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.

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreMother's Day A worldwide annual celebration dedicated to mothers, maternal bonds and family careHome

🇺🇸 New York, United States and 5 moreFeast of the Ascension The fortieth day of Easter, when Christians remember Jesus being taken up into heavenSpiritual

🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico and 2 moreDay of the DeadDía de Muertos A Mexican remembrance of deceased family and friends with altars, marigolds and feastsFestival · Sweets given and shared

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

🇲🇽 Mexico and 1 moreTamalada A gathering where tamales are the main dish or a communal tamale-making party in Mexican and Hispanic cultures.Festival · Lunch

🇺🇸 United StatesFeast of the Seven FishesFesta dei sette pesci An Italian-American Christmas Eve seafood dinner marking abstinence from meat.Table custom · Dinner

🇺🇸 New Orleans, United StatesKrewe Carnival clubs that stage parades, balls, and pageantry along the Gulf CoastFestival

🇺🇸 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

🇲🇽 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

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreTrunk-or-treating A safer Halloween alternative where treats are handed out from decorated car trunks in parking lots.Festival

🇲🇽 Huamantla, Mexico and 4 moreSawdust carpettapete de aserrín Colored sawdust designs laid on streets to greet religious processions in Latin America and beyond.Festival

🇧🇲 BermudaBermuda kite Flying bright geometric kites on Good Friday across Bermuda to mark EasterCraft

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

🇲🇽 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

🇺🇸 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

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

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

🇺🇸 Washington, United StatesThanksgiving An annual American holiday of gratitude, family gatherings and an autumn harvest feastFestival · Dinner

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

🇲🇽 Mexico and 8 moreLas Posadas A nine-night Christmas pageant remembering Mary and Joseph seeking shelterSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals

🇺🇸 New York, United States and 1 moreFeast of San GennaroFesta di San Gennaro A patronal festival of parades, street food and prayer honouring Saint JanuariusFestival · Tea-time and snacking customs

🇨🇦 CanadaThanksgivingAction de grâce An annual Canadian autumn holiday celebrating the harvest with family feastsFestival · Dinner

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

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

🇨🇦 Canada and 2 moreMummering A festive midwinter custom of disguised visits, music and playful guessing gamesFestival · Tea-time and snacking customs

🇲🇽 Oaxaca, Mexico and 1 moreGuelaguetza An annual Oaxacan festival of indigenous dance, music, costumes and communal sharingFestival

🇲🇽 Mexico and 2 moreWedding cord A loop of white cord laid over a kneeling bride and groom in Catholic weddingsRite of passage

🇲🇽 Papantla, Mexico and 1 moreDanza de los Voladores A Mesoamerican rite of dance and rope, flown from a tall pole to ask for rainSpiritual

🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoOfrenda A home altar of food, flowers and candles that welcomes the dead home at Día de MuertosSpiritual

🇺🇸 United StatesPotluck A shared meal where every guest brings a dish, kept by churches, clubs and neighborsTable custom · Dinner

🇺🇸 New York, United States and 1 moreEaster parade A festive Easter Sunday stroll featuring stylish clothes and elaborate bonnetsFestival

🇨🇦 Quebec City, CanadaQuebec Winter CarnivalCarnaval de Québec A midwinter celebration of snow, outdoor sports and caribou in Quebec City.Festival · Tea, coffee and drinking ceremonies

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

🇲🇽 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

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

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

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

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

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreMarriage proposal A ritual where one partner asks another to marry them, marking the start of engagement.Rite of passage

🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreVigil A purposeful watch of prayer, mourning, or reflection kept through the nightSpiritual · Fasting and breaking the fast 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreFeast of the Holy Name of Jesus A Christian observance honoring the name of Jesus, celebrated on various dates across different traditions.Spiritual 🇺🇸 United StatesRumspringaRumshpringa An adolescent period of courtship and social exploration in Amish communities.Rite of passage

🇲🇽 Tlayacapan, MexicoChinelos Masked dancers from Morelos who spoof colonial manners at CarnivalPerformance 🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreKingdomtide An autumn liturgical season focusing on Christ's reign in heaven and on earthSpiritual

🇺🇸 United StatesPre-Cana Meetings and courses Catholic couples take before a wedding, often called Pre-CanaRite of passage

🇺🇸 United StatesUnity candle A modern wedding ritual where two flames join to ignite a single central candleRite of passage

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
Mariachi: Elidealista, CC0, source
Mother's Day: Dave Parker, CC BY 2.0, source
Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day: Montrealais, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Thanksgiving: Jennie Augusta Brownscombe, Public domain, source
Las Posadas: Yavidaxiu, CC BY 3.0, source
Thanksgiving: Lars Plougmann, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Barn raising: Alexander W. Galbraith, Public domain, source
Columbus Day: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Mummering: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jerry_curtis/, CC0, source
Feast of the Seven Fishes: GW Fins, CC BY 2.0, source
Guelaguetza: A01321718, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Krewe: Tim Ross, Public domain, source
Saint Patrick's Day in the United States: White House/Chuck Kennedy, Public domain, source
Papel picado: Ferfive, CC BY 4.0, source
Trunk-or-treating: Lance Cpl. Scott L. Tomaszycki, Public domain, source
Sawdust carpet: Rosalba Muñoz RomeroLia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Bermuda kite: Aodhdubh ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Wedding cord: Phil! Gold, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Danza de los Voladores: A01333649, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Ofrenda: Eneas de Troya, CC BY 2.0, source
Assumption of Mary: Jebulon, CC0, source
Potluck: Mack Male, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Chinelos: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Father's Day: Jjsarto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Beatification: Stebunik, CC BY 3.0, source
Our Lady of Guadalupe: Sebastian Wallroth, CC BY 3.0, source
Marriage proposal: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Vigil: unknown master, Public domain, source
Feast of the Ascension: Gebhard Fugel, Public domain, source
Feast of San Gennaro: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Tamalada: Tania Solá (WMMX), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Mardi Gras: Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Day of the Dead: RubeHM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Trinity Sunday: Max Fürst, Public domain, source
Rite of passage: Rogier van der Weyden, Public domain, source
Easter parade: Meister der Palastkapelle in Palermo, Public domain, source
Quebec Winter Carnival: Shapiros10, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Night of the Radishes: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, 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
Jazz funeral: Photo by Infrogmation, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Unity candle: Dvillasmil, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Birria: Equipo 9mkt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source