Christian Holidays in the Bible
Most Christian holidays mark events the Bible tells, even though the holidays themselves came later. Here you will find what each season celebrates, where it is in the Bible, the key verses and a reading plan for the 2026 dates, starting with Thanksgiving, Advent and Christmas.
The season ahead
Thanksgiving in the Bible
Not a biblical feast, but giving thanks runs through the Bible: thank offerings, harvest feasts and psalms of thanks.
Advent in the Bible
The four weeks before Christmas: the prophets’ promises, John the Baptist and Luke 1, with a daily reading plan.
Christmas in the Bible
The birth of Jesus in Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2: what each Gospel adds, key verses and a family study.
Go deeper this Christmas
Read the full nativity story, retold step by step from Matthew and Luke, then check what you remember with the Christmas Bible quiz.
Frequently asked questions
Which Christian holidays are in the Bible?
The events behind Christmas and Easter are told in the Gospels, and Pentecost is described in Acts 2. The holidays themselves, and seasons like Advent and Lent, developed in the church later. Israel’s feasts, such as Passover and Tabernacles, are commanded in the Old Testament.
Is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday?
Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States and Canada. Many Christians observe it with thanks to God, and giving thanks is a major biblical theme, but the holiday is not a church feast.
When is Advent in 2026?
From Sunday 29 November to Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December 2026.
Why do some churches celebrate Christmas on 7 January?
Some Orthodox churches follow the older Julian calendar, in which 25 December currently falls on 7 January in the everyday (Gregorian) calendar.