die
Karwoche
✝️ What exactly is die Karwoche?
Die Karwoche is the German term for Holy Week, the final week of Lent and the week immediately preceding Easter. It begins on Palmsonntag (Palm Sunday) and ends on Karsamstag (Holy Saturday). In Christianity, it is one of the most important weeks of the liturgical year, commemorating the Passion of Christ – his suffering and death.
The name derives from the Old High German word 'kara', meaning “lament”, “grief”, or “mourning”. Thus, it is the week of sorrow and reflection before the most important Christian festival, Ostern (Easter), which celebrates Jesus' resurrection.
Die Karwoche includes significant days such as:
- Palmsonntag: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem
- Gründonnerstag: Maundy Thursday (Last Supper)
- Karfreitag: Good Friday (Crucifixion)
- Karsamstag: Holy Saturday (Jesus in the tomb)
It is also known as die Heilige Woche (Holy Week) or die Stille Woche (Silent Week).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📜 Grammar: Die Karwoche in a Sentence
The word Karwoche is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always die. It is mostly used in the singular.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Karwoche |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Karwoche |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Karwoche |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Karwoche |
Plural Declension
The plural form die Karwochen is very rare because it refers to a specific week in the year. Theoretically, it could be used when referring to the Holy Weeks of different years.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Karwochen |
| Genitive | der | Karwochen |
| Dative | den | Karwochen |
| Accusative | die | Karwochen |
Example Sentences
- In der Karwoche gehen viele Gläubige in die Kirche.
(During Holy Week, many believers go to church.) - Die Karwoche beginnt mit dem Palmsonntag.
(Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday.) - Wir gedenken des Leidens Christi während der Karwoche.
(We commemorate Christ's suffering during Holy Week.) - Die Gottesdienste der Karwoche sind besonders feierlich und besinnlich.
(The church services during Holy Week are particularly solemn and reflective.)
🗣️ Usage in Context
The term Karwoche is primarily used in the religious context of Christianity, specifically to denote the week before Easter.
- Religious Context: Used in sermons, church service schedules, church news, and theological discussions.
- Cultural Context: Even in secular contexts, the term is used to name this specific week in the calendar, often in connection with school holidays (Osterferien - Easter holidays) or special customs.
- Historical Context: When describing historical events or traditions relating to the period before Easter.
Distinction: While Ostern (Easter) refers to the festival of the resurrection (Easter Sunday and Easter Monday), die Karwoche refers to the seven days preceding it, dedicated to commemorating the suffering and death of Jesus.
Synonyms like Heilige Woche (Holy Week) emphasize the sacred nature, while Stille Woche (Silent Week) highlights the aspect of reflection and fasting.
🧠 Mnemonics for Karwoche
For the article 'die': Remember it's die Woche (the week). Most time periods ending in '-woche' are feminine in German (die Arbeitswoche - the work week, die Schulwoche - the school week). So, it's also: die Karwoche.
For the meaning 'Week of Sorrow': The 'Kar-' part comes from Old High German 'kara' meaning 'sorrow' or 'grief'. You can think of it as a week where you might have to 'care' more, reflecting on serious matters, or link 'Kar' to the English word 'care' (in the sense of sorrow/burden).
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- Heilige Woche: (Holy Week) Emphasizes the special religious status.
- Stille Woche: (Silent Week) Highlights the character of reflection, quietness, and fasting.
- Große Woche: (Great Week) Less common, mainly in Orthodox context, referring to the significance of the events.
- Passionswoche: (Passion Week) Directly focuses on the suffering (Passion) of Christ.
Antonyms (in a broader sense)
There are no direct antonyms. In terms of sorrow vs. joy, one could contrast it with:
Similar but Different Terms
- Fastenzeit (Passionszeit): (Lent) Karwoche is the climax and end of the 40-day Lenten season, but not the entire season itself.
- Oktav von Ostern (Osteroktav): (Octave of Easter) The eight days after Easter Sunday, a period of Easter joy.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Warum ist die Karwoche so ernst?
Weil danach alle Eier gesucht werden müssen – das ist kein Witz, das ist Arbeit! 😄
English: Why is Holy Week (Karwoche) so serious?
Because afterwards, all the eggs have to be found – that's no joke, that's work! 😄
📜 A Poem for the Week
Die Karwoche kommt gegangen,
(Holy Week comes along,)
Mit Stille und ernstem Klang.
(With silence and solemn sound.)
Von Palmen bis zum Kreuze bangen,
(From palms to the cross's fear,)
Wird Leid gedacht, die Woche lang.
(Suffering is remembered, all week here.)
Gründonnerstag, das Mahl geteilt,
(Maundy Thursday, the meal shared,)
Karfreitag dann, die Welt verweilt.
(Good Friday then, the world paused.)
Karsamstag Ruh', die Hoffnung glimmt,
(Holy Saturday rest, hope glimmers faint,)
Bis Ostermorgen neu beginnt.
(Until Easter morning starts again.)
❓ A Little Riddle
German:
Ich bin eine Woche voller Sinn,
Beginne, wenn Palmen grünen.
Ich führe durch Trauer und Schmerz dahin,
Hin zu dem Fest, das wir ersehnen.
Ich ende in Stille, vor dem großen Licht.
Wie heiße ich, sag es mir schlicht?
English:
I am a week full of meaning deep,
I start when the palm branches sway.
Through sorrow and pain, my path I keep,
Towards the feast for which we pray.
I end in silence, before the great light's gleam.
What is my name? Tell me the theme.
Solution: Die Karwoche (Holy Week)
💡 More Interesting Facts
Word Origin (Etymology)
The prefix Kar- in Karwoche originates from the Old High German word „kara“, meaning “lament, grief, sorrow”. This reflects the character of the week, which commemorates the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Accordingly, Karfreitag means “Sorrow Friday” (Good Friday) and Karsamstag means “Sorrow Saturday” (Holy Saturday).
The Days of Karwoche
- Palmsonntag: (Palm Sunday) Celebration of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
- Montag, Dienstag, Mittwoch der Karwoche: (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday of Holy Week) Days of further preparation and reflection.
- Gründonnerstag: (Maundy Thursday) Commemoration of the Last Supper. The name component „Grün-“ (green) likely does not come from the color, but from Old High German „gronan“ or „greinen“ (to weep or mourn).
- Karfreitag: (Good Friday) Commemoration of the crucifixion and death of Jesus. The most significant fast day.
- Karsamstag: (Holy Saturday) Day of Jesus' rest in the tomb. End of Karwoche. The night leading into Easter Sunday is the Easter Vigil (Osternacht).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Karwoche?
The German word "Karwoche" is feminine. The correct article is always die: die Karwoche.