A special church holiday on April 19 is Holy Saturday: what not to do before Easter, signs

Holy Saturday is the last day of Holy Week before Easter, when believers remember the presence of the body of Jesus Christ in the tomb, as well as the descent of the Savior into hell for the salvation of the souls of the righteous. In 2025, it falls on April 19th. Read about the traditions of this day, what to do and how to eat in the Izvestia article.

Holy Saturday – 2025: the meaning of the holiday

Great Saturday is filled with both sorrow and expectation of great joy, when believers remember the burial of the Savior and prepare for the Resurrection of Christ.

It was on this day that the Pharisees came to the Roman procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, and demanded that guards be set up near the cave near the Garden of Gethsemane, where the coffin with the body of Jesus was located. The guards blocked the entrance with a huge stone and sealed it.

According to legend, at that very time, while the body of Christ was in the tomb, his soul descended into Hell, where up to that moment all the souls of deceased people had fallen. After the descent of the Savior, Hell was destroyed, and the souls of the righteous were freed.

What can you do on Holy Saturday before Easter

Holy Saturday is a special time of preparation for Easter and spiritual purification. Believers are advised to give up everyday activities, noisy entertainment and domestic fuss. It is advisable to spend the day in meditation, prayer, and visiting a temple.

Gardening, repairs, needlework, cleaning and other household chores on this day are considered undesirable, everything should be subordinated to the spirit of sorrow and memory of the Savior's sacrifice. The church does not hold a wedding ceremony, noisy parties and feasts are prohibited, it is forbidden to listen to loud music and have fun. Also, you can not quarrel, say rude words, show aggression.

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The demand for cakes, eggs, and dyes has doubled or tripled.

On Holy Saturday, you can cook Easter eggs, cakes, and colored eggs, but you should do it in silence and with prayer. But it is strictly forbidden to try them until the end of the Easter service.

The day is good for helping the suffering and charity, it is also advisable to forgive all the offenders and ask for forgiveness yourself.

On Saturday, it's time to sanctify cakes, eggs, pies and other products for the Easter table, such as sweets, bread.

What you can and can't eat on the Saturday before Easter

Holy Saturday marks the end of Great Lent, but it is still in effect with minor indulgences until Easter night. During the day, you can eat hot food without adding oil, raw vegetables and fruits, bread, nuts. The consumption of animal products and alcohol is prohibited.

Such abstinence is perceived not as a limitation, but as a voluntary continuation of spiritual preparation for the great joy of the Resurrection of Christ.

Holy Saturday: folk signs of April 19th

Many everyday and weather signs, as well as superstitions, are associated with Great Saturday in the folk tradition.

For example, the ancestors believed that on this day one should not give or lend household utensils and other things to other people, as they can be used to "give away" good luck and health.

There was also a belief that if you put a boiled egg in a container of water on Holy Saturday, the water would have a rejuvenating effect. Women washed their faces with it, trying to preserve their beauty. And an egg accidentally broken on a holiday foreshadowed imminent changes in the house.

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According to the weather on Holy Saturday in Russia, they judged what the summer months would be like. If the day is sunny, expect a warm and fruitful summer, if it rains, a wet but fertile one.

Earlier, Izvestia was told when to bake cakes, paint eggs, and clean the house during Holy Week.