Holy Saturday 2027 falls on Saturday, March 27, 2027, for Western churches and Saturday, May 1, 2027, for Orthodox churches. The Easter Vigil begins after nightfall that evening, about 8:00 p.m. in New York City.
The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday 2027 cannot begin before about 8:00 p.m. in New York City, because daylight saving time is already in effect on March 27.
The Roman Missal requires the Vigil to start after nightfall, and the USCCB advises adding 45 minutes to one hour to local sunset.
Holy Saturday is a public holiday in six of Australia’s eight states and territories, where it is called “Easter Saturday”, a name that means a different day in the liturgical calendar. Orthodox Holy Saturday, May 1, 2027, falls on May Day.
Table of Contents
When is Holy Saturday 2027?
Holy Saturday is the day before Easter Sunday, so its date depends on which Easter a church follows. The table gives both 2027 dates.
| Tradition | Holy Saturday 2027 | Easter 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Western (Catholic, Anglican, Protestant) | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | Sunday, March 28, 2027 |
| Orthodox | Saturday, May 1, 2027 | Sunday, May 2, 2027 |
Holy Saturday commemorates the day Jesus’s body lay in the tomb. In Western churches it is a day without a daytime Mass. In the Catholic Church, Communion is given only as Viaticum (to the dying) until the Easter Vigil.
Easter Vigil 2027 start times by city
The Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 27, 2027, should begin no earlier than 45 minutes to one hour after sunset. The USCCB states that the Vigil “must take place during the night” and “is not begun before nightfall.”
It advises that “another 45 minutes or one hour should be added to” the time of sunset during daylight saving time (USCCB: The Roman Missal and the Easter Vigil). The table applies that rule to five cities.
| City | Sunset, Saturday, March 27, 2027 | Sunset + 45 min | Sunset + 60 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 7:15 p.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 8:15 p.m. |
| Chicago | 7:10 p.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 8:10 p.m. |
| Los Angeles | 7:10 p.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 8:10 p.m. |
| Houston | 7:37 p.m. | 8:22 p.m. | 8:37 p.m. |
| Philadelphia | 7:19 p.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 8:19 p.m. |
All times are daylight saving time, which begins on Sunday, March 14, 2027. Your parish sets the actual start time, and Vigils commonly last two to three hours.
What happens at the Easter Vigil 2027
The Easter Vigil has four parts, which are celebrated in a fixed order.
- The Service of Light (Lucernarium): the new fire is blessed and the Paschal Candle is lit and carried into the dark church, followed by the Exsultet.
- The Liturgy of the Word: up to seven Old Testament readings and two New Testament readings; at least three Old Testament readings are required. In 2027 (Year B), the Gospel is Mark 16:1–7.
- The Baptismal Liturgy: blessing of baptismal water; adults are baptized and confirmed, and the congregation renews baptismal promises.
- The Liturgy of the Eucharist: the first Mass of Easter, ending with a solemn blessing.
Where is Holy Saturday 2027 a public holiday?
Holy Saturday is a public holiday in most of Australia, where it is called Easter Saturday, but not in the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada. The table shows Australia’s 2027 status by state and territory, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman.
| Australian state or territory | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | Name used |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Capital Territory | Public holiday | Easter Saturday – the day after Good Friday |
| New South Wales | Public holiday | Easter Saturday |
| Northern Territory | Public holiday | Easter Saturday |
| Queensland | Public holiday | The day after Good Friday |
| South Australia | Public holiday | Easter Saturday |
| Victoria | Public holiday | Saturday before Easter Sunday |
| Tasmania | Not a public holiday | None |
| Western Australia | Not a public holiday | None |
In the Philippines, Holy Saturday is known as Black Saturday and is typically declared a special non-working day by presidential proclamation. The 2027 proclamation has not yet been issued.
Holy Saturday vs. Easter Saturday
Holy Saturday is the day before Easter; in the liturgical calendar, Easter Saturday is the Saturday after Easter. Australian public-holiday law uses “Easter Saturday” for Holy Saturday, which causes the confusion. The table separates the two.
| Name | 2027 date | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Saturday | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | The day before Easter; the Easter Vigil takes place that night |
| Easter Saturday (Australian public holiday) | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | Same day as Holy Saturday |
| Easter Saturday (liturgical) | Saturday, April 3, 2027 | The seventh day of the Easter Octave |
How Holy Saturday is observed
Holy Saturday is a day of quiet waiting in church, with local customs in the home. Practice varies by tradition and country:
| Tradition or country | Practice |
|---|---|
| Catholic and Anglican | No daytime Eucharist; the altar is left bare; the Easter Vigil after nightfall |
| Poland | Święconka: baskets of eggs, bread, salt and meat are blessed at church |
| Mexico and parts of Latin America | Sábado de Gloria; burning of Judas effigies (Quema de Judas) in some towns |
| Eastern Orthodox (Saturday, May 1, 2027) | Vesperal Liturgy of Saint Basil in the morning; the Holy Fire ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem; the Paschal service begins near midnight |
What Holy Saturday 2027 is not
Holy Saturday is often confused with other days. The points below separate them.
- It is not Easter Sunday. The Easter Vigil held on Saturday night is the first celebration of Easter, but the day itself is still Holy Saturday until the Vigil.
- It is not the liturgical Easter Saturday. That falls on Saturday, April 3, 2027.
- It is not a day of obligatory fasting. The Catholic paschal fast is required only on Good Friday and is recommended, not required, on Holy Saturday.
- It is not a U.S. federal holiday.
Holy Saturday dates 2026 to 2031
Western and Orthodox Holy Saturdays fall on the same day in 2028 and 2031. The table covers six years.
| Year | Western Holy Saturday | Orthodox Holy Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Saturday, April 4, 2026 | Saturday, April 11, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, March 27, 2027 | Saturday, May 1, 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, April 15, 2028 | Saturday, April 15, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, March 31, 2029 | Saturday, April 7, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, April 20, 2030 | Saturday, April 27, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, April 12, 2031 | Saturday, April 12, 2031 |
Frequently asked questions
What date is Holy Saturday 2027?
Holy Saturday 2027 is Saturday, March 27, 2027, for Western churches and Saturday, May 1, 2027, for Orthodox churches. It is the day before Easter Sunday.
What time does the Easter Vigil start in 2027?
The Easter Vigil on March 27, 2027, should start no earlier than about 45 minutes to an hour after sunset: about 8:00 p.m. in New York City and 7:55 p.m. in Chicago and Los Angeles. Check your parish for the exact time.
Is Holy Saturday a public holiday?
Holy Saturday is a public holiday in six Australian states and territories, as “Easter Saturday,” but not in Tasmania, Western Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom or Canada.
