Why some observances are fixed
Some observances have a fixed date because they commemorate an event tied to a specific calendar day. Christmas on December 25 dates back to the fourth century; Epiphany on January 6 is older still. Most saints’ days are fixed because they mark the day of the saint’s death (traditionally treated as the day of birth into eternal life).
Eastern Orthodox observances on the Julian calendar are also fixed in that calendar but fall on different Gregorian dates because of the 13-day offset between the two calendars (since 1900). Orthodox Christmas, for example, is December 25 in the Julian calendar but falls on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar that most of the world uses.
By month
JAN January
- Epiphany
- Orthodox Christmas
- Saint Basil the Great (Orthodox New Year)
- Theophany
FEB February
- Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas)
MAR March
- Saint Patrick's Day
- Saint Joseph's Day
- Annunciation
MAY May
- Visitation
JUN June
- Birth of John the Baptist
- Saints Peter and Paul
AUG August
- Transfiguration
- Assumption of Mary
- Dormition of the Theotokos
SEP September
- Nativity of Mary
- Holy Cross Day
- Nativity of the Theotokos (Orthodox)
- Exaltation of the Cross (Orthodox)
- Saint Michael and All Angels (Michaelmas)
OCT October
- Saint Francis of Assisi
- Reformation Day
NOV November
- All Saints' Day
- All Souls' Day
- Presentation of the Virgin Mary
- Saint Andrew's Day
DEC December
- Saint Nicholas Day
- Immaculate Conception
- Saint Lucy's Day
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
See the full calendar with both fixed and movable observances at the main calendar.