24 Lesser-Known Catholic Saint Feast Day Celebrations to Try

The Catholic liturgical calendar provides plenty of reasons to celebrate throughout the year! From special feast-day foods and beloved traditions to prayers, acts of service, and family activities, Catholic feast days for saints and other liturgical events inspire us to bring our faith into everyday life in meaningful (and sometimes delicious!) ways. Use the following fun and faith-filled liturgical celebration ideas to learn about a new saint, carry on a tradition that has been celebrated for generations, or simply to help make the liturgical year come alive in your life!

Catholic Liturgical Celebrations by Month

It’s no secret that the most famous Catholic holidays are Christmas and Easter. However, the Catholic liturgical calendar features hundreds of commemorations for saints, martyrs, and sacred happenings spanning the entire year. This list of Catholic liturgical celebrations offers two to celebrate per calendar month that might not be as widely known as Christmas and Easter.

January

• January 1 —The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
  In addition to being the first day of the New Year, this feast day is a holy day of obligation that honors Mary’s role as the mother of Jesus. Celebrate by choosing a saint for the year to be your personal patron saint. Then, as the year unfolds, spend time learning about that saint and asking for their intercession. You might even wish to choose Mary (as it is her feast day).
  
  
• January 6 — The Feast of the Epiphany / Three Kings Day
  On the Feast of the Epiphany, many Catholics around the world celebrate with an “Epiphany House Blessing” and write with blessed chalk the initials of the three kings above their door along with the year. For example, for the year 2027, the blessing would look like “20 C+M+B 27.” The blessing, practiced for centuries, invites Jesus to protect and dwell in the house for the whole year.

February: 


• February 3 — Feast of Saint Blaise
  Traditionally, Catholics receive the St. Blaise throat blessing on his feast day, as he was a physician before he became a bishop. It is said that, while being hauled to prison before his martyrdom, St. Blaise saved a young boy from choking to death on a fish bone. Because of this, St. Blaise is the patron saint of throat illnesses. To complete the blessing, two blessed candles, often from Candlemass the day before, are held in a crossed shape against the throat, and a short prayer is said that asks God to protect the person from throat disease and every other evil.
  
  
• February 14 — Feast of Saint Valentine
  This feast day is often used by engaged and married couples as an opportunity to gather at shrines dedicated to St. Valentine to receive a blessing over their relationship.

March

• March 17 — Saint Patrick’s Day
  It seems like every parish does something a little different for St. Patrick’s Day. From traditional Irish dinners to special Masses and more, Catholics in the USA often wear green, eat Irish foods, and ask for the intercession of St. Patrick on this special day.  
  
  
• March 19 — Saint Joseph’s Day
  Although the entire month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph, families and parishes also celebrate his actual feast day in special ways. In some homes, special three-tiered altars are built and bread shaped like staffs, crowns, and crosses is placed on them along with other types of pastries and wine. Children also might participate in a “Tupa-Tupa Ritual” (from the Sicilian word meaning “to knock”) where they portray the Holy Family journeying door to door for food and shelter. After, everyone shares a ceremonial St. Joseph’s Day feast.
  
  

April

• April 4 — Feast of Saint Isidor of Seville
  Since St. Isidor is a patron saint of the internet, computers, students, and technology, tech-enthusiasts and students mark his feast day by sharing friendly messages online or treating themselves to a "Bee's Knees" ice cream treat, which consists of honey drizzled over vanilla ice cream. Why the Bee’s Knees treat? Legend has it that a large swarm of bees once gathered around St. Isidor’s mouth as a child.
  
  
• April 23 — Feast of Saint George
  St. George is known as the patron saint of soldiers and scouts, and his feast day is closely tied to the legend of his battle with a dragon. Families often mark the day with playful, chivalry-inspired activities such as making cardboard swords and shields or attending outdoor festivals. Some also look for the Fungo di San Giorgio, a special edible spring mushroom named in his honor.
  
  

May

• May 15 — Feast of Saint Isador the Farmer
  Parishes in rural communities often use this feast day to bless seeds, fields, and farmworkers. Families in urban settings can also plant a small indoor herb garden in honor of St. Isador and, while tending it, focus on the joy of caring for creation and being grateful for the blessings of the Earth. Don’t forget to ask St. Isador to pray for you whenever you water it!
  
  
• May 26 — Feast of Saint Philip Neri
  As the patron saint of humor, laughter, and joy, St. Philip Neri is nicknamed “the Apostle of Joy.” On his feast day, it is customary to tell lighthearted jokes and laugh together to remember that St. Phillip Neri once said, "The true way to advance in holy virtues, is to advance in a holy cheerfulness.”

June

• June 4 — Corpus Christi
  The feast of Corpus Christi, or the Body of Christ, celebrates the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Many parishes honor this feast day by holding outdoor Eucharistic processions complete with flower petals dropped along the path. Catholics can also set up an altar in their homes or have an outdoor picnic to honor the day.

• June 24 — The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
  St. John the Baptist is one of the few Catholic saints whose feast day is celebrated on his birthday instead of his death day. To celebrate the Nativity of St. John, Catholics around the world light giant outdoor bonfires, eat outdoor meals, and enjoy summer harvest treats.

July

• July 25 — Feast of Saint James the Apostle
  Many Catholics celebrate St. James on his feast day by walking a local nature trail or footpath to give a nod to the historic Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. Camino de Santiago translates to the “Way of St. James.” People also honor his feast by baking the traditional Spanish almond cake known as the “Tarta de Santiago.”
   
• July 26 — Feasts of Saint Anne and St. Joachim
  This feast day honoring the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a fantastic time to start a novena to pray specifically for your future spouse. Many also use this feast day as a day of prayer to find someone good and worthy to marry.
  
  

August

• August 10 — Feast of Saint Lawrence the Deacon
  On this feast day, we remember St. Lawrence, who was martyred by being grilled to death by Roman authorities in the 3^rd century. Many choose to view the Perseid meteor shower to honor the feast, which usually peaks around mid-August. The meteors represent the fiery “Tears of St. Lawrence” falling from heaven.
  
  
• August 15 — The Assumption of Mary
  On this holy day of obligation, Catholics often celebrate by praying the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary, focusing on the fourth mystery of the Assumption. It’s also common to join a community Marian procession where a statue of Mary is paraded through the town or city or even via boat!
  
  

September

• September 23 — Feast of Saint Padre Pio
  St. Padre Pio was known for his devotion to prayer and hearing confessions. To honor his feast day, people participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and go to confession. Some also honor him by eating Italian food as a nod to his Italian Capuchin heritage. 
  
  
• September 29 — Feast of the Archangels
  This feast is often marked by people asking for the intercession of Archangels St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. Families with children often also celebrate by making angel-themed food for dinner like angel hair pasta and angel food cake. People also decorate their homes for the feast using late-blooming autumn flowers called Michaelmas daisies (also known as asters). Michaelmas is another name for this feast day.

October

• October 4 — Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi
  Known for his love of the animals and God’s creation, many parishes host a “blessing of the pets” either on or near the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Community members bring their animals of all kinds to receive a special blessing by their parish priest.
  
  
• October 7 — The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
  The entire month of October is dedicated as the Month of the Rosary, but the actual Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on October 7. To honor this day, pray the rosary either on your own or communally with your parish. Meditate on the Mysteries of the Rosary and share your petitions with Mary, Mother of God.

November

• November 1 — All Saints’ Day
  All Saints’ Day is the day right after Halloween and right before All Souls’ Day. On this special day, Catholics remember all the saints and often celebrate by placing lit candles in their home windows as symbols of hope of eternal life. Children also dress up as their favorite saints while stories are told about the lives of the saints at home or at a parish All Saints’ Day party.
  
  
• November 17 — The Feast of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary
  To honor this special feast day, Catholics make a special effort to spend time volunteering to serve those less fortunate than themselves. Families also might bake loaves of bread and sweet pastries to teach about how she often gave bread to the poor during her lifetime.
  
  

December

• December 6 — Saint Nicholas’ Day
  St. Nicholas, the historic figure who inspired many traditions around Santa Claus, was known for his generous and often secret gift-giving. On the eve of St. Nicholas’ Day, children place their shoes outside their bedroom doors or near the family fireplace. Parents then fill the shoes with small surprises such as candy (gold coins),  tangerines, oranges, and small toys, so children wake up on St. Nicholas’ Day to a special gift — courtesy of St. Nicholas, of course.
  
  
• December 12 — The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
  People often celebrate this feast day with vibrant street processions and midnight or dawn celebrations that feature a Mass followed by a party with mariachi music and festive foods.

It’s important to note that this monthly list of liturgical celebrations is in no way a complete, exhaustive list of the Catholic feasts that occur each month. To find a list of Catholic feasts by day, download the Liturgical Calendar for the Diocese of the United States of America through the USCCB’s website.