Holy Week
Also called: Semana Santa (Spanish), Semaine Sainte (French), Karwoche (German), Mahal na Araw (Filipino), Mamat (Ethiopian)
Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday
The final week of Lent, encompassing the most solemn church calendar days of the Christian year. egins with Palm Sunday, moves through Maundy Thursday (Last Supper), Good Friday (Crucifixion), and Holy Saturday (the Great Silence before resurrection), culminating in the Easter Vigil.
In Catholic Spain and Latin America, Holy Week (Semana Santa) is marked by elaborate public processions of images and hooded brotherhoods, making it one of the world's most dramatic religious observances. It usually falls on or around Palm Sunday through Holy Saturday.
It is especially important in All Christians traditions. Explore pilgrimage holidays — browse options on Eden.
At a glance
- Type
- liturgical season
- Date type
- Moveable (changes with Easter)
- Regions
- Global
- Themes
- Passion & Death, Life of Christ
- Liturgical colour
- Red (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday), Purple (Lent days), Black (Good Friday)