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.

🇧🇷 Belém, BrazilCarimbó A dance and music genre from the Amazon region of Brazil, centered around a wooden drum.Performance

🇵🇸 Jerusalem, Palestine and 2 moreStations of the CrossVia Crucis A Christian prayer journey following fourteen moments of the Passion of JesusSpiritual

🇮🇪 Galway, Ireland and 1 moreBrigid's crossCros Bhríde A cross of woven rushes or straw, made for Saint Brigid's Day on the first of FebruaryCraft

🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 5 moreHoly FireἋγιον Φῶς A fire ceremony in Jerusalem each year, kept by Orthodox Christians before EasterSpiritual

🇹🇻 TuvaluMusic of Tuvalu Rhythmic storytelling dances and choral singing from the Polynesian atolls of TuvaluPerformance

🇵🇭 Manila, PhilippinesPasyon A Tagalog epic of Christ's passion, chanted without a break during Holy WeekSpiritual

🇿🇦 South Africa and 1 moreDay of the VowGeloftedag A religious public holiday in South Africa kept by Afrikaners to honour a vow made before the Battle of Blood River.Festival

🇲🇦 Marrakesh, Morocco and 5 moreGnawa musicڭْناوة or كْناوة A spiritual musical tradition of Morocco that blends West African rhythms with Islamic ritual to heal and connect communPerformance

🇵🇭 Marinduque, PhilippinesMoriones Festival A Holy Week reenactment in Marinduque where masked participants search for the Roman centurion Longinus.Festival

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

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreBarn raising A communal tradition where neighbours assemble to erect a farm barn in a few daysCraft · Lunch

🇵🇹 Lisbon, PortugalMarchas Populares Neighbourhood teams march, dance and sing through Lisbon's June nights for St AnthonyFestival · Feasts and festival meals

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreTrunk-or-treating A safer Halloween alternative where treats are handed out from decorated car trunks in parking lots.Festival 🇩🇲 Dominica and 4 moreBéléBèlè A Caribbean drum, call-and-response song, and courtship dance traditionPerformance

🇸🇪 Sweden and 3 moreAdventadventus A four-week Christian season of waiting and preparation for Christmas and the Second Coming.Festival

🇹🇱 Dili, Timor-Leste and 1 moreTais Traditional hand-woven cloth of East Timor, worn as dress or used in ceremonies and exchange.Dress

🇳🇬 NigeriaMmanwuMmanwụ An Igbo masquerade tradition invoking ancestral spirits through masked performanceSpiritual

🇺🇸 United States and 4 moreFriday the 13th A Western folk superstition regarding the unluckiness of a Friday falling on the 13th.Folklore

🇪🇸 Seville, SpainHoly Week in SevilleSemana Santa de Sevilla A week of solemn processions and floats through the streets of Seville to mark the Passion of Christ.Spiritual 🇳🇿 New ZealandKarakia Māori incantations and prayers recited for spiritual guidance, safety and ceremonySpiritual

🇪🇸 Pamplona, Spain and 3 moreRunning of the bullsencierro Runners sprint ahead of loose bulls through barricaded town streets in summerFestival

🇬🇭 Accra, GhanaFantasy coffinsAbebuu adekai Custom hand-carved burial caskets shaped as animals, tools and symbols in southern GhanaRite of passage

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreSaint Patrick's Day in the United States An annual celebration of Irish heritage across America with parades, feasts and green dyeFestival · Dinner

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreChristmas carol Festive songs and hymns sung during the Christmas season and door to doorPerformance

🇲🇽 San Salvador Huixcolotla, Mexico and 1 morePapel picado A Mexican folk art of cutting intricate designs into tissue paper for festive and spiritual displays.Festival

🇪🇪 EstoniaJaanipäev Estonia's midsummer night of bonfires, song and fortune-telling, on 23 and 24 JuneFestival

🇮🇩 Jakarta, Indonesia and 2 moreMudik Indonesians head home to family before Lebaran, in the year's biggest journeyHome

🇷🇺 Russia and 2 moreMaslenitsaМасленица A seven-day Eastern Slavic festival of pancakes and bonfires marking the end of winter before Lent.Festival · Breakfast

🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico and 2 moreOur Lady of GuadalupeNuestra Señora de Guadalupe A Mexican devotion to Mary, with a feast on 12 December and an image kept on a cloakSpiritual

🇩🇪 Nuremberg, Germany and 5 moreChristmas marketWeihnachtsmarkt A seasonal street market held during Advent in German-speaking regions and beyond, featuring stalls, food, and crafts.Festival · Tea, coffee and drinking ceremonies

🇺🇸 New Orleans, United States and 5 moreMardi Gras A festive day of parades and rich foods marking the final celebration before the Christian fasting season of Lent beginsFestival

🇮🇪 Ireland and 1 moreImbolcLá Fhéile Bríde A Gaelic festival heralding spring and honoring Saint Brigid with woven rush crossesSeasonal · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 5 morePresentation of Jesus at the TempleIn praesentatione Domini A February feast of candles and welcome, kept forty days after ChristmasSpiritual

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

🇦🇹 Austria and 4 moreDirndl A fitted dress with apron from the German-speaking Alps, worn for festivals and weddings.Dress

🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreAdvent calendarAdventskalender A daily countdown to Christmas using doors, images, or small gifts.Festival

🇪🇸 Spain and 5 moreSt John's Eve Bonfires, feasting and worship on the short night before John the Baptist's feastSpiritual

🇩🇪 Germany and 7 moreSt. Martin's DayMartinstag A November feast of lantern walks, bonfires, roast goose and new wineSpiritual

🇲🇽 Guadalajara, Mexico and 1 moreMariachi A Mexican string and trumpet music tradition featuring charro attire and communal singing.Performance

🇪🇸 Pamplona, SpainFestival of San FermínSanfermines An annual nine-day festival in Pamplona featuring bull runs, parades, and street music.Festival

🇩🇪 Hamburg, Germany and 2 moreAdvent wreathAdventskranz An evergreen ring of candles lit week by week in the lead-up to ChristmasSeasonal

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreRite of passage A ceremony that marks leaving one group and entering another, with a new statusRite of passage

🇸🇪 Stockholm, Sweden and 4 moreSaint Lucy's Day A December festival of light and song held across Scandinavia and Italy to honour a Christian martyr.Festival · Breakfast

🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreFat Thursday A Thursday before Lent when doughnuts, grilled meat and Carnival take overFestival · Feasts and festival meals

🇺🇦 Ukraine and 5 moreKupala Night A summer solstice folk festival marked by bonfires, water rituals and herbal gatherings across Eastern Europe.Festival

🇮🇪 Ireland and 2 moreWake A gathering before a funeral, where family and friends keep watch over the deadRite of passage

🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreSaint Nicholas Day The feast day of Saint Nicholas, kept in Advent with gifts, shoes and church servicesSpiritual

🇮🇪 Ireland and 5 moreSaint Stephen's Day A Christian feast day celebrating the first martyr with feasts, rides and folk customs.Spiritual · Feasts and festival meals

Photo credits on this page

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

Friday the 13th: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, source
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple: Gaudenzio Ferrari, Public domain, source
Imbolc: Culnacreann, CC BY 3.0, source
Boxing Day: Sigismund von Dobschütz, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Saint Lucy's Day: Fredrik Magnusson, CC BY 2.0, source
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Sebastian Wallroth, CC BY 3.0, source
St John's Eve: Jules Breton, Public domain, source
Festival of San Fermín: SanchoPanzaXXI, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mariachi: Elidealista, CC0, source
Kupala Night: Ivan Sokolov, Public domain, source
Advent calendar: Andrea Schaufler, CC BY 2.5, source
Advent wreath: Burkhard Mücke, CC BY 4.0, source
Saint Stephen's Day: Carlo Crivelli, Public domain, source
Maslenitsa: Лобачев Владимир, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Running of the bulls: The original uploader was Bernard bill5 at Dutch Wikipedia . Later ver, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Pasyon: Judgefloro, CC0, source
Mudik: Arie Basuki, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Holy Fire: William Holman Hunt, Public domain, source
Jaanipäev: Jaan Künnap, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Barn raising: Alexander W. Galbraith, Public domain, source
Conclave: User Maus-Trauden on de.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Dirndl: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de, source
Rite of passage: Rogier van der Weyden, Public domain, source
Wake: Julio Romero de Torres, Public domain, source
Fat Thursday: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Saint Nicholas Day: Chmee2, CC BY 3.0, source
Christmas carol: Prathyush Thomas, GFDL 1.2, source
Music of Tuvalu: Avenue, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Saint Patrick's Day in the United States: White House/Chuck Kennedy, Public domain, source
Papel picado: Ferfive, CC BY 4.0, source
Mmanwu: Northcote Whitridge Thomas, Public domain, source
Carimbó: Palácio do Planalto, CC BY 2.0, source
Fantasy coffins: Regula Tschumi, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, source
Holy Week in Seville: Sevilla Congress & Convention Bureau, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Advent: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Gnawa music: Lucyin, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Tais: Daderot, CC0, source
Christmas market: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Day of the Vow: South African Railways and Harbours public relations department, Public domain, source
Marchas Populares: Taisir85, CC BY 4.0, source
Trunk-or-treating: Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki, Public domain, source
Stations of the Cross: Tango7174, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
St. Martin's Day: Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Public domain, source
Moriones Festival: EMMAN A. FORONDA, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mardi Gras: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 4.0, source