Every Christian feast day, holy day, and liturgical season with dates, meanings, and Scripture readings.
Easter 2026 falls on April 5, 2026 — the date that determines most movable feasts.
January 6 — the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, marked by the visit of the Magi. The end of the 12 days of Christmas.
The first day of Lent, marked by the imposition of ashes on the forehead in the sign of the cross.
The 40-day season of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving preparing Christians for Easter.
March 25 — the feast commemorating the angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would bear the Son of God.
The Sunday before Easter commemorating Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on a donkey.
The most sacred week of the Christian year, from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, commemorating Christ's final week.
The Thursday before Easter commemorating the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist, and Christ's command to love.
The solemn day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ at Calvary.
The day between Good Friday and Easter when Christ rested in the tomb. Marked by silence and the Easter Vigil.
The most important feast in the Christian year, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
The 40th day after Easter, commemorating Jesus's ascension to heaven from the Mount of Olives.
The feast 50 days after Easter celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles and the birth of the church.
The Sunday after Pentecost celebrating the doctrine of the Holy Trinity — one God in three Persons.
The Thursday after Trinity Sunday — celebrating the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
August 15 — the Catholic and Orthodox feast commemorating the bodily assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
October 31 — commemorating Martin Luther's posting of the 95 Theses in 1517, the start of the Protestant Reformation.
November 1 — the feast honoring all the saints, known and unknown, who have entered eternal life.
November 2 — a day of prayer for the faithful departed, especially those undergoing purification.
The four-week season of expectant waiting preceding Christmas, beginning four Sundays before December 25.
December 8 — the Catholic feast celebrating that Mary was conceived without original sin.
The evening of December 24, the vigil of Christmas. The Christmas season begins at sundown.
The annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, observed on December 25.
The liturgical calendar is the annual cycle of seasons and feast days observed in Christian worship. It organizes the year around the life of Christ — from Advent (preparing for his birth) through Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost.
The liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent — the fourth Sunday before Christmas (typically the Sunday closest to November 30).
Violet (penance), White (joy and glory), Red (Spirit and martyrdom), Green (ordinary time), and Rose (used on Gaudete Sunday in Advent and Laetare Sunday in Lent for a brief lightening of tone).
Easter follows the lunar calendar — the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25. Most other movable feasts are calculated from Easter's date.