Holy Week takes place during the week leading up to Easter. This includes Palm Sunday, Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. Holy Week charts the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Palm Sunday is a feast day falling on the Sunday before Easter. This day commemorates the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem. Palm leaves were laid out before Him as he rode in on a donkey.
Reference: Matthew 21:1-11
Spy Wednesday is also known as Holy Wednesday. This day is remembered for the plans made that would lead to the death of Jesus. It was the day leading up to Easter when Judas Iscariot plotted to betray Jesus by handing him over to the Jewish religious leaders, the Sanhedrin.
References: Matthew 26:14-16
Maundy Thursday honors the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, which took place with the Twelve Apostles before the Passion. It was at this event that Jesus presided over the first communion. Peter was warned he would deny Jesus three times before morning, and Judas left early to carry out his betrayal.
References: Matthew 26:17-30, Mark 14:12-26, Luke 22:7-38
The season of penance and prayer comes to an end.
Good Friday is the Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary (Golgotha). This is the day where the events of The Passion of the Christ occur, from being taken from the Garden of Gethsemane to his death on the cross for our sins.
Reference: Mark 14:32 – 15:41, Matthew 26:36 – 27:56, Luke 22:39 – 23:43, John 18:1 – 19:30
Holy Saturday is also known as the Great Sabbath, or Black Saturday. This day shows respect for the sacrifice of Jesus, mourning his death. Following the crucifixion, Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb and sealed with a stone in front of the entrance. Roman soldiers were dispatched to guard the tomb.
Reference: Matthew 27:62-66
This Jewish holiday celebrates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman, who was planning to kill all the Jews in ancient Persia. The story is found in the Book of Esther.
These events are remembered through reciting the Scroll of Esther (krait ha-megillah), as well as additional recitations to the daily prayers (Al HaNissim). Food and drinks are exchanged as gifts (mishloach manot), charity donations are given (mattanot la-evyonim), and a celebratory meal is eaten (se’udat Purim).
Reference: Esther 9:22
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