December 2024 Feast Days and Solemnities

Well, here we are. We have made it to the final month of the calendar year. Yet, we kick things off with a new liturgical year as December 1st marks the beginning of Advent.

December is a month dedicated to the Holy Family. Here is what is on the calendar for December 2024. 

Liturgical Colors of Advent and Christmas

The first 24 days of December fall during the liturgical season known as Advent and are represented by the liturgical color purple—a symbol of penance, mortification, and the sorrow of a contrite heart.

The remaining days of December mark the beginning of the Christmas season. The liturgical color changes to white or gold — a symbol of joy, purity, and innocence.

The Holy Father's Intentions for December 2024

For Pilgrims of Hope, We pray that this Jubilee Year strengthens our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in our daily lives and that it may transform us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

Schedule of Feasts during December

1. FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, Sunday

3. Francis Xavier, Memorial

6. Nicholas, Opt. Mem.

7. Ambrose, Memorial

8. SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT, Sunday

9. IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF MARY, Solemnity

11. Damasus I, Opt. Mem.

12. Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast

13. Lucy, Memorial

14. John of the Cross, Memorial

15. THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT, GAUDETE SUNDAY, Sunday

21. Peter Canisius; O Dayspring; Ember Saturday, Opt. Mem.

22. FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT, Sunday

23. John of Kanty; O Emmanuel, Opt. Mem.

25. NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas), Solemnity

26. Stephen, Feast

27. John, Apostle, Feast

28. Holy Innocents, Feast

29. Feast of the Holy Family, Feast

31. Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas; Sylvester I , Opt. Mem.

The Gospels during the Sundays of Advent

December 1st

First Sunday

of Advent

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36: Jesus warns that your redemption is at hand.

December 8th

Second Sunday

of Advent

Luke 3:1-6: All flesh shall see the salvation of God.

December 15th

Third Sunday

of Advent

Luke 3:10-18: What should we do?

December 22nd

Fourth Sunday

of Advent

Luke 1:39-45, And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

The Gospels for the Christmas season

December 25th

Solemnity of the

Nativity of the Lord

[Christmas]

Vigil: Matthew 1:1-25: The genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David

Mass During the Night: Luke 2:1-14: Today a Savior has been born for you.

Mass at Dawn: Luke 2:15-20: The shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the infant.

Mass During the Day: John 1:1-18: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

December 29th

Feast of the

Holy Family

Luke 2:41-52: His parents found Jesus sitting in the midst of the teachers.

Important Reminders

Christmastide begins with the First Vespers (Evening Prayer) of Christmas on December 24th and ends on the Sunday after Epiphany. The Solemnity of Epiphany is transferred to January 5 in the United States in 2025. Christmas and Easter are the only solemnities with octaves attached in the current calendar.

The Christmas Octave differs from Easter in that it includes some major and minor feasts: St. Stephen, Protomartyr (December 26), St. John the Evangelist (December 27), the Holy Innocents (December 28), St. Thomas Becket (December 29) and St. Sylvester I (December 31). The octave day is on January 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.

The optional memorial of St. Juan Diego (December 9) is superseded by the Sunday liturgy. The feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8) has been transferred to December 9 because of the Sunday Liturgy.

A Blessed Advent journey to all, and make these final days of the year count.