Religious Catholic holidays, as well as Christian holidays in general, are a complex interlacing of Christian ritual and folk traditions. The pre-Christian calendar basically had agrarian and pastoral holidays, which corresponded to different seasons, their offensive and wires, and also timed the summer and winter solstice. The Church did its utmost to strengthen the existing folk customs to the Christian calendar and the days of the memory of the saints.
As a result, in the Catholic countries there were days of celebrating certain dates and memories of saints, celebrated especially magnificently in churches, while becoming not just ecclesiastical traditions, but also landmarks of agricultural work and the change of seasons.
The main Catholic holidays and their description
All the permanent and mobile Catholic Catholic holidays are combined in different ways. The liturgical year begins with the so-called Advent - the period before the Christmas fast. At this time, all believers should prepare for the second coming of Christ, remember the prophecies of John the Baptist. This time is considered a time of universal repentance.
Next in the number of Catholic church holidays is the date of December 8 - the Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This is one of the main Virgin holidays.
Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most important Christian holidays, including among Catholics. In all countries, the tradition of making denims with a small niche is widespread, where wooden or ceramic figures depict scenes from the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is a mandatory and widely celebrated Catholic family holiday, on the eve of which (on Christmas Eve), by tradition, a family dinner consists exclusively of lean dishes. And only on the first day of Christmas begins the presentation of festive food - turkey, goose, ham and so on. It is customary to cover tables with great abundance and give each other presents.
The celebration of Christmas on December 25 began only in the 4th century. And earlier Christians celebrated it on January 6. Among the customs associated with the holiday of Christmas - the days of remembrance of the destruction of babies by order of King Herod, St. Sylvester's Day, New Year.
Calendar of the main Catholic holidays
- January 6 - Catholics celebrate the Epiphany - the most ancient Christian holiday.
- January 10 - the baptism of the Lord in the Jordan River. The feast refers to the events of the Gospel history of the time of the apostles.
- January 17 is the day of St. Antonio. It is celebrated in Italy, especially bright and colorful in its central part. The holiday is timed to the praises of the animal patron.
- February 2 - The Presentation of the Lord, the meeting of the infant Jesus with the elder Simeon on the 40th day after birth.
- February 10 - ash Saturday, the beginning of Lent in Western Christians, ending with Easter.
- March 20 - the entrance of the Lord to Jerusalem or the Palm Sunday. As well as at orthodox, it is celebrated one week prior to a holiday of Easter.
- March 25 - The Annunciation of Mary, when the Archangel Gabriel brought the news of her forthcoming Immaculate Conception.
- March 27 - Catholic Easter. It is celebrated as widely and solemnly as the Orthodox Christians, because on this day there was an atonement of all mankind and the giving of eternal life.
- May 15 - Pentecost, the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit.
- May 22 - the Day of the Holy Trinity .
- May 26 - The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. This holiday - a relatively new, officially approved in memory of the establishment of Jesus Christ's sacrament of communion.
- June 3 - The Most-Sacred Heart of Jesus. The theme of the holiday is the love of God, living in his heart, gratitude for this and for the granted salvation.
- June 24 - the birth of St. John the Baptist. On this day it is customary to burn fireworks, fires in villages and in squares in big cities
- June 29 is the day of St. Perth and St. Paul.
- August 15 - the Virgin Mary's Assumption.
- September 8 - The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin.
- November 1 is the day of All Saints. Recollection of all the dead, carrying out rites of remembrance.
