Holidays & seasons
The liturgical calendar — Advent, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and more — their origins, evolution, and theological significance.
18 topics
Advent
Advent originally had no connection to Christmas and was a separate season of preparation for Epiphany. This historical nugget surprises many, given today's …
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
During the early years of Christianity, the Feast of the Ascension lacked a fixed date and was celebrated in various ways by different communities. Some earl…
Ash Wednesday
Early Christians did not universally observe Ash Wednesday. The practice became widespread among Western Christians during the Middle Ages. Marking the begin…
Christmas
Christmas was not celebrated by early Christians until the 4th century, a fact that might surprise those who assume the holiday has ancient roots tied direct…
Easter
Easter is the Christian feast of the resurrection -- the annual commemoration of the belief that Jesus of Nazareth, crucified by Rome on a Friday, rose from …
Epiphany
"Epiphany is often overlooked in the modern Christian calendar, yet it marks a defining moment in the Christian narrative." Today, many perceive Epiphany mer…
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
Observance of Holy Week has its roots in the 4th century, yet the traditions and rituals associated with this sacred time have varied among different Christi…
Lent
Lent wasn't always 40 days; it varied greatly in length and practice across early Christian communities. During Christianity's early years, different groups …
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday has included foot-washing ceremonies since at least the 4th century. The story of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples during the Last Sup…
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 a key day for Christians when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. Known as Shavuot in H…
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…
The Magi
The Magi were likely Zoroastrian priests, not kings, as often depicted. This surprising assertion challenges the traditional portrayal of the Magi as three r…
Transfiguration
Feast of the Transfiguration celebrations in the Western Church began in the 15th century, despite its biblical importance. Jesus is described as becoming ra…