holy saturday: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Religious
Quick answer
What does “holy saturday” mean?
The day in the Christian liturgical calendar that falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, commemorating the day Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb after his crucifixion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The day in the Christian liturgical calendar that falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, commemorating the day Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb after his crucifixion.
A day of solemn reflection, anticipation, and quiet vigil in preparation for the celebration of the Resurrection. In some traditions, it marks the end of Lent and a time for blessing Easter food.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and observance are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of solemnity, waiting, and preparation in both cultures.
Frequency
Equally recognized and used within Christian communities in both regions. Unlikely to be used in general secular contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “holy saturday” in a Sentence
[observe/celebrate] + Holy SaturdayHoly Saturday + [falls/is]On + Holy Saturdaythe + [Easter Vigil/service] + of + Holy SaturdayVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holy saturday” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation will vigil throughout Holy Saturday.
- We traditionally fast until Holy Saturday evening.
American English
- The church will hold its Easter Vigil service on Holy Saturday.
- Many families colour eggs on Holy Saturday afternoon.
adverb
British English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
American English
- (Not typically used as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The Holy Saturday liturgy is profoundly moving.
- They attended a special Holy Saturday service.
American English
- The Holy Saturday observance marks the end of Lent.
- Their Holy Saturday tradition involves blessing a basket of food.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts relating to public holiday schedules or retail (e.g., Easter closures).
Academic
Used in religious studies, theology, and historical contexts discussing Christian liturgy and calendar.
Everyday
Used primarily by practising Christians when discussing Easter plans and religious observances.
Technical
Used in liturgical calendars, ecclesiastical documents, and church service planning.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holy saturday”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “holy saturday”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holy saturday”
- Using lower case ('holy saturday').
- Confusing it with Easter Saturday (which can refer to the Saturday *after* Easter Sunday in some secular contexts).
- Using it as a common noun without the article 'Holy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not a federal or bank holiday in the UK or US, but it may be observed as part of the Easter holiday period in some countries with Christian traditions.
It is typically a quiet day with no Mass or Eucharist until the evening Easter Vigil service, which marks the official start of the Easter celebration.
It is uncommon. Greetings are not typical for this day due to its solemn nature. 'Blessed Holy Saturday' might be used in some communities.
In liturgical and traditional usage, 'Holy Saturday' is the correct term for the day before Easter. 'Easter Saturday' can be ambiguous; it often refers to the Saturday *within* Easter Week (the week after Easter Sunday), though some use it colloquially for Holy Saturday.
The day in the Christian liturgical calendar that falls between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, commemorating the day Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb after his crucifixion.
Holy saturday is usually formal, religious in register.
Holy saturday: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhəʊli ˈsætədeɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhoʊli ˈsætərdeɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As quiet as Holy Saturday (referring to an unusual or profound silence)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOLY SATURDAY sits HOLY and SAT between the sadness of Good Friday and the joy of Sunday.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE DAY OF SILENT PREPARATION (A day conceptualized as a quiet, in-between time of waiting and preparation for a great event).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of Holy Saturday in most Christian traditions?