Holy Week has begun for those who observe Lent, which means Easter is right around the corner.
The weeks-long spring tradition is celebrated by millions of Christians around the world. The period leads up to Easter Sunday, celebrated in honor of Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
What is the Holy Week of Lent, and what do it mean? Here’s what to know.
What is Lent? How long is Lent?
Lent is a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and reflection observed by many Christians in preparation for Easter. This represents the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting and praying in the desert before starting his public ministry.
During Lent, many believers give up certain luxuries — such as sweets, specific foods, social media or alcohol — as a form of self-discipline. Others take on new spiritual practices, like daily prayer or acts of charity. Sundays are not traditionally counted in the 40 days, as they are considered days of celebration rather than fasting.
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When is Holy Week?
Holy Week is observed beginning Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, which in 2025 is April 13 through April 20.
Dates vary yearly based on the lunar calendar. The week’s concluding day, Easter Sunday, lands on the first Sunday following the Paschal full moon. This full moon occurs on or after the spring equinox, whose 2025 astronomical date was March 20.
Holy Week is marked by Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.
When is Palm Sunday 2025?
Palm Sunday was April 13, 2025. It signals the beginning of Holy Week, the last week of Lent. It also represents the day Jesus entered Jerusalem waving palm branches.
When is Holy Thursday 2025? What is Maundy Thursday?
This year Holy Thursday, also called Maundy Thursday, is April 17.
“Maundy” means foot-washing, which refers to Christ washing the feet of his 13 disciples as narrated by the Bible’s New Testament. Afterwards, they gathered for the Last Supper, a final meal together before Christ is crucified. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he was arrested.
Some Christians choose to have a feast on Holy Thursday to commemorate the Last Supper.
When is Good Friday 2025?
Good Friday is celebrated on the Friday before Easter and marks the day Jesus was crucified and died. This year, it is observed on April 18, 2025.
Can you eat meat on Good Friday? Why do people eat fish on Fridays during Lent
Those observing Lent typically refrain from eating flesh meat on Ash Wednesday and each Friday of Lent, including Good Friday. Flesh meat includes beef, pork, chicken and turkey. Fish are not considered flesh meat, so many will replace flesh meat with fish for Friday meals. This is done to honor Jesus sacrificing his flesh on Good Friday, according to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis.
Non-flesh products, like milk, cheese, butter and eggs, are not prohibited during Lent.
Fasting during Lent represents the fasting Jesus did while in the desert.
“Abstinence is a form of penance. Penance expresses sorrow and contrition for our wrongdoing, indicates our intention to turn away from sin and turn back to God,” the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis shared on its website.
When is Holy Saturday 2025, and what does it mean?
Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, is April 19. It represents the day Christ’s body rested in the tomb before resurrection. For many Christians, the day is characterized as a time of waiting, reflection and anticipation for Easter.
When is Easter Sunday 2025?
Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox. This year, the spring equinox fell on Thursday, March 20.
Easter is Sunday, April 20.
What does Easter celebrate?
Easter is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year, marked by a season of religious observances, traditions and celebrations leading up to the day — and observed by millions worldwide.
For Christians, Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a fundamental belief in Christianity. According to Christian teachings, Jesus was crucified, died and was buried, and on the third day — Easter Sunday — he rose from the dead.
What are the dates of Lent 2025?
- Ash Wednesday: March 5
- Palm Sunday: April 13
- Holy Thursday: April 17
- Good Friday: April 18
- Holy Saturday: April 19
- Easter Sunday: April 20
When is Passover 2025?
Unlike Good Friday and Easter, Passover is not part of Lent. While Lent is a 40-day period observed by Christians, Passover is a celebration of the Jewish people’s liberation from slavery in Egypt thousands of years ago. It is marked by a ceremony that celebrates the Jewish Festival of Freedom.
In Israel, Passover is celebrated for exactly seven days to respect the Hebrews who had to flee their homes for seven days. Jewish people who live outside of Israel celebrate the holiday for eight days according to tradition.
It is believed that the Israelites were not safe from the Egyptians, who pursued them when they fled until the parting of the Red Sea. The parting occurred seven days after they initially fled.
In 2025, Passover begins the evening of Saturday, April 12, and ends after nightfall on Sunday, April 20.
— Memphis Commercial Appeal reporter Jordan Green and Arizona Republic reporter Jose R. Gonzalez contributed to this report.
