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.

🇧🇷 Salvador, BrazilLavagem do Bonfim An annual inter-religious procession and cleansing ritual in Salvador, BrazilSpiritual

🇲🇽 Oaxaca, MexicoNight of the RadishesNoche de Rábanos An annual festival of intricate sculptures carved from oversized radishes in OaxacaCraft

🇧🇷 BrazilFesta JuninaFestas Juninas A Brazilian midwinter celebration marked by bonfires, folk dances and countryside gamesFestival

🇲🇽 Mazatlán, MexicoCarnival of MazatlánCarnaval de Mazatlán An annual five-day festival of parades, fireworks, poetry and dance in coastal MexicoFestival

🇲🇽 Acolman, Mexico and 1 morePiñata A festive decorated container broken open with a stick to scatter treats and fruitFestival

🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoPassion Play of Iztapalapa A community passion play staged across Iztapalapa during Holy WeekSpiritual

🇫🇮 FinlandChristmas in Finlandjoulu A quiet midwinter festival of saunas, grave candles and table casseroles across FinlandSeasonal · Dinner

🇪🇸 Alicante, SpainBonfires of Saint John in AlicanteFogueres de Sant Joan A midsummer festival of towering satirical monuments, music and fire in AlicanteFestival

🇷🇺 Moscow, Russia and 5 morePalm Sunday A Christian Sunday feast marking Jesus's entry into Jerusalem with blessed branches.Spiritual

🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreZaduszkiZaduszki, Dzień Zaduszny A Polish day of prayer for the dead on 2 November, kept with candles at the gravesSpiritual

🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreBread and saltхлеб-соль Bread and salt offered to a guest: a welcome kept from Russia to AlbaniaEtiquette

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 4 moreBonfire Night Yearly nights of bonfires and fireworks, kept in Britain, Ireland and beyondFestival

🇪🇸 Seville, Spain and 5 moreAzulejo Painted, tin-glazed ceramic tiles that cover walls and floors across Portugal and SpainCraft

🇵🇭 Philippines and 3 moreManoPagmamano A Filipino greeting where a younger person bows and asks an elder for a blessingEtiquette

🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreŚwięconka The Polish Holy Saturday blessing of baskets filled with Easter morning foodSpiritual

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreMangalasutraमङ्गलसूत्रम् (maṅgalasūtram) A necklace tied by the groom at a wedding, worn through married lifeDress

🇬🇧 United KingdomLammashlāfmæsse A harvest festival marking the blessing of the first baked bread from the new wheat cropSeasonal

🇮🇪 Killorglin, Ireland and 1 moreLughnasadhLúnasa A Gaelic festival marking the start of harvest with feasts, fairs and mountain walksSeasonal · Feasts and festival meals

🇺🇸 New Orleans, United StatesJazz funeral A New Orleans funeral march led by brass music, moving from mourning to joyful danceRite of passage

🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreKallikantzarosκαλικάντζαρος A malevolent goblin of Greek and Balkan folklore, active in the Christmas season.Folklore

🇮🇪 Dublin, IrelandShamrockseamróg A small three-leaved clover, worn in Ireland on St Patrick's Day as a national emblemFolklore

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands and 4 moreSinterklaasSinterklaas / Sint-Nicolaas A Dutch winter feast on 5 and 6 December, when Saint Nicholas brings gifts to childrenFestival · Sweets given and shared

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands and 3 moreZwarte Piet Saint Nicholas's companion in the Low Countries, who hands out sweets to childrenFolklore · Sweets given and shared

🇵🇹 Barcelos, Portugal and 1 moreRooster of BarcelosGalo de Barcelos A Portuguese tale of a roast rooster that crowed to clear an innocent manFolklore

🇨🇳 ChinaChinese funeral rituals Traditional rites of mourning, vigils, offerings, and ancestor veneration across ChinaRite of passage 🇪🇹 EthiopiaWedding customs in Ethiopia Weddings across Ethiopia's many peoples, arranged by families and sealed in local ritesRite of passage

🇵🇭 PhilippinesFilipino wedding customsKasalan A blend of indigenous rituals and Christian traditions marking the union of two families in the Philippines.Rite of passage

🇲🇽 Tijuana, Mexico and 1 moreBirria A rich, seasoned meat stew from western Mexico, cooked for gatherings and holidaysTable custom · Feasts and festival meals

🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreLord's DayKyriake hemera Sunday, the weekly day of Christian worship, kept as a memory of the resurrectionSpiritual

🇮🇹 Venice, Italy and 5 moreCarnival A season of parades, masks and feasting in the days before LentFestival · Feasts and festival meals

🇦🇲 Yerevan, Armenia and 5 moreKhachkarխաչքար A carved stone cross raised as a memorial, a grave marker and a prayer in stoneCraft 🇹🇴 TongaLakalaka A formal group dance of Tonga where singers stand in rows and move their arms to express songs.Performance

🇰🇷 Seoul, South Korea and 1 moreMarriage in Korea Weddings in Korea, from Goryeo matchmaking to Confucian rites and modern chapel vowsRite of passage

🇮🇪 Dublin, IrelandBarmbrackbairín breac A sweet Irish fruit loaf with charms baked in, eaten at Halloween and on New Year's EveTable custom · Tea-time and snacking customs

🇺🇸 Spokane, United States and 5 moreFather's Day A day to honour fathers and fatherhood, kept on many different dates worldwideFestival

🇱🇧 Lebanon and 2 moreAnnunciationΟ Ευαγγελισμός της Θεοτόκου A Christian feast marking the angel Gabriel's message to Mary about bearing Jesus, kept on 25 March.Festival

🇰🇪 Kenya and 5 moreBurial Placing the dead in the ground or a structure to honor them and guide their journey.Rite of passage

🇮🇱 Israel and 6 moreHoly SaturdaySabbatum Sanctum The closing day of Holy Week, a Saturday of waiting, fasting and vigil before EasterSpiritual

🇨🇦 Canada and 1 moreBeatification A Catholic rite conferring the title Blessed and allowing local public venerationSpiritual

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreNativity of Mary A Christian feast day honouring the birth of Mary, the mother of JesusSpiritual · Lunch

🇷🇺 Moscow, Russia and 5 moreDormition of the Mother of God A major feast in Eastern Christianity marking the death and heavenly ascent of Mary.Spiritual

🇸🇬 Singapore and 3 moreMatchmaking The custom of using a trusted intermediary to introduce partners for marriageRite of passage

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 6 moreSaint George's Day A saint's feast on 23 April, kept by churches and patron nations from England to GeorgiaSpiritual

🇩🇪 Germany and 3 moreVisitation A Christian feast commemorating Mary's journey to visit her cousin ElizabethSpiritual

🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreLibation The ceremonial gift of drink given to deities, ancestors, and the earthSpiritual · Tea, coffee and drinking ceremonies

🇩🇪 Wittenberg, Germany and 5 moreReformation Day An annual Christian observance marking the start of the Protestant ReformationSpiritual

🇮🇶 Kufa, Iraq and 5 moreArabic calligraphykhatt (خَطّ) Artistic handwriting of the Arabic script, practiced as a sacred craft and a living visual tradition.Craft

🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreTrinity SundayDominica Trinitatis A Christian feast honouring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit after PentecostSpiritual

Photo credits on this page

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

Reformation Day: 95Thesen.jpg : User:Shizhao derivative work: 6birc ( talk ), Public domain, source
Korovai: Olli Niemitalo, CC0, source
Barmbrack: Solo Beckett, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Marriage in Korea: Jérôme Banal ( Eden2004 ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Saint George's Day: Raphael, Public domain, source
Holy Saturday: Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain, source
Dormition of the Mother of God: El Greco, Public domain, source
Father's Day: Jjsarto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Burial: Rama , commissioned by Wikimédia France, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr, source
Arabic calligraphy: Aieman Khimji, CC BY 2.0, source
Beatification: Stebunik, CC BY 3.0, source
Nativity of Mary: Giotto, Public domain, source
Matchmaking: Pavel Fedotov, Public domain, source
Libation: Arkady Zarubin ( Аркадий Зарубин ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Annunciation: El Greco, Public domain, source
Trinity Sunday: Max Fürst, Public domain, source
Visitation: Giotto, Public domain, source
Lavagem do Bonfim: Adenilson Nunes/ AGECOM, CC BY 2.0, source
Night of the Radishes: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Festa Junina: Leandro Neumann Ciuffo, CC BY 2.0, source
Carnival of Mazatlán: The New Foxy, CC0, source
Piñata: No machine-readable author provided. JEDIKNIGHT1970 assumed (based on, Public domain, source
Passion Play of Iztapalapa: Eneas De Troya, CC BY 2.0, source
Christmas in Finland: Uploaded by Sigketill, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Bonfires of Saint John in Alicante: Fernando Pastor, CC BY 2.0, source
Palm Sunday: Pietro Lorenzetti, Public domain, source
Zaduszki: Ivan Mrkvička, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bonfire Night: Jpdfive, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Azulejo: Dr. Thomas Liptak, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mano: TOTO LOZANO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO, Public domain, source
Święconka: Błażej Benisz, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Mangalasutra: Ackroydman, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lammas: Paddy, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lughnasadh: Mountainash333, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Jazz funeral: Photo by Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kallikantzaros: Katolophyromai, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shamrock: Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Sinterklaas: R.F. (Roel) Jorna, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Zwarte Piet: The illustrator is Daan Hoeksma, who died in 1935. The author is liste, Public domain, source
Rooster of Barcelos: Adriculas, Public domain, source
Chinese funeral rituals: Salzmann, E.v., CC BY-SA 3.0 de, source
Filipino wedding customs: John Ryan Cordova, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Birria: Equipo 9mkt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Lord's Day: Globetrotter19, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Carnival: Etienne Le Cocq, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Khachkar: Arantz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source