Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In
the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus
by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians
celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los
Reyes (Three Kings Day).
Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox)
Armenian Christians celebrate Christ's birth at Epiphany, except for
Armenians in the Holy Land, who celebrate Christmas on January 19th.
Theophany
Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.
Sunday 7 January
Christmas
Day (Orthodox)
Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version
of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later
than other Christian churches.
Baptism of the Lord
Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the
Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and
Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates
Jesus's baptism at Epiphany.
First
Sunday after Epiphany
Epiphany takes place on the 6th of January, but most Christians celebrate
it on the first Sunday after that date.
Epiphany
(Catholic Church in England and Wales)
The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the
nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.
Saturday 13 January
St Hilary's Day
According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the
year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.
Thursday 18 January
Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)
First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the
days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the
days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches
and regions use a different week.
Sunday 21 January
St Agnes
Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.
Thursday 25 January
St Paul's
Day
Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to
Damascus.
Sunday 28 January
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Friday 2 February
Candlemas
This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and
commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present
him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)
Sunday 11 February
Our Lady of Lourdes
Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least
three different saints named Valentine.
Monday 19 February
Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)
The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day
is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter
Tuesday 20 February
Shrove Tuesday
Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake
Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food
that could not be eaten during Lent.
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season
marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
Thursday 1 March
St David's
Day
Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the
patron saint of Wales.
Monday 5 March
St Piran's Day
Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was
born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that
Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross
of pure metal.
Saturday 17 March
St
Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Sunday 18 March
Mothering
Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers'
Day in the USA.
Monday 19 March
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday 25 March
Annunciation
Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give
birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation
itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Thursday 5 April
Maundy
Thursday
Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as
the Eucharist.
Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from
death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most
years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.
Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his
resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is
celebrated 40 days after Easter.
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
Sunday 3 June
All
Saints' Day (Orthodox)
This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church.
Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.
Trinity Sunday
The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of
God as "Three in one".
Thursday 7 June
Corpus
Christi
Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in
the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity
Sunday.
Sunday 10 June
Corpus
Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic
Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.
Friday 29 June
St
Peter's Day
Observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. One of the
oldest saints' days.
Monday 6 August
Transfiguration
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance
from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.
Wednesday 15 August
Dormition of the Theotokos
An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and
glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling
asleep".
Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the
mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.
Saturday 8 September
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Roman Catholics celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Feast of the Birth of Mary
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches celebrate the birth of
Mary, mother of Jesus.
Saturday 13 October
St Edward's
Day
Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built
Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is
also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.
The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date
back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was
celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.
Thursday 1 November
All
Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')
All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when
Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the
Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after
Pentecost.
Friday 2 November
All
Souls' Day
All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic
churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for
the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3
November if the 2nd is a Sunday.
Friday 30 November
St Andrew's
Day
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag
of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon
Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.
Sunday 2 December
Advent Sunday
The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to
November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom,
four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and
begins in the middle of November
Saturday 8 December
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being
without sin, therefore, immaculate.
Thursday 13 December
St Lucy's Day
Saint Lucy's feast day is marked by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox.
Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. She was a virgin martyr who lived in
Sicily during the third century.
Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In
the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus
by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians
celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los
Reyes (Three Kings Day).
Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox)
Armenian Christians celebrate Christ's birth at Epiphany, except for
Armenians in the Holy Land, who celebrate Christmas on January 19th.
Theophany
Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.
Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version
of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later
than other Christian churches.
Sunday 13 January
St Hilary's Day
According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the
year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.
Baptism of the Lord
Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the
Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and
Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates
Jesus's baptism at Epiphany.
Friday 18 January
Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)
First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the
days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the
days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches
and regions use a different week.
Monday 21 January
St Agnes
Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.
Friday 25 January
St Paul's
Day
Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to
Damascus.
Monday 28 January
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Saturday 2 February
Candlemas
This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and
commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present
him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)
Tuesday 5 February
Shrove Tuesday
Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake
Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food
that could not be eaten during Lent.
Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least
three different saints named Valentine.
Saturday 1 March
St David's
Day
Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the
patron saint of Wales.
Sunday 2 March
Mothering
Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers'
Day in the USA.
Wednesday 5 March
St Piran's Day
Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was
born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that
Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross
of pure metal.
Monday 10 March
Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)
The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day
is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Monday 17 March
St
Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Wednesday 19 March
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday 20 March
Maundy
Thursday
Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as
the Eucharist.
Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from
death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most
years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.
Tuesday 25 March
Annunciation
Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give
birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation
itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.
Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his
resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is
celebrated 40 days after Easter.
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
Sunday 18 May
All
Saints' Day (Orthodox)
This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church.
Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.
Trinity Sunday
The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of
God as "Three in one".
Sunday 25 May
Corpus
Christi
Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in
the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity
Sunday.
Corpus
Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic
Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.
Sunday 29 June
St
Peter's Day
Observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. One of the
oldest saints' days.
Wednesday 6 August
Transfiguration
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance
from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.
Friday 15 August
Dormition of the Theotokos
An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and
glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling
asleep".
Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the
mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.
Monday 8 September
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Roman Catholics celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Feast of the Birth of Mary
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches celebrate the birth of
Mary, mother of Jesus.
Monday 13 October
St Edward's
Day
Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built
Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is
also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.
The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date
back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was
celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.
Saturday 1 November
All
Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')
All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when
Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the
Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after
Pentecost.
Sunday 2 November
All
Souls' Day
All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic
churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for
the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3
November if the 2nd is a Sunday.
All
Saints' Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the
nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.
Sunday 30 November
Advent Sunday
The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to
November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom,
four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and
begins in the middle of November
St Andrew's
Day
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag
of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon
Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.
Monday 8 December
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being
without sin, therefore, immaculate.
Saturday 13 December
St Lucy's Day
Saint Lucy's feast day is marked by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox.
Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. She was a virgin martyr who lived in
Sicily during the third century.
Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In
the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus
by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians
celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los
Reyes (Three Kings Day).
Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version
of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later
than other Christian churches.
Epiphany takes place on the 6th of January, but most Christians celebrate
it on the first Sunday after that date.
Baptism of the Lord
Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the
Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and
Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates
Jesus's baptism at Epiphany.
Tuesday 13 January
St Hilary's Day
According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the
year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.
Sunday 18 January
Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)
First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the
days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the
days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches
and regions use a different week.
Wednesday 21 January
St Agnes
Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.
Sunday 25 January
St Paul's
Day
Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to
Damascus.
Wednesday 28 January
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Monday 2 February
Candlemas
This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and
commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present
him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)
Wednesday 11 February
Our Lady of Lourdes
Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least
three different saints named Valentine.
Tuesday 24 February
Shrove Tuesday
Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake
Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food
that could not be eaten during Lent.
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season
marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
Sunday 1 March
St David's
Day
Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the
patron saint of Wales.
Monday 2 March
Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)
The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day
is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter
Thursday 5 March
St Piran's Day
Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was
born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that
Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross
of pure metal.
Tuesday 17 March
St
Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Thursday 19 March
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sunday 22 March
Mothering
Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers'
Day in the USA.
Wednesday 25 March
Annunciation
Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give
birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation
itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Thursday 9 April
Maundy
Thursday
Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as
the Eucharist.
Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from
death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most
years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.
Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his
resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is
celebrated 40 days after Easter.
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
Sunday 7 June
Trinity Sunday
The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of
God as "Three in one".
All
Saints' Day (Orthodox)
This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church.
Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.
Sunday 14 June
Corpus
Christi
Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in
the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity
Sunday.
Corpus
Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. The Catholic
Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.
Sunday 28 June
St
Peter's Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the
nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.
Monday 29 June
St
Peter's Day
Observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. One of the
oldest saints' days.
Thursday 6 August
Transfiguration
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance
from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.
Saturday 15 August
Dormition of the Theotokos
An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and
glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling
asleep".
Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the
mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.
Sunday 16 August
Assumption
of Mary (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
The Catholic Church in England and Wales moves this festival to the
nearest Sunday if it falls on a Saturday or Monday.
Tuesday 8 September
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Roman Catholics celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Feast of the Birth of Mary
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches celebrate the birth of
Mary, mother of Jesus.
Tuesday 13 October
St Edward's
Day
Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built
Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is
also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.
The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date
back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was
celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.
Sunday 1 November
All
Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')
All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when
Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the
Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after
Pentecost.
Monday 2 November
All
Souls' Day
All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic
churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for
the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3
November if the 2nd is a Sunday.
Sunday 29 November
Advent Sunday
The beginning of the ecclesiastical year on the Sunday closest to
November 30. Advent is the season before Christmas - In Western Christendom,
four Sundays are included. In Eastern Christendom, the season is longer and
begins in the middle of November
Monday 30 November
St Andrew's
Day
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag
of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon
Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.
Tuesday 8 December
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being
without sin, therefore, immaculate.
Sunday 13 December
St Lucy's Day
Saint Lucy's feast day is marked by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox.
Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. She was a virgin martyr who lived in
Sicily during the third century.
Celebrates the visit of the wise men (the magi) to the infant Jesus. In
the East, where it originated, the Epiphany celebrates the baptism of Jesus
by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. (Catholics and Episcopalians
celebrate this separately: see Baptism of the Lord) Also known as Dia de los
Reyes (Three Kings Day).
Most Orthodox churches use the Julian rather than the Gregorian version
of the Western calendar. As a result, they celebrate Christmas 13 days later
than other Christian churches.
Epiphany takes place on the 6th of January, but most Christians celebrate
it on the first Sunday after that date.
Baptism of the Lord
Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the
Baptist. Occurs on the first Sunday after Epiphany. Catholics and
Episcopalians celebrate this holy day, but Eastern Christianity celebrates
Jesus's baptism at Epiphany.
Wednesday 13 January
St Hilary's Day
According to tradition, "St. Hilary's is the coldest day of the
year." St. Hilary was a fourth century Bishop of Poitiers.
Monday 18 January
Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity (start)
First celebrated in 1908. The days of 18-25 January (regardless of the
days of the week involved) were originally chosen because they covered the
days between the feast of St Peter and the feast of St Paul. Some churches
and regions use a different week.
Thursday 21 January
St Agnes
Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.
Monday 25 January
St Paul's
Day
Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to
Damascus.
Thursday 28 January
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Tuesday 2 February
Candlemas
This is often called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple and
commemorates the day Mary took Jesus to the Temple at Jerusalem to present
him to God. Coincides with Groundhog Day (USA)
Thursday 11 February
Our Lady of Lourdes
Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least
three different saints named Valentine.
Monday 15 February
Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox)
The start of the "Great Lent" for Orthodox Christians. This day
is called Clean Monday, and occurs seven weeks before the Orthodox Easter
Tuesday 16 February
Shrove Tuesday
Also called Pancake Day and Mardi Gras. The British name of "Pancake
Day" comes from the tradition of making pancakes to use up all the food
that could not be eaten during Lent.
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season
marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
Monday 1 March
St David's
Day
Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the
patron saint of Wales.
Friday 5 March
St Piran's Day
Piran is regarded as the patron saint of Cornwall and tin miners. He was
born in Ireland. The Cornish flag may have been inspired by the legend that
Piran discovered the process for smelting tin: black rock with a white cross
of pure metal.
Sunday 14 March
Mothering
Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers'
Day in the USA.
Wednesday 17 March
St
Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Friday 19 March
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thursday 25 March
Annunciation
Marks the angel Gabriel's message to the Virgin Mary that she would give
birth to the incarnation of Christ. It also celebrates the incarnation
itself as the date falls 9 months before Christmas.
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into
Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Thursday 1 April
Maundy
Thursday
Christians remember Maundy Thursday as the day of the Last Supper, when
Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and established the ceremony known as
the Eucharist.
Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from
death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival. Most
years Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter on a different date.
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
Tuesday 29 June
St
Peter's Day
Observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. One of the
oldest saints' days.
Friday 6 August
Transfiguration
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance
from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.
Sunday 15 August
Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the
mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven.
Dormition of the Theotokos
An Orthodox festival that commemorates the death, resurrection, and
glorification of Christ's mother. Dormition means "falling
asleep".
Wednesday 8 September
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Roman Catholics celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Feast of the Birth of Mary
Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches celebrate the birth of
Mary, mother of Jesus.
Wednesday 13 October
St Edward's
Day
Edward the Confessor was King of England 1042 - 1066. He built
Westminster Abbey where there is a shrine to him - and where the saint is
also celebrated on January 5 each year, the anniversary of his death.
The night before All Saints' Day (All Hallows' Day). Its origins date
back over 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was
celebrated as a Christian festival by the 8th Century.
Monday 1 November
All
Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows')
All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day or Hallowmas) is when
Anglicans and Roman Catholics honour all saints, known and unknown, of the
Christian church. Orthodox churches celebrate it on the first Sunday after
Pentecost.
Tuesday 2 November
All
Souls' Day
All Souls' Day is an opportunity for Roman Catholic and Anglo-Catholic
churches to commemorate the faithful departed. They remember and pray for
the souls of people who are in Purgatory. All Souls' Day is celebrated on 3
November if the 2nd is a Sunday.
Tuesday 30 November
St Andrew's
Day
Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia. The flag
of Scotland is the Cross of St. Andrew. St Andrew, the brother of Simon
Peter, was originally a fisherman and became the first Apostle.
Wednesday 8 December
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being
without sin, therefore, immaculate.
Monday 13 December
St Lucy's Day
Saint Lucy's feast day is marked by Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox.
Lucy is the patron saint of the blind. She was a virgin martyr who lived in
Sicily during the third century.
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The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and
Executive Director of CrossCurrents.
He is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here. God and Science (Hypertext Edition,
2005).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion: Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2007)
