Holidays & seasons
The liturgical calendar — Advent, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and more — their origins, evolution, and theological significance.
17 topics
Advent
Advent, a season now widely recognized as a prelude to Christmas, originally served a different purpose altogether. In its earliest form, Advent was a time d…
All Saints Day
All Saints Day, a Christian festival honoring all saints, both known and unknown, was not always observed on November 1st. Originally, it was celebrated on M…
Ascension
In the early years of Christianity, the Feast of the Ascension did not have a fixed date and was celebrated in various ways by different communities. Some ea…
Ash Wednesday
In the early Christian church, Ash Wednesday was not a universally observed occasion. It wasn't until the Middle Ages that the practice became widespread amo…
Christmas
The date of Christmas was chosen to coincide with pagan festivals, not because it was Jesus's actual birthday. In the 4th century, the Church settled on Dece…
Easter
The Easter Bunny, a figure now synonymous with chocolate eggs and springtime celebrations, actually traces its origins back to ancient pagan traditions where…
Epiphany
In the early Christian communities, Epiphany held a place of greater significance than Christmas. This feast day, originating from the Eastern Christian Chur…
Good Friday
For centuries, Christians have wrestled with the question of how best to observe Good Friday: should it be a day of mourning, reflecting the somber events of…
Holy Week
The observance of Holy Week has its roots in the 4th century, yet the traditions and rituals associated with this sacred time have varied significantly among…
Lent
Lent wasn't always 40 days; it varied greatly in length and practice across early Christian communities. In the formative years of Christianity, the observan…
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday has been marked by foot-washing ceremonies since at least the 4th century. This ritual is deeply rooted in the story of Jesus washing the fee…
New Year
For many Christians in medieval Europe, the New Year was celebrated not on January 1st, but on March 25th, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation. Thi…
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday was once celebrated with elaborate medieval pageants featuring live animals and entire towns participating in reenactments of Jesus' entry into J…
Passover
Passover is one of the oldest religious festivals still celebrated today, with a history spanning over three millennia. This ancient observance commemorates …
Pentecost
Pentecost began as a Jewish harvest festival before becoming significant for Christians as the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. Known as…
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving was not originally a religious holiday but became associated with Christian gratitude over time. Its roots can be traced back to 1621 when the P…
Transfiguration
The Feast of the Transfiguration was not universally celebrated in the Western Church until the 15th century, despite its biblical significance. This event, …