Holy Week (Latin: Hebdomas Sancta or Hebdomas Maior, "Greater Week"; Greek: Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, Megale Hebdomas) in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) and Good Friday, and lasts from Palm Sunday (or in the Eastern, Lazarus Saturday) until, but not including, Easter Sunday, as Easter Sunday is the first day of the new season of The Great Fifty Days. It commemorates the last week of the earthly life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Canonical gospels.
For Christians Holy Week marks the last days leading up to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The start of Holy Week is Palm Sunday (it's sometimes called this), which marks when Jesus arrived in this holy city. Holy Wednesday is sometimes called "Spy Wednesday." (Learn why.) The fifth day of Holy Week is Maundy Thursday, which marks the day of this great feast. (See the infamous Da Vinci art the feast inspired.) The crucifixion of Jesus is commemorated on this day. (Have the crucifixion nails been found?) The final day of Holy Week falls on Easter Sunday and celebrates Jesus' resurrection. (Learn more about what happened that day.)
