Christian Holiday Calendar

The largest Christian tradition (~1.35 billion). Follows the Roman Rite with the most extensive liturgical calendar — solemnities, feasts, memorials, and ferias. Celebrates Easter on the Western (Gregorian) date. Led by the Pope from Vatican City.

~300 million Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar for most feast days, placing Christmas on January 7 and Easter 1–5 weeks after Western Easter. Rich in iconography, chanting, and extended fasting seasons.

Follows the Western liturgical calendar. The Book of Common Prayer guides worship. Observes Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Ranges from Anglo-Catholic to charismatic evangelical practice.

Lutherans closely follow the Western liturgical year, retaining much of the pre-Reformation tradition while centering worship on Scripture and sacraments. Reformation Day (Oct 31) commemorates Luther's 95 Theses in 1517.

Practice varies widely. Methodist churches observe the liturgical seasons with moderate formality. Baptist and evangelical churches typically celebrate Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost without the full liturgical structure.