-date=April 3, 2016 |location=Manila |language=en}}</ref>

Holy Week is commemorated with street processions featuring wheeled ''carrozas'' or floats carrying various icons, the [[Way of the Cross]], and a [[Passion play]] called the ''Senákulo'' In some communities (most famously in [[City of San Fernando, Pampanga|San Fernando]], [[Pampanga]]), the processions include devotees who self-flagellate and sometimes even have themselves nailed to crosses as expressions of penance.<ref name="UCANews-Philippines" /> After 15:00 [[Philippine Standard Time|PHT]] on Good Friday (the time at which Jesus is traditionally believed to have died), noise is discouraged,<ref name="SunStarPH" /> many [[radio|radio stations]] and [[television|television stations]] [[closedown|close down]] (some broadcast religious programming, with non-Catholic owned stations continuing broadcast), and the faithful are urged to keep a solemn and prayerful disposition through to [[Easter]] Sunday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

At [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] on [[Palm Sunday]], Catholics carry "palaspás" or palm leaves to be blessed by the priest. Many Filipinos bring home the palm leaves after the Mass and place these above their front doors or their windows, believing that doing so can ward off evil spirits.<ref name="SunStarPH">{{cite news |title=Filipino superstitions and practices during Holy Week |url=https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ampArticle/425888 |access-date=19 December 2022 |work=[[SunStar]] |date=28 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221219050116/https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ampArticle/425888 |archive-date=19 December 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Holy Monday marks the beginning of the ''Pabasa'' ([[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], "reading"), the marathon chanting of the [[Pasyon|Pasyón]], a [[poem]] narrating Jesus Christ's life and death.<ref name="Clanton-2020">{{cite book |last1=Jr |first1=Dan W. Clanton |last2=Clark |first2=Terry R. |title=The Oxford Handbook of the Bible and American Popular Culture |date=24 November 2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-046142-3 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=M-MJEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA497 497] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M-MJEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> The chanting, which continues day and night without interruption, lasts as long as two straight days.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

One of the most important Holy Week traditions in the Philippines is the ''[[Seven Churches Visitation|Visita Iglesia]]'' (Spanish for "church visit").<ref name=PhilStar2015>{{cite news|last1=Vila|first1=Alixandra Caole|title=IN PHOTOS: A look at churches where Pinoys spend Visita Iglesia|url=http://www.philstar.com/travel-and-tourism/2015/04/02/1440184/photos-look-churches-where-pinoys-spend-visita-iglesia|access-date=13 April 2015|agency=philstar.com|newspaper=The Philippine Star|date=2 April 2015}}</ref> On Maundy Thursday, the faithful visit seven churches to pray the [[Stations of the Cross]], and in the evenings, pray in front of each church's Altar of Repose.<ref name=GMA2015>{{cite news|last1=Bartolome|first1=Jessica|title=Doing the Visita Iglesia in Metro Manila|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/463006/lifestyle/artandculture/map-doing-the-visita-iglesia-in-metro-manila|access-date=13 April 2015|agency=GMA News|date=1 April 2015}}</ref>

The last Mass before [[Easter]] is also celebrated on Maundy Thursday, usually including a reenactment of the [[Washing of the Feet]] of the [[Twelve Apostles|Apostles]]. This Mass is followed by the procession of the [[Blessed Sacrament]] to be transferred to the [[Altar of Repose]].<ref name="UCANews-Philippines" /> [[Good Friday]] in the Philippines is commemorated with street processions, the [[Way of the Cross]], the commemoration of the [[Seven last words]] and a Passion play called the [[Passion play|Senakulo]].<ref name="Clanton-2020" /><ref name="UCANews-Philippines" />

Easter Day is marked with joyous celebration, the first being the dawn ''[[Salubong]]'' rite, wherein statues of Jesus and Mary are brought in procession together to meet, imagining the first reunion of Jesus and his mother Mary after the [[Resurrection]]. This is followed by the joyous Easter Mass. Most Catholic communities across the Philippines practice this, though it is more popularly celebrated in the provinces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/254165/lifestyle/artandculture/easter-salubong-rooted-in-culture-family-ties|title=Easter Salubong: Rooted in culture, family ties|website=GMA News Online|date=7 April 2012 |access-date=29 March 2016}}</ref> The rite, originally called the ''encuentro'', was introduced by Spanish priests during the colonial era.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/382513/faithful-rejoice-at-salubong|title=Faithful rejoice at 'salubong'|last=Tubeza|first=Philip C.|website=newsinfo.inquirer.net|date=April 2013|access-date=29 March 2016}}</ref>

====Spain====
{{Main|Holy Week in Spain}}
[[File:Holy Week in Jerez de la Frontera 20220306 155056.jpg|thumb|Holy Week in [[Jerez de la Frontera]], [[Spain]]]]
[[File:Carroza de la visión de San Juan, conocida como "la bola", Paso Blanco, Semana Santa Lorca.jpg|thumb|Holy week in [[Lorca, Spain]]]]

Among other cities [[Lorca, Spain|Lorca]], [[Granada]], [[Murcia]], [[Málaga]], [[Valladolid]], [[Palencia]], [[Jerez de la Frontera]], [[Zamora, Spain|Zamora]], [[León, Spain|León]] or [[Ferrol, Galicia|Ferrol]] hold elaborate processions for Holy Week. A tradition dating from [[Middle Ages|medieval times]] that has spread to other cities in [[Andalusia]], the ''"Semana Santa en Sevilla"'' is notable for featuring the procession of "'''pasos'''", lifelike wood or plaster sculptures of individual scenes of the events that happened between Jesus Christ's arrest and his burial, or images of the Virgin Mary showing grief for the torture and killing of her son. Holy week processions in [[Holy Week in Seville|Seville]] include marching bands that escort the pasos.<ref>Thomas M Landy, [https://www.catholicsandcultures.org/spain-marches-and-saetas-accompany-holy-week-processions "In Seville Marches And Saetas Accompany Holy Week Processions"], ''Catholics & Cultures'' updated 27 June 2018</ref>

In Málaga, the lifelike wooden or plaster sculptures are called "tronos" and they are carried through the streets by "costaleros" ( Translated literally as "sack men", because of the ''costal'', a sack-like cloth that they wear over their neck, to soften the burden). These pasos and tronos are physically carried on their necks or "braceros" (this name is popular in León). The paso can weigh up to five metric tonnes. In front of them walk the penitentes, dressed in long purple robes, often with pointed hats, followed by women in black carrying candles for up to 11 hours. The pasos are set up and maintained by ''hermandades'' and ''cofradías'', religious brotherhoods, common to a specific area of the city, who precede the paso dressed in Roman military costumes or penitential robes.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Those members who wish to do so wear these penitential robes with conical hats, or ''[[capirotes]]'', used to conceal the face of the wearer. These "Nazarenos" or "Papones" (this word is typical of León) carry processional candles, may walk the city streets barefoot, and may carry shackles and chains on their feet as penance. A brass band, marching band, a drum and bugle band, or in the cases of [[Semana Santa in Cartagena|Cartagena]] and Málaga a military band (such as that of the [[Spanish Legion]] or other military units) may accompany the group, playing funeral marches, hymns or "marchas" written for the occasion.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

===Music===
{{listen
 | filename    = Tomas Luis de Victoria O vos omnes (The Tudor Consort).ogg
 | title       = Fifth responsory for Holy Saturday
 | description = [[Tomás Luis de Victoria]]'s ''[[O vos omnes]]'' performed live by [[The Tudor Consort]] (2003)
 | format      = [[Ogg]]
}}

Music for the Holy Week includes [[Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet]], [[Responsories for Holy Week]], [[Passion oratorio]]s and [[Easter oratorio]]s.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[Tomás Luis de Victoria]]'s ''Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae'' (1585) contains settings of 37 texts for the [[Catholic liturgy]] of the Holy Week. [[Carlo Gesualdo]]'s ''[[Responsoria et alia ad Officium Hebdomadae Sanctae spectantia]]'' (1611) contains settings of all 27 [[Tenebrae]] responsories (for [[matins]] of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday), and of a few other text for use in [[lauds]] of the Holy Week. ''[[Leçons de ténèbres]]'' as composed by various French baroque composers were usually intended for performance during the evening of [[Holy Wednesday]], Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Holy Week in Eastern Christianity==

===Eastern Orthodoxy===
[[File:Общая (10587712394).jpg|thumb|[[Resurrection of Jesus]] in the Saints Peter and Paul church, [[Bilky, Khust Raion]], [[Ukraine]]]]

In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]], the forty days of [[Great Lent]] end on the Friday before Palm Sunday. The two days that follow, [[Lazarus Saturday]] and [[Palm Sunday]], form a transition to Holy Week, neither in Lent nor in Holy Week themselves, but in combination with Holy Week containing the continuing observances in preparation for [[Easter|Pascha]] (Easter), during which the faithful continue to fast.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Lazarus Saturday commemorates Jesus [[raising of Lazarus|raising Lazarus]] from the dead, just before he went to Jerusalem himself. The main themes anticipate the [[Resurrection of Jesus]], showing him as master over death. On this day wine and oil are allowed (and, in the Russian tradition, [[caviar]]), lightening the fast by one degree. Palm Sunday is considered one of the [[Great Feasts]] of the Lord, and is celebrated with fish, wine and oil, the lightest degree of fasting, in observance of the festival. Because it is a Great Feast of the Lord, the normal resurrectional elements of the Sunday [[Canonical hours|liturgies]] are omitted. However, some of these resurrectional elements are found in the Lazarus Saturday liturgy.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Holy Week is referred to as "Great and Holy Week", or "Passion Week".<ref>Triodion (standard Orthodox service book)</ref> Since the Orthodox liturgical day starts at sunset (as it has from antiquity), Holy Monday liturgies begin Sunday evening, at the normal timing for Monday Vespers (Vespers is the first liturgy of the day). However, during Holy Week, in most parishes, many liturgy times are advanced from six to twelve hours in time and celebrated in anticipation, which permits more of the faithful to attend the most prominent liturgies. Thus, it is the [[Matins#Eastern Christianity|matins]] liturgy of Great Monday that is on "Palm Sunday" evening in parish churches and often [[vespers]] is in the morning.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[Fasting]] during Great and Holy Week is very strict, as in Lent at a minimum: dairy products and meat products are strictly forbidden, and on most days, no alcoholic beverages are permitted and no oil is used in cooking. Holy Friday and Holy Saturday especially may exceed Lenten norms. Those who can, including monastics, observe them as days of abstention, meaning that nothing is eaten on those days. However, fasting is always adjusted to the needs of the individual, and those who are very young, ill or elderly are not expected to fast as strictly. Those who are able may receive the blessing of their [[spiritual father]] to observe an even stricter fast, whereby they eat only two meals that week: one on Wednesday night and one after [[Divine Liturgy]] on Thursday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

====Great and Holy Monday through Wednesday====
{{Main|Holy Monday|Holy Tuesday|Holy Wednesday}}
[[File:5208-20080122-1255UTC--jerusalem-calvary.jpg|thumb|[[Icon]] of Christ the Bridegroom, sitting above the star at [[Golgotha]] in the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]], [[Jerusalem]]]]

A new liturgical day beginning at sunset, the first liturgy of each day is [[vespers]] at which [[sticheron|stichera]] are chanted elaborating the theme of the new day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Encyclopedia Britannica {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

These days' Orthros liturgies (which in parishes is performed the previous night) are often referred to as the "Bridegroom Prayer", because of their theme of Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, a theme expressed in the [[troparion]] that is solemnly chanted during them. On these days, an [[icon]] of the "Bridegroom" is placed on an [[analogion]] in the center of the [[temple]], portraying Jesus wearing the purple [[robe]] of mockery and crowned with a [[crown of thorns]] (see [[Instruments of the Passion]]).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The same theme is repeated in the [[exapostilarion]], a hymn which occurs near the end of the liturgy. These liturgies follow much the same pattern as liturgies on weekdays of [[Great Lent]]. The liturgies are so laid out that the entire [[Psalter]] (with the exception of [[Kathisma]] XVII) is chanted on the first three days of Holy Week. The [[canon (hymnography)|canon]] that is chanted on these days is a "Triode", i.e., composed of three [[ode]]s instead of the usual nine, as is in other weekday liturgies in the [[Triodion]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Towards the end of the Tuesday evening Bridegroom liturgy (Orthros for Great and Holy Wednesday), the ''[[Kassia|Hymn of Kassiani]]'' is sung. The [[hymn]] (written in the 9th century by [[Kassia]]) tells of the woman who washed Christ's feet in the house of [[Simon the Pharisee]] ({{bibleverse||Luke|7:36–50|KJV}}). Much of the hymn is written from the perspective of the sinful woman:

<blockquote>O Lord, the woman who had fallen into many sins, sensing Your Divinity, takes upon herself the duty of a myrrh-bearer. With lamentations she brings you myrrh in anticipation of your entombment. "Woe to me!" she cries, "for me night has become a frenzy of licentiousness, a dark and moonless love of sin. Receive the fountain of my tears, O You who gathers into clouds the waters of the sea. Incline unto me, unto the sighings of my heart, O You who bowed the heavens by your ineffable condescension. I will wash your immaculate feet with kisses and dry them again with the tresses of my hair; those very feet at whose sound Eve hid herself from in fear when she heard You walking in Paradise in the twilight of the day. As for the multitude of my sins and the depths of Your judgements, who can search them out, O Savior of souls, my Savior? Do not disdain me Your handmaiden, O You who are boundless in mercy."</blockquote>

On vespers at the end of Monday through Wednesday is a reading from the Gospel which sets forth the new day's theme and then the [[Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts]] may be celebrated.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The Byzantine musical composition expresses the poetry so strongly that it leaves many people in a state of prayerful tears. The Hymn can last upwards of 25 minutes and is liturgically and musically a highpoint of the entire year.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

====Great and Holy Thursday====
{{Main|Holy Thursday}}
[[File:Omovenie nog.jpg|thumb|An Orthodox [[icon]] of Christ washing the feet of the Apostles (16th century, [[Pskov]] school of [[iconography]])]]

In many churches, especially Greek Orthodox, a liturgy of [[Anointing]] ([[Holy Unction]]) is held on Wednesday evening, following the Presanctified Liturgy. This is in commemoration of the [[anointing of Jesus]], and a preparation of the faithful to enter with Christ into his death and Resurrection. Those who wish to receive [[Holy Communion]] on Great and Holy Thursday, are encouraged to receive the [[Holy Mystery]] of Unction.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Orthros of Great and Holy Thursday does not follow the format of Great Lent (with the singular exception of chanting [[Alleluia]] in place of [[God is the Lord]]), but is celebrated as outside Lent, having a complete canon. Also, beginning at this liturgy there will be no more reading of the psalter for the rest of Holy Week, with the exception of [[kathisma]] XVII at Orthros of Great and Holy Saturday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Divine Liturgy of the [[Last Supper]] is held on the morning of Great and Holy Thursday, combining Vespers with the [[Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great]]. There is a custom among some churches to place a simple white linen cloth over the [[Holy Table]] (altar) for this Liturgy, reminiscent of the Last Supper. In cathedrals and [[monastery|monasteries]] it is customary for the [[bishop]] or [[hegumen]] (abbot) to celebrate the [[Washing of Feet]]. When it is necessary for an [[autocephalous]] church to consecrate more [[chrysm]] the [[primate (bishop)|primate]] of that church will consecrate it at this Liturgy.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Great and Holy Thursday is the only day during Holy Week when those observing the strict tradition will eat a cooked meal, though they will not do so until after the [[dismissal (liturgy)|dismissal]] of the Liturgy. At this meal wine and oil are permitted, but the faithful still abstain from meat and dairy products.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

====Great and Holy Friday====
{{Main|Good Friday}}
Matins of Great and Holy Friday is celebrated on the evening of Holy Thursday. During this liturgy, twelve [[Matins Gospel]]s are chanted, from which this liturgy derives its name of "Matins of the Twelve Gospels". These Gospel lessons recount in chronological order the events from the Last Supper through the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Crucifixion]] and [[Burial of Jesus|burial]] of Jesus. At one point, when we reach the first Gospel which speaks of the Crucifixion, there is a custom for the priest to bring out a large [[crucifix|cross]] with an [[icon]] of the crucified Christ attached to it, and places it in the center of the [[nave]] for all the faithful to venerate. This cross will remain in the center of the church until the bringing out of the [[epitaphios (liturgical)|epitaphios]] the next evening.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

On Great and Holy Friday morning the [[Royal Hours]] are served. These are a solemn celebration of the [[Little Hours]] with added hymns and readings.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[File:Hautausikoni.jpg|thumb|The Epitaphios (Plashchanitza) placed in the [[nave]] of the church for the faithful to venerate. The [[Gospel Book]] rests in the center.]]

Vespers of Great and Holy Friday (Vespers of the [[Deposition from the Cross]]) is held in the morning or early afternoon of Great and Holy Friday. The figure of Christ is taken down from the Cross, and a richly embroidered cloth icon called the ''[[Epitaphios (liturgy)|Epitaphios]]'' ([[Church Slavonic]]: ''Plashchanitza'') depicting Christ prepared for burial is laid in a "[[Holy Sepulchre|Tomb]]" decorated with flowers. At the end of the liturgy all come forward to venerate the Epitaphios.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[Compline]] of Great and Holy Friday contains a Canon of Lamentations of the [[Theotokos]] ([[Mother of God]]).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

====Great and Holy Saturday====
{{Main|Holy Saturday}}
Matins of Great and Holy Saturday is, in parish practice, held on Friday evening. The liturgy is known as the "Orthros of [[Epitaphios (liturgical)|Lamentations at the Tomb]]", because the majority of the liturgy is composed of the clergy and faithful gathered around the tomb, chanting the "Lamentations" interspersed between the verses of Kathisma XVII ([[Psalm 119|Psalm 118]]). At a certain point the priest sprinkles the tomb with rose petals and [[rose water]]. Near the end of the liturgy, the Epitaphios is carried in a candlelit procession around the outside of the church as the faithful sing the [[Trisagion]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[Vespers]] joined to the [[Divine Liturgy]] is served on Great and Holy Saturday, prescribed by the Liturgical books to be served in the afternoon but often served in the morning. This is the ''Proti Anastasi'' (First Resurrection) liturgy, commemorating the [[Harrowing of Hell]]. Just before the reading of the Gospel, the [[antependia|hangings]] and [[vestments]] and changed from dark lenten colors to white, and the entire mood of the liturgy changes from mourning to joy. However, the faithful do not yet greet one another with the [[Paschal kiss]], since the Resurrection has not yet been announced to the living.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

If there are [[catechumens]] who are prepared for [[baptism]] they are baptized and [[chrismation|chrismated]] during the Old Testament readings.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

[[File:Receiving the Holy Light at Easter.jpg|thumb|People receiving the Holy Light at Easter from Father Diogenis at St George Greek Orthodox Church, [[Adelaide]]]]

On Saturday night, the [[Paschal Vigil]] begins around 11:00&nbsp;pm with the chanting of the [[Midnight Office]]. Afterwards, all of the lighting in the church is extinguished and all remain in silence and darkness until the stroke of midnight. Then, the priest lights a single candle from the [[eternal flame]] on the altar (which is never extinguished). The light is spread from person to person until everyone holds a lighted candle.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

A procession then circles around the outside of the church, recreating the journey of the [[Myrrhbearers]] as they journeyed to the [[Tomb of Jesus]] on the first Easter morning. The procession stops in front of the closed doors of the church. The opening of these doors symbolized the "rolling away of the stone" from the tomb by the angel, and all enter the church joyfully singing the [[Troparion]] of [[Easter|Pascha]]. Paschal Orthros begins with an [[Ektenia]] (litany) and the chanting of the Paschal [[Canon (hymnography)|Canon]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

One of the highpoints is the sharing of the [[paschal kiss]] and the reading of the ''[[Paschal Homily|Hieratikon]]'' ([[Catechism|Catechetical]] [[Homily]] of [[John Chrysostom]]) by the priest. The Divine Liturgy follows, and every Orthodox Christian is encouraged to [[Confession (religion)|confess]] and receive [[Holy Communion]] on this holiest day of the year. A [[breakfast]] usually follows, sometimes lasting till dawn. Slavs bring [[Easter basket]]s filled with eggs, meat, butter, and cheese—foods from which the faithful have abstained during [[Great Lent]]—to be blessed by the priest which are then taken back home to be shared by family and friends with joy.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

On the afternoon of Easter Day, a joyful liturgy called "[[Agape feast|Agape]] Vespers" is celebrated. During this liturgy, the [[Prokeimenon|Great Prokeimenon]] is chanted and a lesson from the Gospel ({{bibleverse||John|20:19–25|KJV}}) is read in as many different languages as possible, accompanied by the joyful ringing of bells.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

===Coptic Orthodox Church===
{{Main|Pascha (Coptic Church)}}
[[File:Saint Mary Church Haret Elroum Good Friday.jpg|thumb|The [[Saint Mary Church (Haret Elroum)|Church of Saint Mary in Haret Elroum]] on [[Good Friday]]]]

The [[Coptic Orthodox]] Christians fast the Lent for 55 days including the Holy Week which they call Holy Paschal Week.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hanna |first=William A. |url=https://www.zeitun-eg.org/paschag2.pdf |title=Holy Paschal Week Guide: Brief Explanation and English Listing of the Readings (According to the Tradition and Rites Of the Coptic Orthodox Church) |date=19 April 2003}}</ref>

The Friday before Palm Sunday is called "The Concluding Friday of Great Lent". On this day a special liturgy called "The Unction of the Sick" is conducted. It consists of seven prayers and at the conclusion of the prayers, the priest anoints each member of the congregation with the holy oil.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The following day – the last Saturday before Holy Week – is called "[[Lazarus Saturday]]". On this day the Coptic Church commemorates the [[Lazarus of Bethany|Raising of Lazarus]], the brother of [[Martha]] and [[Mary of Bethany]]. This day is related to the events of Holy Week in that [[John 12]] tells of a visit of Jesus to Lazarus immediately before recounting the events of Palm Sunday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Since the liturgical day starts from the evening before a calendar day, the prayers of Palm Sunday begin on the evening of Lazarus' Saturday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Throughout Holy Week, a [[Pascha (Coptic Church)|paschal liturgy]] is conducted each evening, starting on Sunday night (the eve of Monday), and every morning, up until Easter. These paschal liturgies take place in the middle of the church, not on the altar, because Jesus suffered and was crucified on Golgotha, outside of Jerusalem. The altar is bared of all its coverings and relics.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Each day liturgy is divided into 5 "hours"; The First Hour, The Third Hour, The Sixth Hour, The Ninth Hour, and The Eleventh Hour.
Likewise, each night liturgy is also divided into the same five hours. However, Good Friday has an extra hour added to it, that of The Twelfth Hour.
During each hour, one or a few prophecies are read at the beginning, a hymn ("Thine is the Power") is chanted twelve times, a psalm is sung in a sad tune, one passage from a gospel is read, and an exposition concludes the hour.
On Good Friday Eve and [[Good Friday]], all four gospel accounts of the day's events are read,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stbasil.net/the-lectionary-of-holy-week|title=The Lectionary of Holy Week|website=St. Basil American Coptic Orthodox Church|accessdate=15 May 2024}}</ref> and more prophecies are read as well.
From Tuesday night onward, the people do not greet each other nor the priests, and do not even kiss the icons of saints in the church, because it was with a kiss that Judas betrayed Jesus.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

On Thursday of Holy Week, also called Covenant Thursday, a liturgy is prayed and communion is given to symbolize the [[Last Supper]] of Jesus. Also, before the liturgy the priests wash the feet of the congregation in imitation of Jesus washing his disciples' feet.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Late Friday night until early Saturday morning is called Apocalypse Night or [[Holy Saturday]]. During this night, another liturgy is prayed and the entire [[Book of Revelation]] is read, to symbolize the [[Second Coming]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The series concludes with the Easter liturgy on Saturday night, followed by a gathering in the church (or a park) where the participants can celebrate the joy of the Resurrection, eating together and ending their long fast, and at which they are permitted once again to partake of meat, fish, and dairy products.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} From Easter until [[Pentecost]] the usual fasts on Wednesday and Friday are not observed, because it's a time of joy called the Holy Fifty Days.

===Eastern Catholic Churches and Eastern Lutheran Churches===
Holy Week observances and customs of the [[Eastern Catholic]] and [[Eastern Lutheran]] churches are generally the same as in the rites of the corresponding Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox Church or Assyrian Church of the East.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Related observances==
Through time, the festival of Holy Week was extended at both ends, with observances starting on Friday of Sorrows, the last Friday before Palm Sunday, and Eastertide, with various observances marking days of the Easter Octave.

===Friday of Sorrows===
{{Main|Friday of Sorrows}}
[[File:SemanaSantaSevillaAguas2.jpg|thumb|Regarded as the most famous in [[Spain]] during Holy Week processions, the [[Virgin of Hope of Macarena]], shown in her sorrowful theme while wearing [[imperial regalia]] each Friday before [[Palm Sunday]]]]
The religious processions that are part of the Holy Week celebrations in many countries begin two days before Holy Week on what in those countries is called Friday of Sorrows.

On the Friday before Holy Week, the [[Roman Rite]] celebrated universally from 1727 to 1969 a liturgical feast of the [[Seven Sorrows of Mary]]. Celebration of this feast began in Germany but spread to many other countries even before [[Pope Benedict XIII]] made it a universal feast, assigning it to the Friday before Palm Sunday. Another feast with the same name was and still is celebrated in September.<ref>{{Catholic Encyclopedia|no-icon=1|prescript=|first=Frederick|last=Holweck|wstitle=Feasts of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary}}</ref> With his [[Code of Rubrics]] of 1960, [[Pope John XXIII]] reduced the feast on the Friday of what was then called Passion Week (the week before Holy Week) to the level of a [[Commemoration (liturgy)|commemoration]], and in 1969 the celebration was removed from the [[General Roman Calendar]] as a duplicate of the September feast.<ref>''Calendarium Romanum'' (Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1969). p.119</ref> [[Pope John Paul II]]'s 2002 edition of the [[Roman Missal]] provides an alternative [[collect]] for this Friday:<ref>Roman Missal, Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent</ref>
<blockquote><poem>
O God, who in this season
give your Church the grace
to imitate devoutly the Blessed Virgin Mary
in contemplating the Passion of Christ,
grant, we pray, through her intercession,
that we may cling more firmly each day
to your Only Begotten Son
and come at last to the fullness of his grace.
</poem></blockquote>

This provision of an alternative collect was the equivalent of granting the Lenten celebration of Our Lady of Sorrow the rank of [[memorial (liturgy)|memorial]], since during Lent a memorial, even if otherwise obligatory, is represented in the liturgy of the day at most by optional use of its collect.<ref>[https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 355] and [https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Calendar/Info/GNLY.pdf Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the General Roman Calendar, 14]</ref> The liturgical calendar of [[Malta]] gives the celebration the rank of feast, making its observance obligatory. Observance of the Tridentine Mass calendar as it stood in 1962 is still permitted in the circumstances indicated in the 2007 document ''[[Summorum Pontificum]]'', giving Our Lady of Sorrows a [[commemoration (liturgy)|commemoration]] within the liturgy of the Friday.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

In many [[Latin American]] countries, such as [[Mexico]], [[Brazil]], [[Nicaragua]], [[Guatemala]] and [[Peru]], as well as in [[Spain]] and the Philippines, this Friday feast of [[Our Lady of Sorrows]] is called ''Viernes de Dolores'' ([[Friday of Sorrows]]). It is sometimes also referred to as "Council Friday", because of the choice of John 11:47–54 as the Gospel passage read in the [[Tridentine Mass]] on that day (which is now read in slightly expanded form on Saturday of the fifth week of Lent), which recounts the meeting of the [[Sanhedrin]] to discuss what to do with Jesus. Its date is exactly a week before [[Good Friday]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

The somber and often nocturnal commemoration with public processions directs thoughts to the desolate emotional state of the Virgin Mary on Black Saturday as prophesied by the Rabbi Simeon on the "seven sorrows" that as an allegorical sword pierced her heart. She is represented as worrying and grieving with Saint [[Mary Magdalene]] for Jesus; therefore the event is markedly similar to a [[mourning]] event among the people.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

=== Octave of Easter ===
{{Main|Octave of Easter|Bright Week}}
[[Image:Russian Resurrection icon.jpg|thumb|[[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] [[icon]] of the [[Resurrection of Jesus]] [[Christ]] depicting his descent into Hades, 16th century.]]

The Octave of Easter, also referred to as [[Bright Week]] in the Eastern tradition, is the eight-day period (octave) in [[Eastertide]] that starts on Easter Sunday and concludes with the [[Second Sunday of Easter|following Sunday]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==== Easter Monday ====
{{Main|Easter Monday}}
Easter Monday is the day after [[Easter|Easter Sunday]] and is a holiday in some countries. Easter Monday in the Western Christian [[liturgical calendar]] is the second day of [[Eastertide]] and analogously in the [[Byzantine Rite]] is the second day of [[Bright Week]]. Recognized as a bank holiday in many countries, many traditional religious events, as open-air Masses and blessings with the Easter water happen on Easter Monday, as well as other popular traditions linked to the Easter eggs, such as the Easter omelette, made from Easter eggs and shared with friends and neighbours in the South of France.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

===== Dyngus Day in Central Europe =====
{{Main|Śmigus-dyngus}}
Śmigus-dyngus ({{IPA|pl|ˈɕmigus ˈdɨnɡus}}; also ''lany poniedziałek'', meaning "Wet Monday" in [[Polish language|Polish]]; {{langx|cs|Oblévačka}}; {{langx|sk|Oblievačka}}; {{langx|hu|Vízbevető}}; {{langx|uk|поливаний понеділок}}) is a [[Roman Catholicism|Catholic]] celebration held on [[Easter Monday]] mostly in [[Poland]], but also in the [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]] and some parts of western [[Ukraine]]. It is also observed by Polish diaspora communities, particularly among [[Polish Americans]], who call it Dyngus Day.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

Traditionally, boys throw water over girls and spank them with [[pussy willow]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://culture.pl/en/article/smigus-dyngus-polands-national-water-fight-day|title=Śmigus-Dyngus: Poland's National Water Fight Day|website=Culture.pl}}</ref> branches on Easter Monday, and girls do the same to boys. This is accompanied by a number of other rituals, such as making verse declarations and holding door-to-door processions, in some regions involving boys dressed as bears or other creatures. The origins of the celebration are uncertain, but it may date to [[pagan]] times before 1000 AD; it is described in writing as early as the 15th century. It continues to be observed throughout [[Central Europe]], and also in the [[United States]], where certain patriotic American elements have been added to the traditional Polish ones.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

===== Bright Monday in the Eastern Orthodox Church =====
In the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] and [[Byzantine Rite]] [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Catholic Churches]], this day is called "Bright Monday" or "Renewal Monday". The services, as in the rest of Bright Week, are quite different from during the rest of the year and are similar to the services on Pascha (Easter Sunday) and include an outdoor [[Procession#Outdoors|procession]] after the [[Divine Liturgy]]; while this is prescribed for all days of that week, often they are only celebrated on Monday and maybe a couple of other days in parish churches, especially in non-Orthodox countries. Also, when the calendar date of the [[feast day]] of a major saint, ''e.g.'', [[St. George]] or the patron saint of a church or one's [[name day]], falls during Holy Week or on Easter Sunday, the saint's day is celebrated on Easter Monday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/liturgics_averky_e.htm#_Toc104768207|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726153144/http://www.holytrinitymission.org/books/english/liturgics_averky_e.htm|url-status=dead|title=Part IV|archivedate=26 July 2011|website=www.holytrinitymission.org}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|year=1907 |title=Тvпико́нъ сіесть уста́въ (Title here transliterated into Russian; actually in Church Slavonic) (The Typicon which is the Order) |publisher=Сvнодальная тvпографiя (The Synodal Printing House) |location=Москва (Moscow, Russian Empire) |page=468 }}</ref>

===== Sham-Ennessim in Coptic Church =====
{{Main|Sham Ennessim}}
A different celebration of Easter Monday takes place in Egypt. '''Sham Ennessim''' ([[Arabic language|Arabic]]: شم النسيم, ''Sham Al Nassim'' or ''Sham an-Nassim'', <small>IPA:</small> [[Help:IPA/Egyptian Arabic|[ˈʃæmm ennɪˈsiːm]]]) [[Coptic language|Coptic]]: Ϭⲱⲙ ̀ⲛⲛⲓⲥⲓⲙ, ''Shom Ennisim'') is an [[Egyptians|Egyptian]] national holiday marking the beginning of spring. It always falls on the day after the [[Eastern Christianity|Eastern Christian]] [[Easter]] (following the custom of the largest Christian denomination in the country, the [[Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Orthodox Church]]).{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==== Easter Tuesday (''Emmaus Tuesday'') ====
{{Main|Easter Tuesday}}
Easter Tuesday is the second day after [[Easter|Easter Sunday]] and is a holiday in a few rare countries or regions like [[Tasmania]].{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

In the Latin tradition, the [[Road to Emmaus appearance|Gospel of the Pilgrims of Emmaus]] was traditionally sung on Easter Tuesday during the liturgy. For that reason, it was on Easter Tuesday that joyful plays would echo the more tragic processions of Holy Week. These plays, which originated in the [[Benedictines|Benedictine monasteries]], became known as the ''Officium Peregrinorum''. They were popular during the Middle Ages, but remained an "unusual liturgical drama in the West".<ref>{{Cite book|last=[[Julia Bolton Holloway | Holloway]]|first=Julia Bolton|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x0wYJrkBc08C&q=pilgrim+book+officium+peregrinorum&pg=PA29|title=The Pilgrim and the Book: A Study of Dante, Langland, and Chaucer|date=1992|publisher=Julia Bolton Holloway|isbn=978-0-8204-2090-5|language=en}}, p. 32.</ref>

==See also==
*[[Divine Mercy Sunday]]
*[[Holy Week in Mexico]]
*[[Holy Week in Spain]]
*[[Holy Week in the Philippines]]
*[[Holy Week procession]]

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=upper-alpha}}

===Citations===
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{cite web|url= https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=igeo%2bpassion%2bplace&view=detail&mid=5FD1243F2D09F3B2EA845FD1243F2D09F3B2EA84&FORM=VRRTAP|title= The historical places of the Holy Week|language= es|publisher= igeo.tv}}

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