Sarah Mitchell
Catholic holidays, also known as Holy Days, celebrate the life of Christ, historical saints, and various faith-based values. There are ten official Catholic holidays, including Christmas, Easter, and All Saints' Day. Each liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent, which marks the start of the Christian year in Western Christianity. Sundays are considered holy days of obligation, and there are six other holy days of obligation outside of Sundays, such as the Feast of Corpus Christi and the Assumption of Mary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of official Catholic holidays | 10 |
| Most important religious public holiday | Christmas |
| Holy days of obligation | Sundays |
| Holy days of obligation outside of Sundays | 6 |
| Holidays | Easter, All Saints' Day, Corpus Christi, Epiphany, Lent, Advent, Immaculate Conception, Assumption of Mary |
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What You'll Learn
Christmas
The word Christmas comes from the late Old English 'Cristes Maesse', which means the ''Mass of Christ'. It was first found in 1038 and Cristes-messe in 1131. In Dutch, it is 'Kerst-misse', in Latin 'Dies Natalis', in French 'Noel', and in Italian 'Il natale'. The term ''Yule' may have originated from the Germanic 'jōl' or the Anglo-Saxon 'geōl', referring to the feast of the winter solstice.
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Easter
Holy Week, the week before Easter, holds significant importance in Catholicism as it commemorates the final days of Jesus' life on earth. It begins with Palm Sunday, marking Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and includes Holy Wednesday, also known as Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday or Silent Saturday. Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and his disciples, with the priest washing the feet of parish members, mirroring Jesus' act of humility. Good Friday recalls Jesus' crucifixion and death, and Holy Saturday is a day of anticipation and reflection before the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The traditional liturgical observation of Easter among Roman Catholics begins on Holy Saturday with the Easter Vigil, an ancient liturgy incorporating symbols of light, candles, and water, along with readings from the Old and New Testaments. Easter Sunday is a joyous celebration of Christ's resurrection, marked by church services and, in some traditions, the Paschal greeting: "Christ is risen!" followed by the response, "He is risen indeed!".
The Easter festival is observed in various ways by Western Christians, with some denominations holding sunrise services in cemeteries or outdoor locations to witness the sunrise. The exchange of Easter eggs, symbolizing Christ emerging from the tomb, and the Easter Bunny, representing giving and the generosity of Christ, have become part of secular Easter celebrations but originate from religious traditions.
Efforts have been made to standardize the date of Easter across different Christian denominations. In 1997, the World Council of Churches (WCC) proposed a reform to calculate Easter using modern scientific knowledge of the spring equinox and full moon. While this proposal was not adopted, discussions continued in 2016, and in 2022, the Patriarch of Constantinople announced conversations between the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches to determine a common date, expected to be agreed upon by 2025.
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All Saints' Day
The feast that we know of today as “All Saints Day” originated in May 609, when Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III changed the date to November 1 when he dedicated a chapel at the Vatican in honour of all the saints. Pope Gregory IV later extended this celebration of all saints to the universal church.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops defines saints as "persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation." Traditions on this day include going to Mass, reading and learning about the saints, praying to the saints – especially one’s Confirmation Saint – and asking for their intercession.
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Holy days of obligation
The number of holy days of obligation has varied over time. In 1642, Pope Urban reduced the number of Holy Days of Obligation to 36. In the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the Vatican listed 10 days as Holy Days of Obligation. However, the Vatican also gave conferences of bishops the power to suppress Holy Days or transfer them to Sundays, which means that Holy Days can vary slightly by country. For example, in 1991, the USCCB decreed that the Epiphany would be celebrated on a Sunday each year, and suppressed the feasts of St. Joseph and Saints Peter and Paul as holy days of obligation.
In the United States, there are six holy days of obligation outside of Sundays. These include January 1st, the Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God; August 15th, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; November 1st, the solemnity of All Saints; December 8th, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; and December 25th, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas). The Ascension of Jesus is also a holy day of obligation, but it is often transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter.
In some countries, Holy Days of Obligation are determined by the patron saint of that country. For example, in Ireland, the Feast of St. Patrick is a Holy Day of Obligation, while in Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Holy Day.
It's important to note that Holy Days of Obligation are not just requirements, but they are also opportunities for spiritual growth and a chance to encounter God through the most important tenets of the Catholic faith. They are reminders of the beautiful ways in which God has shown His love for us.
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Advent
A distinctive feature of Advent is the use of Advent wreaths, which have been a tradition in the Catholic Church since the Middle Ages. The wreaths typically consist of evergreen branches and four candles, with three purple and one rose candle. Each week, a new candle is lit, accompanied by special Advent prayers. The lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope associated with the coming of Christ into the world.
Another tradition during Advent is the use of Advent calendars, which help Catholics, especially children, prepare spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ. These calendars often include Bible verses, reflections, and inspirational messages for each day of Advent. Additionally, some Catholics choose to observe a period of fasting during Advent, as a way to spiritually prepare for the arrival of Jesus.
The final days of Advent, from December 17 to December 24, are marked by the singing of the "O Antiphons." These ancient prayers, accompanied by biblical imagery, proclaim the coming of Christ and embody the longing for the Divine Messiah. The season of Advent is a time for Catholics to renew their faith, establish spiritual routines, and prepare for the celebration of Christmas.
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Frequently asked questions
There are ten official Catholic holidays, including:
- Christmas
- Easter
- All Saints' Day
- Corpus Christi
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, is a Christian feast that celebrates all Christian saints, especially those without a special feast day. It is also a day to pay respect to one's deceased relatives.
The date varies each year but usually falls between the last week of November and the first week of December.
The most important Catholic holiday is Christmas, which is the only religious public holiday.
