Christian Holidays

Christian holidays commemorate and celebrate the works of God in Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) throughout the year.

The Christian Liturgical Calendar

Christian holidays and feasts are based on the liturgical calendar, which is primarily based on the solar year.

The dates of some holidays, like Christmas, therefore, are fixed in the Gregorian calendar. The date of other holidays, like Easter, are based on the Moon phase. Because of this, it changes every year, even though the holiday falls on the same day of the week.

Different denominations within Christianity follow different liturgical calendars. For example, the year in the Western Christian calendar begins on the first Sunday of Advent—the first Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew, which falls annually on November 30 in the Gregorian calendar. In the Eastern Christian traditions, the year begins on September 1.

Liturgical Year and Seasons

For observing Christians, a liturgical year or church year is a cumulative celebration and commemoration of the “saving works of God in Jesus Christ” throughout a calendar year.

The year is divided into seasons, each of which begins on the day of a moveable feast. Because of this, the length of each season varies/may vary from year to year. Most denominations observe six seasons, each representing a significant event in the life of Jesus Christ. These six seasons are Advent, Christmas, Lent, the Paschal Triduum, Easter, and Ordinary Time.

Astronomical versus meteorological seasons

A Color for Each Season

Every liturgical season has a color associated with it. The color for the Christmas season, which begins on December 25 and ends the day before Epiphany, is white, while the color for Lent is purple or violet.

When Does a Liturgical Day Begin?

A liturgical day spans from midnight to midnight, just like its counterpart in the Gregorian calendar. The celebration of Sundays and other solemnities, however, begins on the evening of the day before.

Solemnity, Feasts, and Memorials

In addition to Sunday, the holiest day of the week within the church, the church calendar has several events of note throughout the year.

Within the Catholic Church, solemnities are the most important events. Celebrations begin the evening before with first vespers or evening prayers. These include Easter, Pentecost, the Immaculate Conception (December 8), Assumption (August 15), Solemnity of St. Joseph (March 19), and the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul (June 29).

Feasts are second in line in order of importance within church celebrations, while memorials commemorate a saint and can be obligatory or optional.

In Eastern Christian traditions, Pascha or Easter is the holiest day of all. Easter is followed by the twelve great feasts in importance, three of which are moveable with their dates depending on the date of Easter.

The Importance of Sunday

Sunday is the first day of the week in the Christian tradition. It is a day to celebrate the paschal mystery, which refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Sunday is also often called the Lord’s Day by observing Christians.

In the Catholic tradition, Sunday celebrations can only be replaced by solemnities or feasts of the Lord. However, Sundays in the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter rank high. If any solemnities fall on these Sundays, they are observed on the preceding Saturday or the following Monday.

Which Christian Holidays Have Pagan Origins?

Several Christian holidays have elements or traditions that may have originated from pre-Christian or pagan practices, as the Christian Church often incorporated local customs and traditions to make the transition to Christianity more palatable for the local populations.

It’s important to note that the incorporation of pagan elements into Christian holidays doesn’t necessarily diminish their religious significance for Christians today. Some of these holidays and their potential pagan origins or influences include:

• Christmas: December 25 was chosen as the date for the celebration of Jesus’ birth, and it coincides with the Roman festival of Saturnalia and various other winter solstice celebrations. The use of evergreen trees and decorations can be traced back to pagan traditions, but these elements have taken on Christian symbolism over time.
• Easter: The timing of Easter, determined by the lunar calendar, often aligns with pagan celebrations of spring and fertility. The name “Easter” itself may have pagan origins, related to the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. Eggs and rabbits, symbols of fertility, are also associated with Easter and have pagan roots.
• All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day: These days, falling on November 1 and 2, respectively, might have been influenced by Celtic and Roman traditions of honoring the dead around the same time of year. The Celtic festival of Samhain, in particular, is often cited as a precursor to Halloween and the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.