Christian Holidays Calendar 2014

 

 Christianity I believed to have been founded in the early 1st century AD with the miracle and rebirth of Jesus. Christianity follows the life and teachings of Jesus. As such, most Christian festivals are centered round the life of Jesus.

Some occasions (like Christmas) have a fixed date even according to the modern day calendar. Others vary within a date range from year to year. Some are public holidays in certain countries, while others are working days with intimate celebration amongst the followers.

Listed below are the Christian Festival dates in the year 2014 along with a compact description for easy comprehension –

January 06, 2014 (Monday) Epiphany - Falling on the twelfth day after Christmas this day is believed to be the one when the three wise men (Magi) visited Jesus after his birth. Feasting and merriment celebrates the manifestation of God in human form. This day is also known as “Three Kings’ Day” or the “Twelfth Day”.

January 12, 2014 (Sunday) Baptism of the Jesus – The day signifies the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist where He reveals Himself to be the Son of God. Jesus’ Baptism is considered as one of the five significant milestones of His life, according to the Gospel, and is considered as the founding stone of the Christian rite of Baptism.

February 02, 2014 (Sunday) Candlemas – Those who abide by the Law of the Moses were required to present their firstborn male in the Temple in Jerusalem for redemption and the mother’s ritual purification. Mary and Joseph did so too as mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. As Jesus is known to show Light to the World, candles are lit on this day and candlelit processions are held to mark the event.

February 14, 2014 (Friday) St. Valentine's Day – Also known as the Feast of Saint Valentine, this festival has its roots in many fanciful stories and beliefs. Although the Catholic Church recognizes three Saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all three of whom were martyred, the story of St. Valentine’s Day centers around the one in which St. Valentine violated the dictate of Emperor Claudius II of not marrying off soldiers for he believed that single men made better soldiers. When the Saint’s actions were discovered he was imprisoned and later put to death. This day is celebrated by feasting and toasting to Love.

March 17, 2014 (Monday) St. Patrick's Day – Celebrated since the seventeenth century this is believed to mark the day when St. Patrick introduced Christianity to Ireland. The day also upholds Irish customs and traditions.

March 19, 2014 (Wednesday) St. Joseph's Day – This Feast is observed in the honor of St. Joseph, who is considered to be the spouse of Virgin Mary and the step father of Jesus. Observed as a day of abstinence this Feast is traditionally a meatless one.

April 13, 2014 (Sunday) Palm Sunday – Falling on the Sunday before Easter, this event finds mention in Canonical Gospels. This day marks Jesus triumphant entry to the city of Jerusalem approximately about a week before His Resurrection.

April 17, 2014 (Thursday) Maundy (Holy) Thursday – Falling on the Thursday before Easter, this day marks a Christian Feast to mark the Maundy and the Last Supper of Jesus with the Apostles as commemorated in the Canonical Gospels. It is the fifth day of the Holy week and is also known as Sheer Thursday, Thursday of Mysteries, Covenant Thursday, Holy Thursday etc.

April 18, 2014 (Friday) Good Friday – Also known as Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday or Easter Friday, this day marks the Crucifixion of Jesus and his death in Calvary, according to the Canonical Gospels. Many Christians observe a fast on this day and also special prayers are held

April 20, 2014 (Sunday) Easter – According to the New Testament, Easter is the day to commemorate the Resurrection of Christ. It is believed to have happened on the third day after the crucifixion of Christ at Calvary. This is observed by special church services. This also marks the end of the 40 days of Lent period of repentance and self discipline.

April 21, 2014 (Monday) Easter Monday – The Monday following the Easter Sunday is known as Easter Monday. It is a day to meet and greet family and friends.

April 23, 2014 (Wednesday) St. George's Day – This is a Feast that commemorates the day that is the generally accepted day of the death of St. George in the year 303 CE.

April 30, 2014 (Wednesday) St. James the Great Day – This feast is in honor of St James, also known as James the Greater, the son of Zebedee, who is considered to be one of the first disciples of Jesus. He is also one of the only three Apostles whom Jesus permitted to witness his Transfiguration.

May 29, 2014 (Thursday) Ascension of Jesus – The Feast of Ascension is one of the most significant ones according to Christian observances. It occurs on the fortieth day after Easter. It is the day when it is believed that Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven in the presence of his eleven apostles.

June 08, 2014 (Sunday) Pentecost – The fiftieth day after Easter is known as Pentecost. This day actually commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the eleven apostles and also the disciples of Jesus Christ when the Law of Sinai was given to Moses (religious leader).

June 15, 2014 (Sunday) Trinity Sunday – The first Sunday after Pentecost is celebrated to honor and upholds the Christian faith in the doctrine of Trinity which is also known as the mystery of Christian faith. The doctrine basically upholds the fact that there is on God in there persons – the Father (God), the Son (Jesus, the son of God), and the Holy Spirit (the third divine person).

June 15, 2014 (Sunday) Saint Vladimir – Vladimir Sviatoslavich the Great was a Pagan Russian ruler who converted to Christianity and died on July 15, 1015. He is considered to be as Holy as the Apostles.

June 19, 2014 (Thursday) Corpus Christi – The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as Corpus Domini, is celebrated on the Thursday after the Trinity Sunday. It is celebrated to honor the Christian institution of Eucharist – the belief that the body and blood of Jesus and his Real Presence was there in the Eucharist.

June 29, 2014 (Sunday) Saints Peter and Paul – This day honors the martyrdom of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul. There is a difference in opinion about what this date actually commemorates. It is either the date that marks the anniversary of their death or translation of their relics.

August 01, 2014  (Friday) Lammas – This is traditionally a harvest festival. Also known as the Loaf Mass, the tradition is to carry a loaf of bread to the church as an offering to God. It is believed that God has the first right on the first fruits of harvest and hence the dedication.

August 15, 2014 (Friday) The Assumption of Mary – The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary signifies the date of Virgin Mary’s passing to the Eternal Life. In other words, it is the day of her death and bodily assumption to Heaven even before her body could start to decompose.

September 14, 2014 (Sunday) Holy Cross Day – This marks the day when the True Cross was discovered by St. Helena, the mother of Constantinople, the Great Roman Emperor, during one of her religious trips to Jerusalem. At the site of her discover she ordered to build a church which is known as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This is a two day festival. On day one, the church was dedicated to the Lord, and on day two, which is September 14, the True Cross was brought outside the church where believers and the clergy could pay and show respect to the True Cross.

September 29, 2014 (Monday) Michael and All Angels – It is the day to honor Archangels especially Michael for protecting against all things dark and upholding virtuous intelligence. Falling on a day around the Autumn Equinox this day also marks the advent of Autumn, and the shortening of days and lengthening of nights.

October 31, 2014, 2014 (Friday) All Hallows Eve (Halloween) – Although believed to have been originated from the Celtic Harvest Festivals, this one commemorates the spirits of the faithful departed souls. It is a day to remember the martyrs and the deceased Saints. Apart from feasting, this festival is typically celebrated by trick-o-treat, costume parties, pumpkin carvings, bonfires and all things haunted and spooky like watching horror flicks or reading scary stories.

November 01, 2014 (Saturday) All Saints' Day – This is the day to honor all saints, known or unknown. It is considered to create a spiritual bond between those who have been received in Heaven and those still living on mortal Earth.

November 02, 2014 (Sunday) All Souls' Day – This is a solemn feast that commemorates all those souls who have died, and are now in Purgatory receiving the temporal punishments for the sins they have committed on Earth, being cleansed thereby of all the sins they had confessed about before they are allowed full entry into Heaven.

November 27, 2014 (Thursday) Thanksgiving – This is predominantly a harvest festival where the Lord is thanked for all the blessings that He bestowed upon His believers on the previous year. Family and friends gather together for feasting and merriment. This instills the virtue of gratitude in human heart.

November 30, 2014 (Sunday) Advent - First Sunday – This marks the beginning of the Christian year according to the belief of many Churches. This marks the time to start preparing for Christmas. Purple, the color of penance and royalty, is upheld in it and vestments in this color are worn to gear up to welcome Jesus, the King of the World.

November 30, 2014 (Sunday) St. Andrew's Day – This day honors the life and service of St. Andrew who is considered to be the patron Saint of Scotland.

December 06, 2014 (Saturday) St. Nicholas Day – This day honors Saint Nicolas of Myra who is believed to be the founding model of Santa Claus who is believed to bring gifts to children on Christmas Eve. It is believed that good and obedient children receive gifts, while the naughty ones just receive chunks of coal.

December 24, 2014 (Wednesday) Christmas Eve – The evening before Christmas is celebrated worldwide and is one of the most significant socio-cultural and religious events in the Christian world. Christian liturgical day is believed to begin at sunset. Christ is believed to have been born at night. As such Midnight Masses are held in Churches to commemorate the Birth of Christ.

December 25, 2014 (Thursday) Christmas – Billions of people around the world celebrate this day to be the Birth date of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This day is observed to be a Public Holiday in most countries round the globe. Modern Christmas traditions include decorating Christmas tree and displaying other decorations like wreaths, lights, garlands etc; exchanging greeting cards; meeting family and friends; and enjoying special meals. This is also the period of time when retailers ring the highest at the cash register as the custom of gifting makes everyone hit the stores to pick something for family, friends, peers, neighbors, colleagues and even acquaintances. It is also believed that Father Christmas (Santa Claus) brings gifts to children on this occasion.

December 28, 2014 (Sunday) Holy Innocents – This day commemorates the massacre committed by tyrant King Herod in which he killed many Innocent infants in his attempt to kill Baby Jesus. These children are often believed to be the earliest of the martyrs.

December 31, 2014 (Wednesday) Watch Night – This is a late night Church Service that continues till after the midnight where Christians pray to review the past year and to resolve for the coming new Year.