The primary Christian holidays that most denominations celebrate nowadays are:
- Advent
- Ash Wednesday
- Christmas
- Easter
- Good Friday
- Lent
- Thanksgiving
Understanding Christian Holidays: Feast and Fast Days
Christian holidays are generally divided into two categories: feast days, which celebrate joyful and glorious events like the birth of Jesus Christ, and fast days, which focus on repentance and self-reflection.
This article explores:
- The 7 most prominent Christian holidays.
- Biblical holy days as outlined in Scripture.
The 7 Most Prominent Christian Holidays
Here are the seven most widely observed Christian holidays globally:
- Advent (Advent Sunday)
Advent marks the start of the Christian liturgical year, spanning the four Sundays before Christmas (December 1st–25th). Derived from the Latin word adventus (meaning “coming”), Advent is a time to reflect on Jesus’ first coming and prepare for celebrating His birth.
Some denominations light a candle each Sunday, with the fifth lit on Christmas Day, symbolizing Jesus as the light of the world. - Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday begins Lent, a 40-day period (excluding Sundays) leading to Easter. Many Christians, especially Catholics, forgo pleasures like eating meat on this day. Some churches mark believers’ foreheads with ash in the shape of a cross, a practice rooted in biblical examples of repentance (e.g., Job repenting in dust and ashes), though not explicitly mentioned in Scripture. - Christmas (Birth of Jesus)
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, born to a virgin in Bethlehem. While Easter holds greater theological weight, Christmas is socially significant and widely celebrated. Beyond gift-giving, it’s a time for spiritual reflection on Christian faith and theology.
-
Easter
Easter, the cornerstone of Christian holidays, commemorates Jesus’ resurrection, triumphing over death and hell (Revelation 1:18). Despite some pagan influences, Easter’s core is about salvation, redemption, and awaiting Christ’s return. Its date varies yearly based on the Gregorian calendar, but its essence lies in reflecting on Christ’s sacrifice (1 Peter 3:18) and the promise of eternal life (John 3:16). -
Good Friday
Observed the Friday before Easter, Good Friday recalls Jesus’ crucifixion at Golgotha. While somber, it’s a day to express gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice for humanity’s sins. Some denominations practice fasting or abstain from meat, emphasizing humanity’s need for salvation through faith in Jesus. - Lent
Lent, primarily associated with Catholicism, begins on Ash Wednesday and spans 40 days (excluding Sundays) before Easter. It emphasizes self-denial, often through fasting, to reflect Jesus’ 40-day fast in the desert. Evangelical churches may avoid Lent due to its Catholic origins. - Thanksgiving
Though increasingly secular, Thanksgiving has Christian roots tracing back to the 1620s English Reformation. Puritans celebrated the fall harvest with feasting and fasting, thanking God for His provision (Matthew 6). Modern Evangelicals emphasize gratitude to God for abundance.
Honorable Mention: Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, the final Sunday of Lent, begins Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, where crowds greeted Him with palm branches, proclaiming His glory. Some churches spread palm branches to honor this event.
The Days That are Considered Holy in the Bible
In Leviticus 23:1-2 God reveals specific days (feasts of the Lord) that are holy convocations that believers should observe. Here they are:
- Feast of unleavened bread
- Pentecost
- Feast of trumpets
- Day of atonement
- Feast of tabernacles
- The last great day
The New Testament indicates these days were still observed (e.g., Acts 18:21). Notably, early Christians did not celebrate modern holidays like Christmas or Easter.
Conclusion
The most popular Christian holidays today are:
-
Advent
-
Ash Wednesday
-
Christmas
-
Easter
-
Good Friday
-
Lent
-
Thanksgiving
However, many of these holidays have pagan or polytheistic origins, posing challenges for Bible-believing Christians. Discernment through the Holy Spirit and Scripture is essential to avoid non-biblical practices. While honoring Jesus’ sacrifice is central, believers should steer clear of questionable traditions and rituals.