christianity / holidays
Christian Holidays, Festivals & Holy Days
Holidays, feasts and fasts are a significant part of Christian religious practice. The feast days celebrate joyous historical events, such as the birth and resurrection of Christ, while the fast days provide a special opportunity to focus on self-reflection, self-discipline, and repentance. Some Christian holidays have come to have a considerable impact on western culture and traditions.
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Brief History Holidays have been a part of Christianity from the beginning, with Easter being the oldest. |
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Mardi Gras Celebrated on the last day before Lent, this is a day to enjoy one last feast before the 40-day fast. |
 | Advent The season of Advent (adventus, "coming") marks the beginning of the church year and the approach of Christmas. |  | Palm Sunday Palm Sunday is the sixth Sunday of Lent and the last Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. |
 | Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent, a period of fasting that leads up to Easter. Its central ritual is placing of ashes on the forehead. |  | St. Andrew's Day St. Andrew's Day marks the martyrdom of the apostle Andrew, brother to Saint Peter, and is especially associated with Scottish identity. |
 | Boxing Day Celebrated in Great Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, this was when servants and the poor were traditionally given gifts. |  | St. Patrick's Day The Catholic feast day that honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated worldwide by the Irish, those of Irish descent, or "Irish for a day." |
 | Christmas The celebration of the birth of Jesus. The English word "Christmas" derives from the old English Christes maesse, or "Christ's mass." |  | Sunday In Christianity, the day of the week devoted to rest and worship is Sunday, or the "Lord's Day." |
 | Easter Easter is a spring festival that celebrates the resurrection of Christ. It is the oldest Christian holiday and the most important day of the church year. |  | Thanksgiving Celebrates a shared meal between Christian Pilgrims and Native Americans. It is not a religious holiday, but has an interesting, semi-religious history. |
 | Epiphany The celebration of Epiphany (epiphaneia, "manifestation") recalls the visit of the Magi, symbolizing Christ's manifestation to Gentiles. |  | Twelfth Night Made famous by the Shakespearean play, this marks the end of the Christmas season. |
 | Lent Lent is a 40-day period of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter. |
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Valentine's Day Valentine's Day is a celebration of romantic love. Although associated with a saint, modern Valentine's Day is a non-religious holiday. |
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