Short backgrounds on observances across the faiths listed on this site.
Holiday names open the Holiday Calendar with dates for that observance.
All Saints' Day honors all the saints of the Church, known and unknown, and celebrates the communion of saints. In the Roman calendar it is observed on 1 November. Catholics celebrate the day with Mass, while customs of remembrance vary by country and culture. In many places, including the United States under applicable calendar rules, it is a holy day of obligation.
All Souls' Day, observed on 2 November, commemorates all the faithful departed. Catholics pray for the dead, especially the souls in purgatory, and may offer Masses, visit cemeteries, and pray at the graves of family and friends. It follows All Saints' Day and emphasizes Christian hope in the resurrection and eternal life.
The Annunciation commemorates the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would conceive Jesus and Mary's consent to God's plan. Celebrated on 25 March, the solemnity centers on the Incarnation, the Word becoming flesh. When 25 March falls during Holy Week or the Easter Octave, the observance is transferred according to the liturgical calendar.
The Ascension of the Lord celebrates Christ's ascension into heaven forty days after the Resurrection. Traditionally observed on the Thursday of the sixth week of Easter, the solemnity is transferred to the following Sunday in many dioceses. Its liturgy emphasizes Christ's exaltation, the mission of the Church, and the promised coming of the Holy Spirit.
Ash Wednesday begins Lent, the season of preparation for Easter. Catholics receive ashes as a sign of repentance and mortality and are called to prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In the Latin Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for those to whom those disciplines apply. It is not a holy day of obligation.
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on 15 August, commemorates the Catholic belief that Mary was taken body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life. It is one of the principal Marian solemnities and is a holy day of obligation in many countries, subject to local church law and calendar rules.
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly called Christ the King, is celebrated on the final Sunday of the liturgical year, immediately before Advent. It proclaims Christ's kingship over creation and history and directs attention toward the fulfillment of God's kingdom and Christ's return.
Christmas, the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Observed on 25 December, it is a holy day of obligation and one of the principal celebrations of the Catholic liturgical year. The feast is celebrated through several distinct Masses, including the Vigil and Mass during the Night, and begins the Christmas season.
The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, commonly called Corpus Christi, celebrates Christ's real presence in the Eucharist. It is traditionally observed on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday but is transferred to the following Sunday in many places. Eucharistic processions and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament are traditional features of the celebration.
Easter Sunday celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and stands at the center of the Catholic liturgical year. The celebration begins with the Easter Vigil during the night before Easter Sunday and continues through the Easter season. Its date changes each year according to the Church's Paschal calendar, falling on a Sunday between late March and late April.
The Epiphany of the Lord celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the nations, represented especially by the visit of the Magi. Traditionally observed on 6 January, it is transferred to a Sunday in some countries, including the United States. The feast emphasizes Christ as the light and salvation offered to all peoples and is associated with customs such as house blessings.
Good Friday commemorates the Passion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. The Church celebrates the solemn liturgy of the Passion of the Lord, including the proclamation of the Passion, veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion from hosts consecrated previously. No Mass is celebrated. In the Latin Catholic Church, Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence.
Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper, Christ's institution of the Eucharist, and his commandment of love expressed in the washing of feet. The evening Mass of the Lord's Supper begins the Sacred Paschal Triduum. After Mass, the Blessed Sacrament is carried to a place of repose as the Church enters into the commemoration of Christ's Passion.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated on 8 December, commemorates the Catholic teaching that Mary was preserved from original sin from the first moment of her conception. It refers to Mary's conception, not the conception of Jesus. In the United States, it is the patronal feast of the nation and a holy day of obligation.
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, celebrated on 24 June, honors the birth of the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus Christ. The solemnity reflects John's distinctive role in salvation history and is one of the few liturgical celebrations of a saint's birth rather than death. It is distinct from the commemoration of his martyrdom on 29 August.
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord begins Holy Week and commemorates Christ's entry into Jerusalem. The liturgy includes the blessing and procession of palms or other branches and the proclamation of the Passion. The celebration moves from Christ's triumphant reception in Jerusalem toward the events of his suffering and death later in Holy Week.
Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other disciples and the beginning of the Church's mission to proclaim the Gospel. Celebrated fifty days after Easter, it concludes the Easter season. Red vestments symbolize the Holy Spirit, and the liturgy emphasizes the Spirit's continuing presence and work within the Church.
The Presentation of the Lord, celebrated on 2 February, commemorates Mary and Joseph presenting the infant Jesus in the Temple and his encounter with Simeon and Anna. Traditionally called Candlemas, the feast may include the blessing and procession of candles, recalling Simeon's proclamation of Christ as a light to the nations. It occurs forty days after Christmas.
The Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is celebrated on 19 March. It honors Joseph as the husband of Mary, guardian of Jesus, and faithful servant of God. The solemnity normally falls during Lent but retains its festal character. Saint Joseph is also honored as patron of the universal Church.
The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, celebrated on 29 June, honors two leading apostles of the early Church and their witness to Christ. Peter is remembered especially for his leadership among the apostles and Paul for his missionary proclamation of the Gospel. Both were martyred in Rome, where the solemnity has particular significance.
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, is celebrated on 1 January, the Octave Day of Christmas. It honors Mary under the ancient title Theotokos, or God-bearer, affirming that Jesus Christ is truly God and truly human. In the United States and many other places, it is ordinarily a holy day of obligation.
This holiday reference covers major observances across the faiths listed on this site. Local and regional customs can still differ. If something important to your community is missing, or a description needs a correction, please write to us at info@mysacredtimes.com.
