Catholic celebrations occur in a cycle we call the Liturgical year, with five seasons (one of them is two segments): Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time, Lent, and Easter, and a second season of Ordinary Time. Throughout the Liturgical year, Catholics celebrate feast days - usually the anniversary of the death of a saint. Catholics also celebrate feast days such as Our Lady's birthday (September 8th) or Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15th). When you see a saint's name or something like "Triumph of the Cross" on a Catholic Calendar, that shows what feast is celebrated on a given day. Not every day is a feast day.
Some feast days, such as the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on August 15th (in the US), are Holy Days of Obligation. Roman Catholics are required to go to Mass on these days. Holy Days of Obligation may vary from one country to another, and often a local bishop will "move" the celebration to a Sunday if the Holy Day occurs on a Saturday, so check with your local parish or diocese to find out which days are Holy Days. In the US, they are (according to the United States Council of Catholic Bishops):
January 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God;
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter, the solemnity of the Ascension;
August 15, the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary;
November 1, the solemnity of All Saints;
December 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception;
December 25, the solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read the extended portion of this post to find out more about the Liturgical Seasons.
Advent begins on the first of four Sundays before Christmas. The Liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent. For 2006, Advent will begin December 3rd and end on Christmas eve. This is a time of preparation, both for the Solemnity of Christmas and for the coming of Christ at the end of time. We also prepare to welcome Christ in our hearts. A Catholic family or school might celebrate this season with an Advent wreath or Jesse tree. Most Churches will have an Advent wreath, and will not be decorated for Christmas until Christmas Eve. Personally, I like the idea of waiting to put up decorations. I am usually "Christmassed out" long before Christmas day!
The Christmas season begins Christmas Day and ends on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. This season, of course, is celebrated in many ways, including gift-giving, decorating, nativity scenes, Christmas pageants, singing and dancing. I don't think much more explanation is needed here. I like how this season continues after Christmas day. During the weeks after Christmas, it's nice to be able to rest in the joy of our Lord's birth as vendors tear down their Christmas displays and put all of their Christmas merchandise on the clearance rack. The Church's celebration of Advent and Christmas provide relief from the madness of the shopping season.
The first segment of Ordinary Time follows Christmas, and lasts through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. During this season, the Church "counts the thirty three or thirty four Sundays in Ordinary time". "Ordinary" in this case means "counted or numbered" (as in Ordinal numbers). Catholics mature and grow in the faith as they are fed by the Word and the Eucharist.
Lent is the season of Penance before Good Friday, lasting 40 days, beginning on Ash Wednesday. Catholics do not eat meat on Fridays during Lent (Fridays through the rest of the year are also supposed to be days of Penance, which could include abstaining from meat). Catholics also fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Visit CatholicCulture.org's website to read more about the requirements for fast and abstinence during this time. In addition to fast and abstinence, Catholics also try to do extra Penance, usually "giving something up," and extra prayer, reflecting on the suffering and death of Christ. Many parishes will offer extra opportunities for daily Mass, the sacrament of Penance, and prayer services during this time. Alleluias are not sung during this time.
The prayers and penance during Lent prepare Catholics for the Easter Season, when we celebrate the triumph of Christ's Resurrection. Eastertide lasts from Easter Vigil (Saturday night before Easter Sunday) for 50 days, until Pentecost. Many adults are baptized and/or confirmed at the Easter vigil, entering into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. Alleluias are re-introduced, the congregation is sprinkled with holy water, the Church is decorated with beautiful flowers. All of this reflects the glory of Christ's Resurrection.
A longer period of Ordinary Time follows the Easter Season. This second period of Ordinary Time marks the longest period in the Liturgical Year.
The colors of the priest's vestments and church decorations reflect the Liturgical Season or feast day. Vestments may be Violet, Rose, White, Gold, Red, Black, or Green depending on the feast day, season, or occasion.
- Violet symbolizes penance or sorrow, and is used during Advent, Lent, Days of Penance (January 23), funerals (not sure about this one.
- Rose symbolizes joy or hope, and is used the third Sunday of Advent and I think the 5th Sunday of Lent.
- White symbolizes joy and glory, and is used during Christmas, Easter, Marian Feast days, other saint's feast days, and in the US is used at most funerals.
- Gold is often used instead of White.
- Red symbolizes blood or the Holy Spirit, and is used on days such as Good Friday, Pentecost, and the feast days of Martyrs.
- Black symbolizes sorrow, and is sometimes used at funerals.
- Green symbolizes growth and hope, and is used during Ordinary Time.
I hope I have offered a good and accurate explanation here - I am posting this because I get a lot of Google hits on Catholic Holidays. For more information, visit http://www.catholicculture.org and check out the section on the Liturgical Year. The calendar shows feast days, and features links to activities to do with the family.
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