Hallelujah Saturday is the Holy Week Saturday, the first day after the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and the day before Easter Sunday.
The Saturday of Hallelujah or Holy Saturday is a mobile date, which may fall between March 21st and April 24th.
During Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil, occasion in which the Christian faithful gather in constant prayers throughout the night before Easter Sunday.
The meaning of the Easter Vigil is related to the preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ which, according to the bible, happened on the third day after his death.
On Hallelujah Saturday is also the day when the Paschal candle, a large candle that symbolizes the Light of Christ, which illuminates the world.
On the candle are engraved the Greek letters Alpha and Omega, which mean "God is the beginning and the end of everything".
In the Catholic tradition, church altars are covered, as in the Good friday, the Eucharist is not celebrated. In addition to the Eucharist, it is also forbidden to celebrate any other sacrament, except confession.
Learn more about the meaning of Friday of passion.
Originally, during Hallelujah Saturday, Roman Catholics were supposed to practice a limited fast, such as abstinence from eating red meat, which was to be replaced by fish.
It is also on Hallelujah Saturday that the traditional Judas fitness (or Burning of Judas), representing the death of Judas Iscariot, a disciple who would have betrayed Jesus Christ.
In this popular tradition, people often make rag dolls (or other materials) that symbolize the figure of Judas. Then, they get together and “torture” the puppet, simulating its death in different ways, whether it is hanged from trees or burned in a big bonfire.
See also the meanings of Holy Week and Easter.
