Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is the day before Easter in the Christian calendar. It is sometimes called Easter Even, especially by Anglicans, and referred to by Filipinos as Black Saturday. It is the seventh and last day of Holy Week, and the third and final day of what is often referred to as the Easter Triduum. Holy Saturday is also often incorrectly called Easter Saturday, a term that properly refers to the following Saturday. In Roman Catholic Churches, the altar is stripped completely bare, the administration of the sacraments is severely limited (only penance and Holy Communion for those in imminent danger of death is authorized), and both wedding and funeral Masses are strictly forbidden. No Mass at all appears in the liturgy for this day, the only day in the entire liturgical year for which this is true. Many of the churches of the Anglican Communion observe most of the same traditions. Prior to 1970, Roman Catholics were required to both fast and abstain from meat on this last day of Lent. After dusk on Holy Saturday, the Easter Vigil is celebrated, marking the official start of the Easter season. In Eastern Orthodoxy this day is also called The Great Sabbath since it is said on this day Christ "rested" in the tomb, in death. But it is also believed that it was on this day he performed in spirit the Harrowing of Hell and raised up to Paradise those held captive there. Therefore, at the main liturgical celebration, a vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, the hangings, altar cloths, and vestments are changed from black to white prior to the epistle reading, and in the Greek tradition the clergy strew laurel leaves and flower petals all over the church to symbolize the shattered gates and broken chains of hell.
See also Friday before Palm SundaySaturday before Palm SundayPalm SundayHoly MondayHoly TuesdayHoly WednesdayMaundy ThursdayGood FridayEaster
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