ArreniteThe Christian year
A year of feasts and seasons, kept by Christians in many countries and in many ways. Each page says where a tradition came from, how people keep it, where Christians differ, and what to do together.
Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Christians keep these days differently, and some do not keep some of them. Each page says so honestly.
Coming up in the Christian year
Autumn: remembering
- All Saints and All SoulsEvery year on November 1 (All Saints) and November 2 (All Souls)
- Halloween: where it came fromEvery year on October 31
- Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead)Every year on November 1 and 2
- Undas in the PhilippinesEvery year on November 1 and 2
- Reformation DayEvery year on October 31
- St Francis and the animalsEvery year on October 4
Advent and Christmas
- AdventFour Sundays before Christmas (late November or early December)
- St Nicholas DayEvery year on December 6
- St Lucia DayEvery year on December 13
- Nine nights before Christmas: Las Posadas and Simbang GabiDecember 16 to 24
- Christmas around the worldEvery year on December 25 (and January 7 in some churches)
- Ethiopian and Orthodox ChristmasUsually January 7
Winter
- Epiphany and the Three KingsEvery year on January 6 (January 19 in some Orthodox churches)
- Candlemas: the Presentation of JesusEvery year on February 2
- St ValentineEvery year on February 14
Lent and Easter
- Shrove Tuesday and CarnivalThe day before Ash Wednesday (the date changes each year)
- Ash Wednesday46 days before Easter (the date changes each year)
- LentThe 40 days before Easter (begins on Ash Wednesday)
- St PatrickEvery year on March 17
- The AnnunciationEvery year on March 25
- Palm SundayThe Sunday before Easter (the date changes each year)
- Holy WeekThe week from Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday (the dates change each year)
- EasterThe Sunday after the first full moon of spring (the date changes each year)
- Pascha: Easter in the Orthodox ChurchesA Sunday in spring, often a week or more after Western Easter (the date changes each year)