August 15

Holidays & Observances - Religious Festivals

Christianfeast day:

Altfrid, Alypius of Thagaste, Feast day of theAssumption of Mary, one of theCatholicholy days of obligation(a public holiday inAustria,Belgium,Benin,Bosnia,Burundi,Cameroon,Chile,Colombia,Croatia,Cyprus,France, some states inGermany,Greece,Guatemala,Italy,Ivory Coast,Lebanon,Liechtenstein,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Madagascar,Malta,Mauritius,Paraguay,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Senegal,Seychelles,Slovenia,Spain,Switzerland,Togo, andVanuatu); and its related observances:Feast of theDormition of the Theotokos(Eastern Orthodox,Oriental OrthodoxandEastern Catholic Churches)Ferragosto(Italy)Lady's Day(Ireland)Māras(Latvia)Mother's Day(AntwerpandCosta Rica)National Acadian Day(Acadians)Navy Day(Romania)Virgin of Candelaria, patron of theCanary Islands. (Tenerife,Spain), San La Muerte(ParaguayanFolk Catholicism), Santa Muerte(MexicanFolk Catholicism), Tarcisius, August 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

A group of Christian observances held on August 15, most notably the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, celebrated across Catholic and Orthodox traditions. The day also honors saints like Altfrid, Alypius of Thagaste, and Tarcisius. In various cultures, it is known as Ferragosto in Italy and includes folk observances such as Santa Muerte in Mexico.
Christian feast days observed on August 15 encompass a rich tapestry of sacred and cultural celebrations around the world. The central observance is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, one of the most important Catholic holy days of obligation and a public holiday in many countries, commemorating the Virgin Mary’s entry into heaven. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches mark the Dormition of the Theotokos with solemn liturgies and processions honoring Mary’s dormitory. In Italy, the holiday is known as Ferragosto and blends religious devotion with summer festivities, while in Ireland it is sometimes called Lady’s Day. Other commemorations include the feast days of saints such as Altfrid of Hildesheim, Alypius of Thagaste, and young martyr Tarcisius. Folk traditions also play a role, from Latvia’s Māras harvest rites to Mexican folk devotions to Santa Muerte. In Acadian communities, National Acadian Day celebrates shared heritage, while Romania observes Navy Day in honor of the fleet. These varied observances illustrate the global spread and local adaptation of Christian liturgical and cultural practices on a single calendar date.
feast day Altfrid Alypius of Thagaste Assumption of Mary Catholic holy days of obligation Austria Belgium Benin Bosnia Burundi Cameroon Chile Colombia Croatia Cyprus France Germany Greece Guatemala Italy Ivory Coast Lebanon Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malta Mauritius Paraguay Poland Portugal Romania Senegal Seychelles Slovenia Spain Switzerland Togo Vanuatu Dormition of the Theotokos Eastern Orthodox Oriental Orthodox Eastern Catholic Churches Ferragosto Italy Lady's Day Ireland Māras Latvia Mother's Day Antwerp Costa Rica National Acadian Day Acadians Navy Day Romania Virgin of Candelaria Canary Islands Tenerife Spain San La Muerte Paraguayan Folk Catholicism Santa Muerte Folk Catholicism Tarcisius August 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

The first day ofFlooding of the Nile, orWafaa El-Nil(EgyptandCoptic Church)

Wafaa El-Nil, the first day of the Nile’s annual flooding, marks the start of the agricultural inundation season. It is celebrated by the Coptic Church and communities along the Nile. The festival honors the life-giving waters that sustain Egypt.
Wafaa El-Nil, observed on August 15, marks the traditional first day of the Nile River’s annual flood, a critical event for Egypt’s agriculture and cultural heritage. Ancient Egyptians depended on the inundation to deposit fertile silt along the banks, and modern communities continue to honor this life-sustaining tradition. The Coptic Orthodox Church commemorates the flood with special liturgies, prayers, and blessings for a bountiful harvest. Villagers and towns along the Nile hold processions, float decorative boats on the river, and perform folk dances to celebrate the ancient connection between the river and daily life. Scholars and local historians give talks on the historical importance of the Nilometer, an ancient measuring device used to forecast flood levels. Though modern irrigation systems have reduced reliance on natural flooding, Wafaa El-Nil remains a symbol of renewal and gratitude. The festival offers tourists an insight into Egypt’s enduring relationship with the Nile and provides a colorful glimpse of local customs. By blending religious observance with environmental appreciation, the day highlights the river’s role in sustaining Egyptian civilization throughout millennia.
Flooding of the Nile Egypt Coptic Church

The main day ofBon Festival(Japan), and its related observances:

Awa Dance Festival(Tokushima Prefecture)

Bon Festival's main day in Japan, featuring the famous Awa Dance in Tokushima where dancers celebrate ancestral spirits with vibrant music and movement.
Obon, or Bon Festival, is a Japanese Buddhist custom honoring the spirits of ancestors. It typically spans three days in mid-August, with August 15 being the main observance in many regions. In Tokushima Prefecture, the Awa Dance Festival (Awa Odori) transforms streets into a stage for rhythmic folk dances. Participants wear traditional yukata and straw hats, accompanied by shamisen, taiko drums, and flutes. The festival draws hundreds of thousands of visitors who join in parades and street performances late into the night. Obon traditions also include lantern offerings and toro nagashi (floating lanterns) to guide spirits back to the afterlife.
Bon Festival Japan Awa Dance Festival Tokushima Prefecture

Altfrid

Saint Altfrid's feast day honors the 9th-century bishop known for founding Hildesheim Cathedral in Germany.
Altfrid was a Frankish nobleman turned Benedictine monk who became Bishop of Hildesheim in 852. He is celebrated for his contributions to religious art and architecture, including founding the famous Hildesheim Cathedral and its attached schools. Altfrid championed ecclesiastical reforms and supported charitable works among the poor and pilgrims. His legacy includes the establishment of monasteries and the promotion of learning during the Carolingian Renaissance. The feast of Saint Altfrid on August 15 invites the faithful to remember his piety and cultural achievements.
Altfrid

Alypius of Thagaste

Feast day of Alypius of Thagaste, a 4th-century Christian friend and disciple of Saint Augustine.
Alypius of Thagaste was a lifelong friend of Saint Augustine and served as Bishop of Thagaste (modern Souk Ahras, Algeria). Born circa 360 AD, he journeyed alongside Augustine in the search for Christian faith and later in ecclesiastical duties. Known for his wisdom and gentle character, Alypius helped establish Christian communities in North Africa. His writings and teachings influenced early Church doctrine and encouraged charity and moral living. The August 15 feast commemorates his devotion to faith and enduring friendship with Augustine.
Alypius of Thagaste

Feast day of theAssumption of Mary, one of theCatholicholy days of obligation(a public holiday inAustria,Belgium,Benin,Bosnia,Burundi,Cameroon,Chile,Colombia,Croatia,Cyprus,France, some states inGermany,Greece,Guatemala,Italy,Ivory Coast,Lebanon,Liechtenstein,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Madagascar,Malta,Mauritius,Paraguay,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Senegal,Seychelles,Slovenia,Spain,Switzerland,Togo, andVanuatu); and its related observances:

Feast of theDormition of the Theotokos(Eastern Orthodox,Oriental OrthodoxandEastern Catholic Churches), Ferragosto(Italy), Lady's Day(Ireland), Māras(Latvia), Mother's Day(AntwerpandCosta Rica), National Acadian Day(Acadians), Navy Day(Romania), Virgin of Candelaria, patron of theCanary Islands. (Tenerife,Spain)

The Assumption of Mary celebrates the Virgin's ascent into heaven, observed by Catholics worldwide with solemn masses and processions.
The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15 is one of the most important holy days of obligation in the Catholic Church. It commemorates the belief that Mary was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory at the end of her earthly life. In many countries, this day is a public holiday and is celebrated with vibrant processions, church services, and community festivals. Italy observes Ferragosto, a secular holiday introduced by Emperor Augustus, coinciding with Assumption and marked by parades and seafood feasts. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches celebrate the Dormition of the Theotokos with liturgies focused on Mary's peaceful death and resurrection. Other observances include Lady's Day in Ireland, Latvia's Māras, Mother's Day in Costa Rica and Antwerp, Romania's Navy Day, and Tenerife's Virgin of Candelaria festival.
Assumption of Mary Catholic holy days of obligation Austria Belgium Benin Bosnia Burundi Cameroon Chile Colombia Croatia Cyprus France Germany Greece Guatemala Italy Ivory Coast Lebanon Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Madagascar Malta Mauritius Paraguay Poland Portugal Romania Senegal Seychelles Slovenia Spain Switzerland Togo Vanuatu Dormition of the Theotokos Eastern Orthodox Oriental Orthodox Eastern Catholic Churches Ferragosto Italy Lady's Day Ireland Māras Latvia Mother's Day Antwerp Costa Rica National Acadian Day Acadians Navy Day Romania Virgin of Candelaria Canary Islands Tenerife Spain

San La Muerte(ParaguayanFolk Catholicism)

San La Muerte is a folk saint venerated in Paraguayan folk Catholicism, invoked for protection and miracles.
San La Muerte is a popular folk Catholic devotion in Paraguay honoring a skeletal representation of Saint Death. Believers seek his intercession for healing, protection, and justice, often offering candles, rosaries, and amulets. Devotees gather on August 15 to pray, light candles, and visit shrines dedicated to San La Muerte. Although not recognized by the Catholic Church, the devotion blends indigenous beliefs and Catholic iconography. The day highlights the syncretic culture of Paraguay, where faith and folklore merge in vibrant public rituals.
San La Muerte Paraguayan Folk Catholicism

Santa Muerte(MexicanFolk Catholicism)

Santa Muerte is a Mexican folk saint venerated for her powers over life, death, and protection, with annual gatherings on August 15.
Santa Muerte, or Holy Death, is a syncretic folk saint revered in Mexico and beyond for granting favors related to health, wealth, and safe passage. On August 15, followers honor her with altars decorated with candles, flowers, and offerings of food and drink. Pilgrims travel to chapels in Mexico City and elsewhere to seek miracles and express gratitude for answered prayers. Although discouraged by the Catholic hierarchy, the devotion continues to grow, reflecting marginalized communities' spiritual needs. Santa Muerte's iconography and rituals underscore the complexity of faith and social identity in contemporary Mexican culture.
Santa Muerte Folk Catholicism

Tarcisius

Feast day of Saint Tarcisius, a young Roman martyr who protected the Eucharist in the 3rd century.
Saint Tarcisius was a teenage acolyte in third-century Rome who served the Eucharist to imprisoned Christians. According to tradition, he was attacked and killed by a mob while carrying consecrated hosts, choosing to protect them at the cost of his life. Venerated as a martyr for the Blessed Sacrament, Tarcisius symbolizes reverence for the Eucharist. His feast on August 15 inspires reflections on faith, courage, and the sacredness of communion in the Catholic Church. Churches around the world mark the day with special masses and prayers honoring his sacrifice.
Tarcisius

August 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

In Eastern Orthodox churches, August 15 commemorates various saints and the Dormition of the Theotokos in the liturgical calendar.
The Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendar lists multiple saints whose feast days fall on August 15, alongside the celebration of the Dormition of the Theotokos. Services include festal vespers, the Divine Liturgy, and hymns extolling Mary's assumption and the commemorated saints. Faithful attend icon processions and receive special blessings during church services. The day reflects the continuity of tradition and the richness of Orthodox hagiography. It offers an opportunity for spiritual renewal through prayer, fasting, and community worship.
August 15 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)

Feast of theDormition of the Theotokos(Eastern Orthodox,Oriental OrthodoxandEastern Catholic Churches)

The Dormition of the Theotokos celebrates Mary's falling asleep and assumption, a major feast in Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches.
The Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos on August 15 commemorates the Virgin Mary's peaceful death and assumption into heaven. Observances include an all-night vigil, the Divine Liturgy, and the blessing of flowers, herbs, and candles. Icons depicting Mary's Dormition are venerated as faithful participants in processions and liturgical readings. This solemn and joyful feast underscores Mary's role as intercessor and the promise of resurrection for all believers. Churches worldwide gather to honor her life and legacy through hymns, prayers, and communal celebrations.
Dormition of the Theotokos Eastern Orthodox Oriental Orthodox Eastern Catholic Churches

Ferragosto(Italy)

Ferragosto is an Italian public holiday on August 15 marking the Catholic Feast of the Assumption and a celebration of summer rest and festivities.
Ferragosto traces its origins to the ancient Roman festival of Feriae Augusti established by Emperor Augustus in 18 BCE. Over time it merged with the Catholic Feast of the Assumption of Mary, making it both a cultural and religious observance. Today, it marks the peak of summer in Italy, when businesses close and families head to seaside resorts or mountain retreats. Many towns host street fairs, music concerts, and fireworks displays throughout the day. Traditional foods like cold salads, grilled meats, and local wines are shared at family gatherings. Ferragosto embodies a national spirit of relaxation, community, and celebration under the summer sun.
Ferragosto Italy