Christian calendar facts for kids

A Christian calendar is like a special timetable used by different Christian churches. It helps them keep track of the "Church year," also known as the "liturgical year." This calendar helps Christians know when important events like Easter will happen, even though the exact date of Easter can be different for various churches.

The Church year is divided into several important periods, called "seasons." These include Lent, Easter, Pentecost, Advent, and Christmas. The weeks in between these special seasons are usually called "ordinary time."

The Gregorian Calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the calendar most of the world uses today. It was named after Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced it. This calendar helps everyone agree on dates for daily life, not just church events.

Celebrating Saints

Many Christians, especially those in the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox traditions, also celebrate special days for Saints. These days honor important people from Christian history who are considered holy. You can find lists of these days, like this Catholic list.

Images for kids

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  First page of the papal bull Inter gravissimas, a document related to the calendar reform.

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  A detail from the tomb of Pope Gregory XIII, showing Antonio Lilio presenting his printed calendar.

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  Christopher Clavius (1538–1612), one of the main people who worked on reforming the calendar.

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  Pope Gregory XIII in an engraving from the early 1600s.