Low Sunday
- noun
- Many churches hold special services on Low Sunday to mark the end of the Easter octave.
Examples
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Many churches celebrate Low Sunday with special services.
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The choir sang a beautiful hymn during Low Sunday Mass this year.
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After the festivities of Easter, Low Sunday offers a quieter time for reflection.
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Is Low Sunday a public holiday?
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Many churches celebrate special services on Low Sunday, marking the first Sunday after Easter.
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The congregation gathered for a communion service on Low Sunday to reflect on the meaning of Easter.
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In the Christian calendar, Low Sunday is observed as a time to rest and renew faith after the festivities of Easter.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Low + Sunday
The meaning 'the Sunday following Easter' cannot be inferred from the literal words 'low' (commonly understood as 'not high') and 'Sunday' — 'Low' here is an archaic/ritual label rather than a compositional descriptor. This calendrical/ecclesiastical term is language- and tradition-specific, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would not reliably predict the intended meaning.
Etymology
Low Sunday may come from the calm time after Easter's big celebration; after the 'high' joy of Easter, this Sunday felt 'low' or quieter, a day to rest and think. That's why Low Sunday now means the Sunday that comes just after Easter.