Christian holy day

/ˌkrɪstʃən ˌhoʊli deɪ/

Other forms: Christian holy days

Definitions of Christian holy day

1. noun

   a religious holiday for Christians
   types:

   quarter day

   a Christian holy day; one of four specified days when certain payments are due

   holy day of obligation

   a day when Catholics must attend Mass and refrain from servile work, and Episcopalians must take Communion

   January 20, Saint Agnes's Eve

   a Christian holy day

   Easter Day, Easter Sunday

   the day (in March or April) on which the festival of Easter is celebrated

   Palm Sunday

   Sunday before Easter

   Passion Sunday

   second Sunday before Easter

   Good Friday

   Friday before Easter

   Low Sunday

   the Sunday following Easter

   Holy Saturday

   the Saturday before Easter; the last day of Lent

   Holy Innocents' Day, Innocents' Day

   December 28, commemorating Herod's slaughter of the children of Bethlehem

   Septuagesima, Septuagesima Sunday

   the 3rd Sunday before Lent (or the 9th before Easter)

   Quinquagesima, Quinquagesima Sunday

   the Sunday before Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent)

   Quadragesima, Quadrigesima Sunday

   the first Sunday in Lent

   Trinity Sunday

   eighth Sunday after Easter

   Rogation Day

   one of the three days before Ascension Day; observed by some Christians as days of supplication

   Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday

   the Thursday before Easter; commemorates the Last Supper

   Corpus Christi

   Thursday after Trinity Sunday; first celebrated in 1246

   June 29, Saints Peter and Paul

   first celebrated in the 3rd century

   Epiphany, Epiphany of Our Lord, January 6, Three Kings' Day, Twelfth day

   twelve days after Christmas; celebrates the visit of the three wise men to the infant Jesus

   March 19, Saint Joseph, St Joseph

   a Christian holy day

   Twelfth night

   eve of Twelfth day; evening of January 5

   All Souls' Day, November 2

   a day of supplication for all the souls in purgatory

   Ash Wednesday

   the 7th Wednesday before Easter; the first day of Lent; the day following Mardi Gras (`Fat Tuesday'); a day of fasting and repentance

   Ember Day

   a day set aside for fasting and prayer

   Advent Sunday

   the first of the four Sundays during Advent

   Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, pancake day

   the last day before Lent

   August 6, Transfiguration, Transfiguration Day

   (Christianity) a church festival held in commemoration of the Transfiguration of Jesus

   11 November, Martinmas, St Martin's Day

   the feast of Saint Martin; a quarter day in Scotland

   Annunciation, Annunciation Day, Lady Day, March 25

   a festival commemorating the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

   Michaelmas, Michaelmas Day, September 29

   honoring the archangel Michael; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

   Candlemas, Candlemas Day, Feb 2

   feast day commemorating the presentation of Christ in the temple; a quarter day in Scotland

   August 1, Lammas, Lammas Day

   commemorates Saint Peter's miraculous deliverance from prison; a quarter day in Scotland; a harvest festival in England

   January 1, Solemnity of Mary

   (Roman Catholic Church) a holy day of obligation

   Ascension, Ascension Day, Ascension of the Lord

   (Christianity) celebration of the Ascension of Christ into heaven; observed on the 40th day after Easter

   Assumption, Assumption of Mary, August 15

   celebration in the Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary's being taken up into heaven when her earthly life ended; corresponds to the Dormition in the Eastern Orthodox Church

   All Saints' Day, Allhallows, Hallowmas, Hallowmass, November 1

   a Christian feast day honoring all the saints; first observed in 835

   December 8, Immaculate Conception

   Roman Catholic holy day first celebrated in 1854

   Christmas, Christmas Day, Dec 25, Xmas

   a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Christ; a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

   June 24, Midsummer Day, Midsummer's Day, St John's Day

   a quarter day in England, Wales, and Ireland

   Pentecost, Whitsunday

   seventh Sunday after Easter; commemorates the emanation of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles; a quarter day in Scotland

   type of:

   holy day, religious holiday

   a day specified for religious observance