Holy Saturday is the day after Good Friday and before Easter. Churches that celebrate it reflect on the darkness of the world had Jesus never been resurrected.
Holy Saturday, the day between Good Friday and Easter, commemorates the period when Jesus lay in the tomb after His crucifixion, highlighting the darkness and despair that would have engulfed the world had He not risen. Biblical accounts, such as Matthew 27:62–66, describe the chief priests and Pharisees securing the tomb, though Scripture does not detail the actions of Jesus’ followers that day, as it coincided with the Sabbath. Historically, Holy Saturday is observed most notably in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox traditions, with varying practices—from austere services and limited sacraments in the West to the Orthodox belief that Christ released Old Testament saints from the realm of the dead. The day serves as a solemn reflection on the disciples’ fear and uncertainty and invites Christians to meditate on the darkness of life apart from Christ. While celebrating Holy Saturday can deepen the appreciation of Easter, the Bible does not mandate special observance, leaving each believer free to reflect in a way that strengthens personal faith.
As with other extra-Easter festivities, Holy Saturday is mostly observed by Catholics and Anglicans. The "celebration" in the West is very austere, however. Sacraments are limited, often only given to the dying. Masses are rare. In Orthodox churches, the day is known as Holy and Great Saturday or Joyous Saturday. They believe this is the day that Christ released the saved from the Old Testament from hell and brought them to heaven (an unbiblical belief). Orthodox churches also call the day the Great Sabbath, as it is the day Jesus rested in the tomb.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating Holy Saturday as such. It is fine to contemplate how the disciples must have felt—fearful, not knowing that their Savior would rise the next day. It is also fine to consider how dark our own world would be apart from Christ. Like Easter and the other "holy days" surrounding it, the Bible does not require that we do anything special. As Paul said in Romans 14:5, "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind."