Holy Week Facts & Worksheets

Holy Week is the most sacred week on the Christian calendar. It is celebrated on the evening of Palm Sunday and concludes on Easter Sunday.

See the fact file below for more information on Holy Week, or you can download our 26-page Holy Week worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

DEFINITION

• Holy Week is an eight-day period that is a significant observance in the Christian faith, honoring the acts of Jesus Christ in the days preceding his crucifixion and resurrection. 
• It is a solemn occasion and the holiest week of the liturgical year. Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week, which lasts until Easter Sunday.
• It is known as the Great Week in Greek and Roman liturgical books because God performed great deeds during this time. St. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, and St. Epiphanius of Constantia coined the term Holy Week in the fourth century.
• According to historical records, the “Great Week” was celebrated with profound sanctity as early as the fourth century.
• It starts with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The procession of palms is the major element of the service, just as it was in ancient times.
• It is said that originally only Good Friday and Holy Saturday were observed as holy days. 
• Eventually, Wednesday, the day on which Judas plotted to betray Jesus, was added as part of Holy Week.
• Holy Week also includes Holy Thursday, also known as Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified, which then forms the Triduum with Holy Saturday. 
• Prior to the 1969 revision of the liturgical calendar, Holy Week was the second week of Passiontide; currently, Passiontide is synonymous with Holy Week.

WHO CELEBRATES AND WHY

• During Holy Week, all Christians remember Christ’s Passion, when he died on the cross on Good Friday in atonement for mankind’s sins and rose on Easter Sunday to give new life to all those who believe.
• While Holy Week is solemn and sorrowful, it also foreshadows the joy of Easter by recognizing God’s goodness in sending His Son to die for our salvation.
• On Good Friday, some Christians fast, others refrain from eating meat, and many attend a church service where they meditate and venerate Christ on the cross.
• Christians observe Holy Week not only out of obligation but as a religious desire to journey with Jesus in his suffering and partake closely in his sacrificial salvation.
• For Catholics, the Easter Triduum is the most important part of Holy Week. These are the three days leading up to Easter. 
• Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, commemorates Christ’s “new commandment” that his disciples should love one another in the same way that he loved them. The name derives from the Latin word “mandatum,” which means “command” (John 13:34). 
• In Roman Catholicism, as part of the commemoration of Maundy Thursday, the priest will wash the feet of twelve men during the Mass, just as Jesus did to his disciples. 
• Priests all over the world also renew their sacred vows on this night in recognition of the fact that at the Last Supper, Jesus not only established the Mass, but also the ministerial priesthood.
• Holy Week is not necessarily “holy” or something everyone is expected to participate in.
• The week is set aside as a time to reflect. It is a time to pause, slow down, and consider the events that led to the triumphant commemoration of Easter Sunday. It is a time to reflect on God’s faithfulness and goodness.

HOLY WEEK EVENTS

• Palm Sunday – The first Sunday of Holy Week, is the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. 
• Palm Sunday is frequently marked by processions and the distribution of blessed palm leaves. 
• Some churches save the palms and burn them into ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday the following year. Some Christians make crosses out of palm fronds and keep them in their homes.
• Holy Monday – Also known as Great and Holy Monday, the day commemorates three significant events that took place during Jesus’ journey into Jerusalem: the cursing of the fig tree, the question of Jesus’ authority, and the Temple Cleansing.
• Holy Tuesday -With Eastern Orthodox churches, Holy Tuesday is typically marked with readings of specific passages of Scripture and singing of relevant hymns.
• Ash Wednesday – Also known as the Day of Ashes, marks the start of Lent and is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. Lent is a 40-day period (excluding Sundays) of repentance, fasting, reflection, and, finally, celebration.
• During Mass for Catholics, or worship service for Protestants, the priest or pastor usually shares a sermon that is liturgically appropriate and relevant. 
• Following that, the congregation is encouraged to receive the ashes on their foreheads. 
• The priest or pastor typically dips his finger into the ashes, and marks a cross pattern across the forehead, saying, “From dust you came, and to dust you will return.”
• Maundy Thursday – Includes the distribution of special coins known as “Maundy money” to the elderly and poor. 
• As part of their Maundy Thursday service, some churches include the blessing of holy oil and foot washing, a  tradition in in which priests wash the feet of 12 people to represent Jesus washing his disciples’ feet after the Passover meal.
• Good Friday – Also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Black Friday, is a day of fasting, prayer, and mourning. 
• The day is called “good” because it commemorates a good event in Christian history where Jesus died on the cross to save His people. 
• Christians believe Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday, which is also known as “the day of preparation” because Jesus was prepared according to tradition for his burial.
• Black Saturday – In Brazil, Holy Saturday is also known as Holy Week Saturday, Great and Holy Saturday, the Great Sabbath, Black Saturday, or Hallelujah Saturday. 
• In the Philippines, it is known as Glorious Saturday or even Easter Eve. It is known as “Joyous Saturday” or “the Saturday of Light” among Coptic Christians.
• Religious institutions commemorate Holy Saturday as a day of solemn reflection, remembering that Christ’s resurrection provided hope and redemption, saving the world and the people.
• Easter Sunday – The Culmination of the Holy week and celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

OTHER EVENTS OBSERVED

• When it comes to colors and decorations, most churches use red to represent the blood of martyrs. 
• On Good Friday, some churches remove all decorations, covering anything that cannot be removed in black or purple. 
• Holy water is also removed from church fonts during Good Friday and Holy Saturday in preparation for the water blessing at the Easter Vigil. This removal corresponds to days when the Eucharist (Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper) is not observed.
• There are numerous ways to commemorate the Great Feasts and the theme of resurrection in Eastern Rite Churches. 
• Many Anglophone television stations broadcast films about Holy Week, such as The Ten Commandments, The Greatest Story Ever Told, and The Jesus Film.
• The modern celebration of Easter, like Christmas, has become associated with numerous folk traditions that have little to do with the religious holiday, such as the Easter lamb, the Easter rabbit, and the painting and coloring of Easter eggs.

Holy Week Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Holy Week across 26 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Holy Week, the most sacred week on the Christian calendar.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Holy Week Facts
2. Holy Summary
3. Holy Items
4. The Reason for Celebration
5. Passover
6. The Seder Meal
7. Stations of the Cross
8. Life Reflections
9. The Easter Egg
10. The Easter Bunny
11. Sacred Respect

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main events of Holy Week?

The dates for Holy Week always correspond with Jewish Passover. The four most essential events during Holy Week are Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, while Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper and Good Friday celebrates the crucifixion. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What is Holy Week based on?

Holy Week is a commemorative period where people think about the crucifixion of Jesus, his burial, and how he came back to life. Holy Week is a very important time for Christians all over the world. Even though these events happened a long time ago, their meaning is still very important today.

Why is Holy Week so special?

Holy Week is important because it reminds Christians of God’s love for them. God sacrificed his son, which shows how much he loves us. Christians can learn about Jesus’ life by looking at the last week of his life. Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar because it celebrates Jesus’ resurrection.

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