Christian traditions

Christian traditions span the globe, from Ethiopian Orthodox fasts and Filipino Simbang Gabi to Swedish Lucia, Mexican posadas, Easter in Greece and the harvest services of Britain.

Christian traditions span the globe, from Ethiopian Orthodox fasts and Filipino Simbang Gabi to Swedish Lucia, Mexican posadas, Easter in Greece and the harvest services of Britain. They centre on Christmas, Lent, Holy Week and Easter, Pentecost, saints' days and the sacraments of baptism, communion, marriage and burial. Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and Pentecostal churches each have their customs, and local cultures have shaped them in distinct ways. Here they are described with respect for the believers who keep them, and for the variety of ways of keeping them.

The church year

The year begins with Advent and builds to Christmas, then Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week and Easter, followed by Pentecost and the long season of ordinary time. Saints' days mark local patrons, and many towns have a patronal feast with a procession and fair. Orthodox churches keep their own calendar, so Christmas falls on 7 January in several countries. Fasting seasons shape food, and feasts follow.

Around the world

Christians in different countries have made the faith their own: the dawn masses of the Philippines, the carols of Wales, the gospel choirs of the American South, the white-clad pilgrims of Lalibela, the Corpus Christi carpets of flowers in Spain, and the Nativity scenes of Naples. These customs combine faith with local food, music and craft, and are among the most visible traditions of the world.

About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background on Christian (faith). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

🇳🇿 New ZealandKarakia Māori incantations and prayers recited for spiritual guidance, safety and ceremonySpiritual

🇻🇦 Vatican City and 1 morePontifical Swiss GuardPontificia Cohors Helvetica The Swiss military corps charged with guarding the Pope and the Apostolic PalaceCeremony

🇺🇸 New Orleans, United StatesKrewe Carnival clubs that stage parades, balls, and pageantry along the Gulf CoastFestival 🇪🇪 EstoniaJaanipäev An Estonian midsummer festival marking the shortest night with bonfires, songs and independence memories.Festival

🇻🇦 Vatican City and 1 moreConclave Cardinals sealed in the Sistine Chapel, voting until two thirds agree on a new popeSpiritual

🇳🇬 Calabar, NigeriaCalabar Carnival An annual December street festival and cultural gathering held in Calabar, NigeriaFestival

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreBoxing Day A public holiday on 26 December in Commonwealth nations for gifts and shopping.Festival

🇮🇪 Ireland and 2 moreMichaelmas A Christian festival honouring the archangels, marked by autumn harvest foods and legal terms in the British Isles.Festival · Dinner

🇳🇿 Waitangi, New Zealand and 2 moreWaitangi DayTe Rā o Waitangi New Zealand's national day remembering the 1840 founding agreement.Ceremony · Breakfast

🇭🇷 Sinj, CroatiaSinjska Alka An annual jousting tournament in Sinj where galloping riders strike a hanging ringGame

🇭🇷 Dubrovnik, Croatia and 1 moreFestivity of Saint BlaiseFesta Svetog Vlaha An annual patron saint festival in Dubrovnik with processions, relics and dovesFestival

🇨🇦 CanadaSaint-Jean-Baptiste DayFête nationale du Québec An annual civic and cultural celebration observed across Quebec every June 24Ceremony

🇪🇸 Barcelona, SpainLa Mercè Barcelona’s main annual city festival, honoring the Virgin of Mercy each September.Festival

🇬🇷 Athens, Greece and 1 moreCelebration of the Greek RevolutionΕορτασμός της Ελληνικής Επανάστασης του 1821 An annual civic holiday of parades and church services marking Greek independenceCeremony

🇵🇭 Philippines and 5 moreMaundy ThursdayDies Cenae Domini A Christian feast marking the start of Easter observances with foot washing and communion services.Spiritual

🇬🇧 London, United KingdomRemembrance Sunday A day of solemn remembrance for military and civilian service members in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.Ceremony 🇹🇴 TongaLakalaka A formal group dance of Tonga where singers stand in rows and move their arms to express songs.Performance

🇪🇨 Latacunga, EcuadorMama Negra A twice-yearly festival in Latacunga blending Andean, Spanish and African heritageFestival

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreProstration Bowing the whole body to the ground, in prayer and as a sign of respectSpiritual

🇮🇹 Florence, ItalyCalcio storico fiorentino A fierce Renaissance ball game played on sand between four Florentine districtsGame

🇱🇮 Vaduz, LiechtensteinLiechtenstein National DayStaatsfeiertag Liechtenstein Liechtenstein's national holiday celebrated with castle speeches, bonfires and fireworksCeremony

🇨🇴 Medellín, ColombiaFestival of the FlowersFeria de las Flores An annual week-long celebration of floral craft and regional culture in MedellínFestival

🇧🇪 Bruges, BelgiumProcession of the Holy BloodHeilig Bloedprocessie An annual sacred parade and historical pageant through the streets of Bruges, Belgium.Spiritual

🇫🇷 Lyon, FranceFestival of LightsFête des lumières A four-day festival in Lyon marking December 8 with illuminated windows and light artFestival

🇨🇱 Santiago, ChileFiestas Patrias Chile's homeland festivities celebrating national identity with music, dance, and foodCeremony

🇵🇱 Kraków, PolandLajkonikLajkoniki An annual hobby-horse pageant through the streets of Kraków each JuneFestival

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreColumbus Day An annual autumn holiday marking the 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus in the AmericasCeremony

🇩🇴 Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicDominican Carnival A February street festival of masks, music and parades across the Dominican Republic.Festival 🇫🇯 FijiFiji Week A week of national celebration in Fiji marking independence and colonial history with cultural performances.Festival

🇧🇪 Mons, BelgiumDucasse de Mons An eight-day festival in Mons featuring a golden carriage and a dragon combatFestival 🇮🇹 Florence, ItalyScoppio del Carro An Easter Sunday fireworks display ignited by a flying dove in FlorenceFestival

🇬🇧 Lewes, United KingdomLewes Bonfire A Sussex town marks 5 November with torchlit processions, burning crosses and bonfiresFestival

🇧🇪 Antwerp, Belgium and 2 moreOmmegangommegang (Dutch) Medieval town processions of the Low Countries, with giants, guilds and horsesCeremony

🇬🇧 London, United KingdomRoyal Maundy A Church of England service where the monarch gives silver Maundy coins to older peopleSpiritual

🇬🇧 St Andrews, United Kingdom and 7 moreSaint Andrew's DayLà Naomh Anndrais The feast of Andrew the Apostle, kept on 30 November and Scotland's national daySpiritual

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreVigil A purposeful watch of prayer, mourning, or reflection kept through the nightSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇰🇷 South Korea and 4 moreParents' Day어버이날 (Eobeoinal) Days set aside in several countries to thank mothers and fathersFestival

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreYouth Day A commemorative holiday honoring young people and youth movements worldwideCeremony

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreRogation days Springtime Christian days of prayer, fasting, and parish boundary walks.Spiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast

🇧🇦 Bosnia and HerzegovinaDay of Republika SrpskaДан Републике Српске An annual civic holiday observed across Republika Srpska on 9 JanuaryCeremony

🇧🇬 Plovdiv, Bulgaria and 7 moreDay of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and CultureДен на българската просвета и култура и на славянската писменост Bulgaria's public holiday for its alphabet, schools and culture, kept each 24 MayFestival

🇪🇸 Córdoba, Spain and 5 moreFiesta de las Cruces A May festival where communities decorate crosses with flowers and crafts to celebrate faith and local heritage.Festival

🇧🇪 BelgiumMarches of Entre-Sambre-et-MeuseMarches de l'Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse Folk processions with armed escorts in Belgian villages, kept from May to OctoberSpiritual · Tea, coffee and drinking ceremonies

🇫🇷 Paris, FranceParis CarnivalCarnaval de Paris An annual street celebration and costume procession across ParisFestival

🇮🇹 Palermo, ItalyFeast of Saint RosaliaFestino di Santa Rosalia An annual July festival in Palermo honouring the patron saint who ended the plague.Festival

🇬🇧 United KingdomChurch parade A formal military procession held to attend a religious serviceCeremony

🇱🇺 Luxembourg City, Luxembourg and 3 moreOktavMuttergottesoktav A two-week annual Marian pilgrimage and festival in Luxembourg CitySpiritual · Tea-time and snacking customs

🇦🇲 ArmeniaIşlic A tall felt cap worn by Danubian boyars to show their rank and public officeDress

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Remembrance Day: Philip Stevens, Public domain, source
Boxing Day: Sigismund von Dobschütz, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Prostration: Meghan Breeze, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Michaelmas: Julian P Guffogg, CC BY 2.0, source
Waitangi Day: Ryan762 ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Sinjska Alka: L. Carević, CC0, source
Festivity of Saint Blaise: August Dominus, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day: Montrealais, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Celebration of the Greek Revolution: Stefanos Kofopoulos, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
La Mercè: larry&flo, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Calcio storico fiorentino: Stradanus / After Giorgio Vasari, Public domain, source
Liechtenstein National Day: Förkle, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mama Negra: Agencia de Noticias ANDES, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Festival of the Flowers: SajoR, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Procession of the Holy Blood: Cbl62, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Festival of Lights: Corentin Eustacchi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Fiestas Patrias: Osmar Valdebenito, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Conclave: User Maus-Trauden on de.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lajkonik: Igor123121, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Columbus Day: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Dominican Carnival: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, source
Ducasse de Mons: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Maundy Thursday: Benedetto Caliari, Public domain, source
Calabar Carnival: Raji kunle, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Krewe: Tim Ross, Public domain, source
Pontifical Swiss Guard: The White House, Public domain, source
Fiesta de las Cruces: Michelangelo-36, Public domain, source
Lewes Bonfire: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Marches of Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse: Hoebele, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Ommegang: Zorro2212, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Royal Maundy: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Saint Andrew's Day: Henryk Siemiradzki, Public domain, source
Parents' Day: 草花写真館, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Day of Slavonic Alphabet, Bulgarian Enlightenment and Culture: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Oktav: Daderot, CC0, source
Işlic: Louis Dupré, Public domain, source
Vigil: unknown master, Public domain, source
Youth Day: Andrey Butko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Rogation days: Ray Trevena, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Day of Republika Srpska: Ministry of Defence of Republic of Serbia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Paris Carnival: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Feast of Saint Rosalia: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Church parade: Boris Kustodiev, Public domain, source