ExcelNotes

Holy Saturday
2025-04-19
Holy Saturday, also Black Saturday or Easter Saturday, is a solemn day in the Christian calendar that marks the final day of Holy Week. It commemorates the time Jesus Christ's body lay in the tomb after His crucifixion, and it is a day of reflection and preparation for the celebration of His resurrection.
Table of Contents

When is Holy Saturday?
The History of Holy Saturday?
What Do People Do on This Day?
Western and Orthodox Holy Saturday

When is Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is part of the Christian observance of Holy Week and falls on the Saturday before Easter each year. The exact date varies because Easter is a movable feast determined by the lunar calendar.
The following is the list of Holy Saturday in Western churches from 2020 to 2049.

HolidayDateWeekday

Holy SaturdayApr 11, 2020Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 03, 2021Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 16, 2022Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 08, 2023Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 30, 2024Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 19, 2025Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 04, 2026Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 27, 2027Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 15, 2028Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 31, 2029Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 20, 2030Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 12, 2031Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 27, 2032Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 16, 2033Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 08, 2034Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 24, 2035Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 12, 2036Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 04, 2037Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 24, 2038Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 09, 2039Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 31, 2040Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 20, 2041Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 05, 2042Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 28, 2043Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 16, 2044Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 08, 2045Saturday

Holy SaturdayMar 24, 2046Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 13, 2047Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 04, 2048Saturday

Holy SaturdayApr 17, 2049Saturday

The History of Holy Saturday?
Holy Saturday is a significant day in the Christian liturgical calendar. It is a day of silence, mourning, and anticipation, reflecting on Christ's time in the tomb and the hope of His resurrection.
According to the Gospels, after Jesus's crucifixion on Good Friday, His body was taken down from the cross and placed in a tomb provided by Joseph of Arimathea. A large stone was rolled across the entrance, and Roman guards were stationed there. Holy Saturday represents the day Jesus's body lay in the tomb, a time of grief and despair for His disciples. Holy Saturday bridges the sorrow of Good Friday with the joy of Easter Sunday, embodying the tension between death and new life.
Early Christians treated Holy Saturday as a day of solemn mourning, reflecting on the death of Christ and awaiting His resurrection. The day was marked by fasting and prayer. By the 2nd century, the Easter Vigil emerged as a key part of Holy Saturday observance. This nighttime service celebrated the resurrection and served as the first celebration of Easter.
The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD formalized the date of Easter and reinforced the Easter Vigil as the most significant celebration of the liturgical year. Holy Saturday became closely tied to this vigil, with its themes of waiting and transition to joy.
During the medieval era, Holy Saturday was a day of quiet mourning, with altars stripped and church services minimal during the day. The evening marked the start of the Easter Vigil, which included the lighting of the Paschal Candle, symbolizing Christ as the Light of the World.
With the Reformation in the 16th century, many Protestant traditions retained the observance of Holy Saturday as a time of quiet reflection, though some abandoned the elaborate rituals of the Easter Vigil. The Catholic Church continued to emphasize the Easter Vigil as the pinnacle of Holy Saturday, aligning it with the celebration of the resurrection.
In modern time, Holy Saturday's observances become simpler, focusing more on preparation for Easter Sunday.
What Do People Do on This Day?
During the day, many Christians spend time in prayer and contemplation, reflecting on Jesus's sacrifice and the mystery of His time in the tomb. Churches often maintain a subdued atmosphere, with the altar bare and the Eucharist absent until the Easter Vigil.
The Easter Vigil is held after sunset and it is the central liturgical celebration of Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil includes the service of light, liturgy of the word, Baptismal liturgy, and the Eucharistic celebration. The lighting of the Paschal Candle is a significant moment, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and life over death.
Many families use Holy Saturday to prepare for Easter Sunday such as decorating Easter eggs and preparing festive meals, while some families clean and decorate their homes in preparation for Easter, reflecting the themes of renewal and new life.
Many Christians engage in acts of kindness, such as helping the less fortunate or donating to charity, reflecting on Christ's sacrifice and love.
Western and Orthodox Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday is observed by both Western Christianity and Orthodox Christianity as part of the Easter Triduum or Holy Week, respectively. While both traditions commemorate Jesus Christ's time in the tomb, the focus, tone, and liturgical practices differ due to theological emphasis and cultural variations.
Name: Holy Saturday is part of the Easter Triduum. Orthodox Holy Saturday, also known as Great and Holy Saturday, is part of Holy Week.
Focus: Holy Saturday reflects on Jesus's time in the tomb and the sorrow of His followers. Orthodox Holy Saturday emphasizes Christ's descent into Hades and triumph over death.
Liturgical tone: Holy Saturday is reflective and solemn during the day, transitioning to joyful anticipation during the Easter Vigil at night. Orthodox Holy Saturday begins solemnly but transitions to a joyful anticipation of Pascha (Easter) during the Divine Liturgy.
Service: The main service for Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil, held after sunset, celebrating the resurrection. The services on Orthodox Holy Saturday are the Vesperal Divine Liturgy that celebrated in the morning or afternoon, and preparations for the Paschal Vigil at midnight.
Cultural traditions: Easter egg decorating, food preparations and quiet reflection are traditions for Holy Saturday, while baking traditional foods, decorating red eggs, and preparing for Paschal celebrations are common on Orthodox Holy Saturday.

Independence Day Zimbabwe
2025-04-18
Independence Day in Zimbabwe marks the day in 1980 when Zimbabwe officially gained independence from British colonial rule and became a sovereign nation.
When is Independence Day?
Independence Day in Zimbabwe is celebrated annually on April 18th.
The following is the list of Independence Day from 2020 to 2049.

HolidayDateWeekday

Independence DayApr 18, 2020Saturday

Independence DayApr 18, 2021Sunday

Independence DayApr 18, 2022Monday

Independence DayApr 18, 2023Tuesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2024Thursday

Independence DayApr 18, 2025Friday

Independence DayApr 18, 2026Saturday

Independence DayApr 18, 2027Sunday

Independence DayApr 18, 2028Tuesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2029Wednesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2030Thursday

Independence DayApr 18, 2031Friday

Independence DayApr 18, 2032Sunday

Independence DayApr 18, 2033Monday

Independence DayApr 18, 2034Tuesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2035Wednesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2036Friday

Independence DayApr 18, 2037Saturday

Independence DayApr 18, 2038Sunday

Independence DayApr 18, 2039Monday

Independence DayApr 18, 2040Wednesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2041Thursday

Independence DayApr 18, 2042Friday

Independence DayApr 18, 2043Saturday

Independence DayApr 18, 2044Monday

Independence DayApr 18, 2045Tuesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2046Wednesday

Independence DayApr 18, 2047Thursday

Independence DayApr 18, 2048Saturday

Independence DayApr 18, 2049Sunday

The History of Independence Day?
Independence Day in Zimbabwe marks the country's official transition from colonial rule to independence in 1980.
In the late 19th century, British colonists under Cecil Rhodes established control over the territory, naming it Southern Rhodesia.
It became a self-governing British colony in 1923, but power remained in the hands of the white minority, excluding the Black African majority from political participation.
By the 1950s and 1960s, growing African nationalism led to the formation of political movements. These movements initiated an armed liberation war in the 1960s, known as the Second Chimurenga, against the Rhodesian government led by Ian Smith, who had declared unilateral independence from Britain in 1965, maintaining white-minority rule.
After years of violent conflict and international pressure, peace talks culminated in the Lancaster House Agreement in December 1979.
The agreement called for democratic elections under British supervision and the establishment of majority rule.
On April 18, 1980, Zimbabwe became an independent republic. Robert Mugabe, leader of ZANU-PF, became the country's first Prime Minister.
