Skip to main content
HolidayList
🎉 festival

Feast of St. Anthony

Saturday, June 13, 2026

— days to go

The Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, celebrated on June 13, honors one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church, known as the 'Evangelical Doctor' and the patron saint of lost items. Born Fernando Martins de Bulhoes in Lisbon, Portugal around 1195, he initially joined the Augustinian order before transferring to the newly founded Franciscan order in 1220, adopting the name Anthony in honor of St. Anthony the Great. His extraordinary preaching gifts were discovered by chance at an ordination ceremony in Forli, when he was asked to deliver an impromptu sermon that left his audience spellbound. Francis of Assisi himself appointed Anthony as the first theology teacher of the Franciscan order. Anthony preached across northern Italy and southern France, drawing enormous crowds with his eloquence, scriptural knowledge, and miracle-working reputation. Pope Gregory IX called him the 'Ark of the Testament' for his profound knowledge of scripture.

History

Anthony was born into a wealthy Lisbon family around 1195. He joined the Augustinian Canons at age 15 but was inspired to become a Franciscan missionary after seeing the remains of Franciscan martyrs brought from Morocco. After joining the Franciscans, he initially lived in seclusion but was called to preach at an ordination in Forli in 1222, launching his public ministry. He preached throughout Italy and France, performing numerous reported miracles. Overworked and ill, Anthony died at age 35 on June 13, 1231, near Padua. He was canonized less than a year later by Pope Gregory IX, one of the fastest canonizations in Church history. In 1946, Pope Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church.

How It's Celebrated

The Feast of St. Anthony is one of the most popular saints' feast days worldwide. In Padua, the saint's relics are carried in a grand procession through the streets, followed by a solemn Mass in the Basilica of St. Anthony. The day includes the blessing of bread, known as 'St. Anthony's bread,' distributed to the poor in memory of the saint's charity. In Portugal and Brazil, elaborate festivals feature processions, traditional music, and matchmaking events, as St. Anthony is also the patron saint of lovers. Devotees pray for help finding lost items and offer novenas. Many churches hold special services where lilies are blessed and distributed.

Other Years

2021 Sun
13 Jun
2022 Mon
13 Jun
2023 Tue
13 Jun
2024 Thu
6/13
2025 Fri
6/13
2027 Sun
6/13
2028 Tue
6/13
2029 Wed
13 Jun

Countries

🇫🇷 FR 🇮🇹 IT 🇺🇸 US

You Might Also Like

View all →
📅 holiday Nov 1

All Saints' Day

All Saints’ Day is a holiday in New Caledonia every 1 November. On this day, Christian believers remember known and unknown saints of past centuries. All Saints’ Day is a significant occasion on the traditional Christian calendar, and is observed by millions of Christians around the world. In 2026, All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday 1 November. The holiday will be on Monday 1 November in 2027. About half the population of New Caledonia are Roman Catholics, while most of the rest of Protestants. The Protestants are largely Evangelical and generally they do not significantly celebrate All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day is a somewhat low-key holiday in New Caledonia. But people often do get the day off work, and they will typically attend special mass services. Many also take the time to decorate the graves of loved ones with flowers and to pray for and think of their deceased relatives.

NC MQ HT +42
📅 holiday Aug 15

Assumption Day

Assumption Day is also known as the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and is observed every 15 August in Lithuania. Assumption Day celebrates the day when, according to Catholic tradition and doctrine, the Virgin Mary was assumed bodily into Heaven. In 2026, Assumption Day falls on Saturday 15 August. The holiday will be on Sunday 15 August in 2027. The Assumption of Mary has been a church tradition since at least the 4th Century A.D., but it was not an officially recognised Catholic dogma until the 1950 declaration of Pope Pious XII. Over three-fourths of Lithuanians consider themselves Roman Catholic, so it’s no surprise that they have made Assumption of Mary a national holiday in their country. In Lithuania, however, ancient traditions are mixed in with Assumption Day teaching and practices. The day is called “Zoline” by many, a Lithuanian word meaning “Meadow Grass Day”. It became an official holiday only in 2000 but has been celebrated much longer. Flowers and wheatears are taken to churches on Zoline. It is a harvest tradition that has pagan roots but is now associated with Mary as the first of the Church, other than Jesus himself, to be given a glorified body. Thus, she is like the first of the new harvest in a spiritual comparison according to Roman Catholic teaching. There is a festival for Zoline in the town of Pivasiunai, which is the biggest such celebration in all Lithuania. It goes on for eight straight days. A painting of Mary with the baby Jesus is at the centre of the celebrations.

LT YT FR +42
📅 holiday Dec 25

Christmas Day

Christmas in New Caledonia is celebrated with a public holiday every 25 December, as it is in a majority of countries around the world. This Christian festivity commemorates the birth of Jesus, and is part of a 22-28 day season in the Christian calendar known as Advent. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. Christmas Day and the Christmas season are a busy time of year in New Caledonia. This is one of the main tourist seasons on the island with many from Australia, New Zealand, and France coming here while the kids are out of school. About half in New Caledonia are Catholic and often go to mass all night on the day before Christmas. They seek to welcome Christmas morning while joyfully remembering the day that Christ was born. Many Protestants and Evangelicals in New Caledonia go to church on Christmas Day or the Sunday nearest to Christmas to celebrate the birth of the Saviour. The capital city of Noumea is lit up like a Christmas tree for the holidays each year. The city centre is the brightest spot, including Coconut Palm Square, the capital complex, and the Noumea Museum. Both palm trees and buildings are decked out with multi-coloured lights for the occasion.

NC IN ZA +132
📅 holiday Dec 25

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Saint Stephen’s Day (the day after Christmas) are all significant days in Finland. Many Finns will take off 24 December through 1 January to spend time with family. In 2026, Christmas falls on Friday 25 December. The holiday will be on Saturday 25 December in 2027. The biggest day of the season in Finland, is not Christmas Day but Christmas Eve. By early afternoon on Christmas Eve, most shops and other businesses will shut down, and public transport will even be hard to find. Sometime during the evening, the Biblical Christmas Story, from Luke’s Gospel, will likely be read. The youngest child who knows how to read normally is assigned the role. After dinner, “Joulupukki,” the Finnish version of Old Saint Nick, arrives and gives presents. The name “Joulupukki” is literally rendered “Christmas Goat.” This is because a goat used to frighten people and demand they hand over their presents in earlier Finnish Christmas tradition, but then Joulupukki had a change of heart and started giving out presents instead. He never lost his original name, however. On Christmas Day, most people just relax at home and recover from the previous night’s business. Others, however, get up early, attend Christmas morning church services, and rest at home later. On 26 December, Saint Stephen’s Day, people visit relatives, maybe even some who live far away or whom they have not seen for some time. It is also common to go ice skating or skiing on Saint Stephen’s Day.

FI MY CZ +9