Liturgical Calendar and Feast Days
The Liturgical Year is an annual cycle of seasons and feasts
that celebrates the Paschal Mystery, especially focusing on
- Christ's Death and Resurrection (Easter Cycle)
- Birth (Christmas Cycle)
"In the Liturgical Year the various aspects of the
one Paschal mystery unfold. This is also the case
with the cycle of feasts surrounding the mystery of
the incarnation (Annunciation, Christmas, Epiphany).
They commemorate the beginning of our salvation and
communicate to us the first fruits of the Paschal
mystery."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1171
The celebration of the Liturgical Year is meant to draw the
Catholic faithful into the Mystery of Christ, helping them
to experience His divine life more fully and deeply. This
includes remembering and celebrating the lives of the
saints, especially Mary, the Mother of God.
"By keeping the memorials of the saints - first of
all the holy Mother of God, then the apostles, the
martyrs, and other saints - on fixed days of the
Liturgical Year, the Church on earth shows that she
is united with the liturgy of heaven. She gives
glory to Christ for having accomplished his
salvation in his glorified members; their example
encourages her on her way to the Father."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1195
The Western and Eastern rites of the Catholic Church hold the
major feast days and seasons in common, but differ on many of
the solemnities and feasts. Below are the most important feast
days, plus some of the feasts unique to the Eastern Catholic
Churches.
2025-2026
Liturgical and Feast Days
Pascha and the 12 Great Feasts
Includes Major Civil Holidays in the United States (USA)
Beginning of the Church Year
Sep 1:
The Beginning of the Church Year
Sep 7:
Sunday Before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sep 8:
Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God
Sep 14:
Exaltation of the Holy and Life-Giving Cross
Sep 21:
Sunday After the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Sep 28:
Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Oct 1:
Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God
Oct 5:
Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost
Oct 12:
Sunday of the Fathers of the 7th Ecumenical Council
Oct 19:
Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Oct 26:
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost
Nov 8:
Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless
Powers
Preparation for the Nativity of Our Lord
Nov 15:
Nativity Fast (Philip's Fast also known as Advent)
Nov 21:
The Entry of the Most Holy Mother of God into the Temple
Nov 27:
Thanksgiving Day (USA)
Dec 6:
St Nicholas the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra in Lycia
Dec 8:
Conception by Anne of the Most Holy Mother of God (Immaculate Conception)
Dec 12:
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Season of the Christmas cycle
Dec 25:
The Nativity of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ
Holy Day of Obligation
Dec 26:
Synaxis of the Most Holy Mother of God
Dec 27:
Feast of St. Stephen
Jan 1:
Circumcision of Our Lord and the Memory of St. Basil the Great
Jan 6:
Theophany (Baptism) of Our Lord
Holy Day of Obligation
Jan 11:
Sunday After Theophany
Pre-Paschal Season
Jan 18:
Sunday of Zacchaeus
Jan 19:
Martin Luther King Day (USA)
Jan 25:
Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
Jan 30:
Synaxis of the Ecumenical Teachers and Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom
Feb 1:
Sunday of the Prodigal Son
Feb 2:
Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
Feb 7:
First All-Souls Saturday
Feb 8:
Sunday of Meatfare
Feb 15:
Sunday of Cheesefare
