The Brave News

by Pedro Ochoa

Spring break is more than just a few days of vacation. During Easter break, Christian’s celebrate Holy Week, as they remember the life of Jesus. This year, Holy Week starts on Sunday March 28 and ends Sunday April 4.

In Christian tradition, Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and carries on through Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. It is a time for Christians to reflect on Jesus’ journey to the Cross, concluding with an empty tomb in Calvary.

What makes this week holy? During this week, Christians are asked to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ death. It starts with Palm Sunday when Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem. The week then leads us through the Last Supper, His crucifixion, and ends on Easter Sunday with His resurrection.

Palm Sunday:

The first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This day is celebrated around the world with palms and twigs from the day of. The palms are important because when Jesus was entering Jerusalem, they greeted him with waving palms and palms on the floor, creating a rug because of his long journey. 

Maundy Thursday: 

Maundy Thursday is also known as Holy Thursday and Sheer Thursday, among other names. It is a Christian holy day that commemorates events known as the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper. Churches celebrate this day with a reenactment of the Last Supper and the Washing of the Feet.

Good Friday:

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter is the day on which Christians annually observe the commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. From the early days of Christianity, Good Friday was observed as a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting. Churches celebrate this day with a reenactment of the stages of Jesus’ death. These stages are called The Stations of the Cross. 

Easter Sunday:

This Sunday marks the end of Holy Week and Lent. Easter Sunday is one of the most festive events among Christians worldwide. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection. Churches have a celebration during this day. It is said by many, that the most important day in the Christian calendar that Christians should attend church is on Easter Sunday. 

Jesus came to earth to save humanity by dying on the cross on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday. He opened the gates of heaven making a way for our sin to be forgiven and usher us into the presence of God. Holy Week is a sacred opportunity to study the foundation of Christianity. 

In the end, Holy Week works as a way for Christians to reflect on their actions, to live in a way the pain that Jesus felt in his last days and how Christians can put his teachings into action and prophesize his gospel.