Christian calendar for 2014
Jan Wed 1
Circumcision
Marks the day when Jesus was circumcised.
Festival of St Basil the Great
St Basil is one of the great fathers of the Orthodox Church.
Jan Mon 6
Epiphany
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)
Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.
Jan Tue 7
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.
Jan Sun 12
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 the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.
Jan Mon 13
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.
Jan Sat 18
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.
Jan Tue 21
St Agnes
Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.
Jan Sat 25
St Paul's Day
Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.
Jan Tue 28
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Feb Sun 2
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)
Feb Tue 11
Our Lady of Lourdes
Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feb Fri 14
St Valentine's Day
Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least three different saints named Valentine.
Mar Sat 1
St David's Day
Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales.
Mar Mon 3
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
Mar Tue 4
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.
Mar Wed 5
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
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.
Mar Mon 17
St Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Mar Wed 19
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mar Tue 25
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.
Mar Sun 30
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.
Apr Sun 13
Palm Sunday
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Apr Thu 17
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.
Apr Fri 18
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.
Apr Sat 19
Holy Saturday (Western)
The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.
Apr Sun 20
Easter Sunday (Western)
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.
Easter (Orthodox)
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival
Apr Wed 23
St George's Day
Saint George is the patron saint of England.
May Sun 25
St Bede the Venerable
The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.
May Thu 29
Ascension Day
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.
Jun Sun 1
Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.
Jun Sun 8
Pentecost - Whitsun
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
Jun Sun 15
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".
Jun Thu 19
Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
Jun Sun 22
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.
Jun Sun 29
St Peter and St Paul's Day
The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.
Jul Tue 15
St Swithin's Day
Swithin (or Swithun) was a Saxon bishop in the 9th century. Legend has it that the weather on his feast day, 15 July, will determine the weather for the next 40 days.
Jul Tue 22
St Mary Magdalene
Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox churches consider the first person to see Jesus at his resurrection a saint. She is also important in the Bahá'í faith.
Aug Wed 6
Transfiguration
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.
Aug Fri 15
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.
Sep Mon 8
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Roman Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Sep Sun 14
The Triumph of the Cross
Catholics and Orthodox Christians reflect on the salvation they believe inherent in the symbol of the Cross.
Sep Tue 23
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Catholics honour the 20th century Italian stigmatist, popularly known as Padre Pio.
Sep Mon 29
Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day
A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)
Oct Thu 2
Feast of the Guardian Angels
A Catholic festival celebrated annually on 2 October in honour of guardian angels.
Oct Mon 13
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.
Oct Fri 31
Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve)
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.
Nov Sat 1
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.
Nov Sun 2
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.
Nov Mon 17
St Hilda
The 7th century Northumbrian monastic and saint.
Nov Sun 30
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.
Dec Mon 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate.
Dec Fri 12
Our Lady of Guadeloupe
Celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout Central and South America who honour the Empress of the Americas. Peter Owen Jones joined over 5 million pilgrims in Guadeloupe.
Dec Sat 13
St Lucy's Day
Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.
Dec Wed 24
Christmas Eve
The day before Christmas Day
Dec Thu 25
Christmas Day
The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Dec Fri 26
St Stephen's Day
St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.
Christian calendar for 2015
Jan Thu 1
Circumcision
Marks the day when Jesus was circumcised.
Festival of St Basil the Great
St Basil is one of the great fathers of the Orthodox Church.
Jan Tue 6
Epiphany
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)
Orthodox churches mark the baptism of Jesus on this day.
Jan Wed 7
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.
Jan Sun 11
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 the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.
Jan Tue 13
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.
Jan Sun 18
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.
Jan Wed 21
St Agnes
Patron saint of girls, martyred at the age of 13.
Jan Sun 25
St Paul's Day
Anglicans and Catholics celebrate St Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.
Jan Wed 28
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Feb Mon 2
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)
Feb Wed 11
Our Lady of Lourdes
Marks the day in 1858 when St Bernadette had her first vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Feb Sat 14
St Valentine's Day
Now more a secular festival than a religious one. There are at least three different saints named Valentine.
Feb Tue 17
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.
Feb Wed 18
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
Feb Mon 23
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
Mar Sun 1
St David's Day
Saint David, or Dewi Sant as he's called in the Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales.
Mar Thu 5
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.
Mar Sun 15
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.
Mar Tue 17
St Patrick's Day
St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland.
Mar Thu 19
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mar Wed 25
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.
Mar Sun 29
Palm Sunday
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Apr Thu 2
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.
Apr Fri 3
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.
Apr Sat 4
Holy Saturday (Western)
The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.
Apr Sun 5
Easter Sunday (Western)
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.
Apr Sun 12
Easter (Orthodox)
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival
Apr Thu 23
St George's Day
Saint George is the patron saint of England.
May Thu 14
Ascension Day
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.
May Sun 17
Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.
May Sun 24
Pentecost - Whitsun
The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church.
May Mon 25
St Bede the Venerable
The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.
May Sun 31
Trinity Sunday
The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one".
Jun Thu 4
Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic festival celebrating the "real presence of Christ in the Eucharist". The festival falls on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday.
Jun Sun 7
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.
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.
Jun Mon 29
St Peter and St Paul's Day
The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Lutheran churches. One of the oldest saints' days.
Jul Wed 15
St Swithin's Day
Swithin (or Swithun) was a Saxon bishop in the 9th century. Legend has it that the weather on his feast day, 15 July, will determine the weather for the next 40 days.
Jul Wed 22
St Mary Magdalene
Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox churches consider the first person to see Jesus at his resurrection a saint. She is also important in the Bahá'í faith.
Aug Thu 6
Transfiguration
Orthodox Christian feast commemorating the sudden emanation of radiance from the person of Jesus that occurred on the mountain.
Aug Sat 15
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.
Sep Tue 8
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Roman Catholics and Anglicans celebrate the birth of the Virgin Mary.
Sep Mon 14
The Triumph of the Cross
Catholics and Orthodox Christians reflect on the salvation they believe inherent in the symbol of the Cross.
Sep Wed 23
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
Catholics honour the 20th century Italian stigmatist, popularly known as Padre Pio.
Sep Tue 29
Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day
A feast day in honour of the archangel Michael. Michael is one of the angels named in the Bible (along with Gabriel and, in some traditions including Roman Catholic, Raphael.)
Oct Fri 2
Feast of the Guardian Angels
A Catholic festival celebrated annually on 2 October in honour of guardian angels.
Oct Tue 13
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.
Oct Sat 31
Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve)
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.
Nov Sun 1
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.
Nov Mon 2
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.
Nov Sun 29
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
Nov Tue 17
St Hilda
The 7th century Northumbrian monastic and saint.
Nov Mon 30
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.
Dec Tue 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate.
Dec Sat 12
Our Lady of Guadeloupe
Celebrated by Roman Catholics throughout Central and South America who honour the Empress of the Americas. Peter Owen Jones joined over 5 million pilgrims in Guadeloupe.
Dec Sun 13
St Lucy's Day
Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church.
Dec Thu 24
Christmas Eve
The day before Christmas Day
Dec Fri 25
Christmas Day
The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Dec Sat 26
St Stephen's Day
St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.
Christian calendar for 2016
Jan Sun 10
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 the baptism of Jesus at Epiphany.
Jan Thu 28
St Thomas Aquinas
Doctor of the Church and patron saint of students and theologians.
Feb Tue 9
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.
Feb Wed 10
Ash Wednesday
The first day of Lent for Western Christian churches. Lent is the season marking the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.
Mar Fri 4
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
Mar Sun 6
Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday is the fourth Sunday of Lent. Not the same as Mothers' Day in the USA.
Mar Sun 20
Palm Sunday
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent. Marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the start of Holy Week.
Mar Thu 24
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.
Mar Fri 25
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.
Mar Sat 26
Holy Saturday (Western)
The evening before Easter Sunday is spent in anticipation of Christ's resurrection the next morning.
Mar Sun 27
Easter Sunday (Western)
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.
May Sun 1
Easter (Orthodox)
Orthodox Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ - his return from death after the Crucifixion. The most important Christian festival
May Thu 5
Ascension Day
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.
May Sun 8
Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales)
Ascension Day is normally celebrated 40 days after Easter. The Catholic Church in England and Wales celebrates it on the following Sunday instead.
May Wed 25
St Bede the Venerable
The great Anglo-Saxon saint and scholar from Jarrow.
