March 19

Holidays & Observances - Religious Festivals

ChristianObservances:

Alkmund of Derby, Saint Joseph(Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20)Saint Joseph's Day(Roman CatholicismandAnglican Communion) related observances:Falles, celebrated on the week leading to March 19 (Valencia)Father's Day(Spain, Portugal, Italy,Honduras, andBolivia)"Return of the Swallow", annual observance of theswallows' return toMission San Juan CapistranoinCalifornia, March 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics), Earliest day on whichMaundy Thursdaycan fall, while April 22 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday beforeEaster(Christianity)

Various Christian feast days and traditions are observed on March 19, celebrating saints, liturgical occasions, and related cultural festivities across denominations.
On March 19, Western Christianity commemorates Saint Joseph, with Roman Catholic and Anglican services honoring his role as the earthly father of Jesus. The Eastern Orthodox Church marks this date with specific liturgics dedicated to Saint Joseph the Betrothed. Communities in Valencia celebrate Falles, a weeklong festival featuring monumental sculptures and fireworks leading up to this feast day. In Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia, Father's Day coincides with Saint Joseph's Day, incorporating familial traditions and church services. Mission San Juan Capistrano in California observes the annual Return of the Swallow festival, welcoming swallows back to the mission grounds. Additionally, Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter, can fall as early as March 19 in the liturgical calendar, linking this date to Holy Week events.
Observances Alkmund of Derby Saint Joseph Western Christianity Saint Joseph's Day Roman Catholicism Anglican Communion Falles Valencia Father's Day Honduras Bolivia swallows Mission San Juan Capistrano California March 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics) Maundy Thursday Easter Christianity

Alkmund of Derby

Saint Alkmund of Derby, an Anglo-Saxon martyr and prince, is commemorated by some Christian communities on March 19.
Alkmund of Derby was a Northumbrian prince who lived in the early 9th century and was killed under mysterious circumstances around 800 AD. He became venerated as a martyr, and his relics were preserved at Derby, attracting pilgrims during the Middle Ages. Local churches occasionally hold special services on March 19 in his honor, recalling his piety and sacrifice. Though less universally known today, Alkmund's legacy remains part of England's early Christian history. Historical accounts and archaeological findings in Derbyshire continue to shed light on his life and cult.
Alkmund of Derby

Saint Joseph(Western Christianity; if this date falls on Sunday, the feast is moved to Monday March 20)

Saint Joseph's Day(Roman CatholicismandAnglican Communion) related observances:Falles, celebrated on the week leading to March 19 (Valencia)Father's Day(Spain, Portugal, Italy,Honduras, andBolivia)"Return of the Swallow", annual observance of theswallows' return toMission San Juan CapistranoinCalifornia

Saint Joseph's Day on March 19 honors Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, in Western Christian traditions, with related cultural celebrations.
In the Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Communion, Saint Joseph's Day is celebrated with Masses and processions on March 19. If the feast falls on a Sunday, many Western churches transfer the observance to March 20 to allow proper liturgical focus. Valencia's famed Falles festival culminates around this date, with elaborate monuments and fireworks paying tribute to Saint Joseph. In Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia, Father's Day coincides with this feast, blending religious and familial traditions. Mission San Juan Capistrano in California hosts the annual Return of the Swallow festival, marking the birds' spring migration in honor of Saint Joseph. Local customs vary, but the day universally emphasizes gratitude, service, and the model of humility embodied by Saint Joseph.
Saint Joseph Western Christianity Saint Joseph's Day Roman Catholicism Anglican Communion Falles Valencia Father's Day Honduras Bolivia swallows Mission San Juan Capistrano California

March 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

March 19 marks important liturgical commemorations in the Eastern Orthodox Church, often dedicated to Saint Joseph the Betrothed.
In the Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar, March 19 is dedicated to Saint Joseph the Betrothed, honoring his role in the Holy Family. Special hymns and readings recount Joseph's obedience and guardianship of the infant Jesus. Monasteries and parishes may hold Vespers and Divine Liturgy services emphasizing his example of faithfulness. Orthodox Christians reflect on Joseph's humility and patience, virtues central to monastic and lay life. The feast links to broader Great Lent observances when it can occur, offering a moment of festal joy amid penitential seasons.
March 19 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Earliest day on whichMaundy Thursdaycan fall, while April 22 is the latest; celebrated on Thursday beforeEaster(Christianity)

On rare occasions, Maundy Thursday can fall as early as March 19, marking the beginning of the Paschal Triduum in Christianity.
Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples and inaugurates the Easter Triduum. The date of Easter determines Maundy Thursday, which can fall between March 19 and April 22. When Easter is early, such as in years with early full moons, Maundy Thursday may occur on March 19. Western and Eastern Christian denominations observe the day with foot-washing ceremonies and special liturgies. The word mandatum derives from the Latin for 'commandment,' referring to Jesus's instruction to love one another. This liturgical observance blends remembrance of Christ's sacrifice with an invitation to service and community.
Maundy Thursday Easter Christianity

Saint Joseph's Day(Roman CatholicismandAnglican Communion) related observances:

Falles, celebrated on the week leading to March 19 (Valencia), Father's Day(Spain, Portugal, Italy,Honduras, andBolivia), "Return of the Swallow", annual observance of theswallows' return toMission San Juan CapistranoinCalifornia

Saint Joseph's Day on March 19 is celebrated by Roman Catholic and Anglican communities, often accompanied by cultural events and family traditions.
Observed on March 19 (or March 20 if the feast falls on Sunday), Saint Joseph's Day honors the patron saint of workers and families. In Valencia, the Falles festival showcases towering papier-mâché monuments and nightly fireworks leading up to the feast. Families in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia celebrate Father's Day alongside religious observances, blending devotion with familial gatherings. The Return of the Swallow festival at Mission San Juan Capistrano in California marks the swallows' arrival as a joyful spring event. Churches worldwide host special masses and processions, emphasizing Saint Joseph's humility, faith, and role within the Holy Family. Communities share traditional foods, such as zeppole in Italy and buñuelos in Latin America, enriching the cultural dimension of the feast.
Saint Joseph's Day Roman Catholicism Anglican Communion Falles Valencia Father's Day Honduras Bolivia swallows Mission San Juan Capistrano California

Father's Day(Spain, Portugal, Italy,Honduras, andBolivia)

In several Catholic countries, Father's Day is celebrated on March 19 in honor of Saint Joseph, combining religious and familial tributes.
Spain, Portugal, Italy, Honduras, and Bolivia observe Father's Day on March 19 to coincide with Saint Joseph's Day, recognizing his role as a model father. Families attend church services and honor their fathers with cards, gifts, and shared meals. Traditional dishes vary by region, from hearty stews in Spain to sweet pastries in Latin America. Religious processions and community events highlight the day's dual focus on faith and family. Schools and organizations often host special programs to celebrate fatherhood and discuss its importance. This tradition emphasizes gratitude, paternal care, and the intertwining of spiritual and domestic life.
Father's Day Honduras Bolivia