Difference Between Holy Week and Easter

The coming of spring fills the world with hope and new life, from snow melting to trees blossoming, and within the church calendar, the Easter Sunday date marks the arrival of spring and one of Christianity’s biggest celebrations. Within Holy Week, there are several special dates, like Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. However, many practitioners may wonder what is Holy Week and how it is different from Easter. As Easter week 2022 approaches, take some time to learn about the importance of these events.

When is Holy Week?

Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, but when is Holy Week varies each year since it’s based on the Jewish Feast of Passover. The week always begins with Easter Palm Sunday. According to tradition, this was the day when Jesus traveled to Jerusalem, and to greet him, followers waved palm branches. The week continues with Maundy Thursday, the day of the Last Supper, and Good Friday, the day of Christ’s crucifixion. This year, the Easter dates are from April 10 to 16 April 3, 2022.

What is Holy Week?

Holy Week is a remembrance of the last events of Jesus’s life before his crucifixion, and different Holy Week activities commemorate these traditions. On Easter Palm Sunday, churches around the world are decorated with palm branches, and many followers wave them during services or make braided crosses from them. On Maundy Thursday, the Holy Week activities remember the Last Supper, when the practice of foot washing and communion were introduced. When you look at what is Holy Week, it’s a very somber and serious week, and it culminates with Good Friday, the day of Christ’s death. On this date, churches around the world hold services, and many of them have plays and reenactments that follow the Via Dolorosa, the final walk of Jesus on his way to die. These Holy Week activities are mostly organized by the church but are open to people of all faiths.

What is Easter Sunday?

Easter has become a popular holiday that both Christians and non-Christians celebrate, but what is Easter Sunday? If you’re not familiar with Biblical tradition, you might think that the Easter Sunday date is when Jesus died. However, that day is Good Friday, and for Christians, Easter is the day that he rose from the dead. This idea of new life has become associated with the arrival of spring, and for non-Christians, it’s flowers, bunnies, and eggs that have become the symbols of Easter Sunday. No matter your religious background, Easter Week 2022 will certainly be a time of hope as we look forward to summer and a return to normal.

What are Some Easter Activities for Families?

If you’re looking for some Easter activities for families, you’ll find both religious and secular ideas. For many, attending the morning church service is the most important event on the Easter Sunday date, but no matter what you believe, a large family meal is a perfect way to celebrate. Some of the other popular Easter activities for families include an Easter egg hunt, giving Easter baskets with presents, planting flowers, and racing across the yard with an egg balanced on a spoon.

Easter Palm Sunday kicks off Holy Week, and while it’s a time of somber reflection, it’s also a celebration of new life and hope. This Easter Week 2022, we’ll see signs of new life in the natural environment and in our society as well. No matter what you believe, take time on Easter to be with family and celebrate the coming of spring.