Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus Christ lay in the tomb after his death. It is the day after Good Friday and the day prior to Easter Sunday. It is also known as Easter Eve, Easter Even, Black Saturday, or the Saturday before Easter.
Holy Saturday commemorates the day that Jesus lay in his tomb after he died. He was resurrected on Easter Sunday, the day after Holy Saturday.
Many Christians worldwide observe Holy Saturday by remembering it as the day when Jesus lay in the tomb. It is a day of both sadness and joy among Christians in many cultures. Many churches hold an Easter vigil service. Discussions about the meaning behind the rituals, prayers and symbols that are all part of the Easter vigil occur during these services. Some churches also hold large baptism services on this day.
In Mexico, Holy Saturday is known as Judas Day. People burn effigies of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Street vendors sell the effigies, which range in height and make Judas look as ugly as possible. Effigies called piñatas designed for children are stuffed with candy and hung on patios at people’s homes. Other effigies are seen on the streets or hung on lamp posts. Firecrackers are attached to many of these effigies and are ignited as soon as the Mass of Glory is over. Children scramble for the candy inside the effigies after they explode.
A Czech custom, known as White Saturday, is to rattle keys and burn out Judas by burning the last of the holy oil before the church door. Holy Saturday is observed by the blessing of food and Easter baskets in Poland. Children in many countries spend time decorating and coloring eggs on the Saturday before Easter Sunday.
Symbols
The Paschal candle, which is made of white wax, symbolizes leading people out of the darkness into the celebration of the Easter vigil. The candle is marked with a cross, an alpha and an omega (the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet). This symbolizes that Jesus Christ has, and always will be with humanity, and is with humanity now, according to Christian belief.