Holy Family

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The Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus of Nazareth, his mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and his father, Saint Joseph.

Prior to the calendar reform undertaken by the Second Vatican Council, the Feast of the Holy Family was celebrated on the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany; that is to say, on whichever day from January 7 through January 13, all inclusive, fell on a Sunday. It is now observed on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day, the Octave of Christmas; in years where no such Sunday exists because both December 25 and the ensuing January 1 are Sundays, it is held on December 30, but this day, which would be a Friday, does not become a holy day of obligation.

At the same time the Feast of the Holy Family was moved to its present date, its original place in the calendar was taken by the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The new calendar officially took effect on the first Sunday of Advent in 1969.

Most Protestant denominations refer to the Sunday presently called the Feast of the Holy Family by Catholics as simply the "First Sunday After Christmas."

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