Easter Vigil, also called the
Paschal Vigil or the
Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in traditional
Christian churches as the first official celebration of the
Resurrection of Jesus. Historically, it is during this service that people are
baptized and that adult
catechumens are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on
Holy Saturday and sunrise on
Easter Day — most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday or midnight — and is the first celebration of Easter, days traditionally being considered to begin at sunset.