Several key holidays in the Christian and Jewish traditions will occur in March and April. These events can add deep meaning to patients and families being affected by illness and can become great sources for hope and solace amid health crises. However, they can also cause patients to feel “far from home” as hospitalization may disrupt their normal celebration.

For many Christians, Sunday, March 24th (Palm Sunday) marks the beginning of Holy Week, which ends with Easter on Sunday, March 31st. For Eastern or Orthodox Christians who observe the Julian calendar, Holy Week will begin on April 28th, with Easter following on May 5th.

The Jewish celebration of Pesach (or Passover) begins at sundown on Monday, March 25th and will last until sundown on April 2nd. The first two days and the last two days are observed as special holidays by Orthodox and Conservative Jews in the US. “Happy Passover” is an appropriate greeting.