Vatican City, also called the Holy See, plans 16 public holidays for 2025. These holidays are particularly meaningful for the Catholic Church and its followers worldwide. From the joyful celebrations of Christmas and Easter to important days honoring saints and Church history events, each holiday has deep meaning.
In this blog, we’ll examine the public holidays in Vatican City in 2025. You’ll learn about their origins, traditions, and celebrations. Prepare to gain insights into the rich cultural and religious importance behind these holy days.
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Public Holidays In Vatican City In 2025
Vatican City is also known as Holy See. It includes 16 public holidays in 2025. Three of the holidays will fall on weekends. Below are the public holidays in Vatican City in 2025.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
| New Year’s Day | Jan 01, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Epiphany | Jan 06, 2025 | Monday |
| Lateran Treaty Day | Feb 11, 2025 | Tuesday |
| Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis | Mar 13, 2025 | Thursday |
| St. Joseph’s Day | Mar 19, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 20, 2025 | Sunday |
| Easter Monday | Apr 21, 2025 | Monday |
| St. George’s Day | Apr 23, 2025 | Wednesday |
| St. Joseph the Worker | May 01, 2025 | Thursday |
| St. Peter and Paul’s Day | Jun 29, 2025 | Sunday |
| Assumption Day Holiday | Aug 14, 2025 | Thursday |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15, 2025 | Friday |
| All Saints’ Day | Nov 01, 2025 | Saturday |
| Immaculate Conception Day | Dec 08, 2025 | Monday |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25, 2025 | Thursday |
| St. Stephen’s Day | Dec 26, 2025 | Friday |
These are the public holidays in Vatican City in 2025. Below are the meanings, customs, and traditions of these public holidays.
New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day is an important public holiday in Vatican City. It marks the start of a new year. It is a time for joy, thinking back, and new starts. For Catholics, it is a day to give thanks for the blessings of the past year and to pray for help and strength in the new year.
The Vatican celebrates this day with special church services and events. It includes the Pope’s traditional New Year’s blessing, “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world), given from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. This blessing spreads a message of hope and peace, encouraging people to work for a better world.
Epiphany
Epiphany is a Christian holiday that remembers the visit of the Three Wise Men (kings) to the baby Jesus. The day falls on Jan 06, 2025. People who aren’t Jewish see Jesus. In Vatican City, they take this day seriously because it’s the end of the Christmas season.
The Pope leads a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, where he blesses the waters, a tradition dating back to the 4th century. Churches around the world receive the blessed waters. This symbolizes Christianity spreading to all nations.
Lateran Treaty Day
Lateran Treaty Day is a public holiday in Vatican City on Feb 11. It celebrates the signing of the Lateran Treaty in 1929. This treaty made Vatican City its own state, separate from Italy. It settled a dispute between the Papacy and the Italian government.
On this day, the Vatican celebrates its sovereignty and independence, as well as its good relations with Italy and other nations. They plan special events to mark this critical point in Vatican City’s history.
Anniversary of the Election of Pope Francis
This day marks the anniversary of Pope Francis’s election as the Pope of the Catholic Church. It is an essential date for Vatican City and Catholics worldwide. Pope Francis has promoted mercy, humility, and compassion for the poor and marginalized. On this day, people honor the Pope’s leadership with special masses and celebrations. They say prayers for his continued guidance of the Church.
St. Joseph’s Day
St. Joseph’s Day is a public holiday in Vatican City, honoring St. Joseph, husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus. St. Joseph is respected as the patron saint of workers and families. His special day is celebrated with much devotion in the Vatican.
Special church services and marches are held, and families meet for traditional foods and celebrations. It honors St. Joseph’s good qualities, such as humility, obedience, and love for his family.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is the most important holiday in the Christian calendar. It celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Grand celebrations and ceremonies mark this day.
It includes the Pope’s “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope also leads a mass in St. Peter’s Square attended by thousands of faithful. Easter Sunday is a time of joy, hope, and renewal as Christians celebrate life’s victory over death.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is a public holiday in Vatican City after Easter Sunday. It is a day of rest and reflection, continuing the Easter celebrations. In the Vatican, special masses and events commemorate Christ’s Resurrection and celebrate the renewal of life Easter represents. Families often gather for traditional Easter meals and activities, making it a day of togetherness and joy.
St. George’s Day
St. George’s Day is a public holiday in Vatican City. It honors St. George, the patron saint of many countries and cities, including Rome. People admire St. George because he was brave and killed a dragon, which represents beating bad things.
In the Vatican, people celebrate this day with special church services and parades, particularly at the Basilica of St. George in the Vatican Gardens. People ask St. George for protection, and his feast day honors qualities like courage, honor, and never giving up.
St. Joseph the Worker
St. Joseph the Worker is a public holiday in Vatican City honoring St. Joseph as the patron saint of workers. This special day was made in 1955 to celebrate the importance of human work and support workers’ rights and well-being. In the Vatican, special church services and events recognize workers’ efforts and pray for their safety and fair treatment.
The Pope often speaks up for fair working conditions, good pay, and workers’ rights worldwide on this day. This holiday thinks about the value of hard work and honors those who help society through their daily jobs.
St. Peter and Paul’s Day
St. Peter and Paul’s Day is an essential public holiday in Vatican City, honoring the two apostles considered the founders of the Christian Church in Rome. St. Peter, the first Pope, and St. Paul, the great missionary, are revered as pillars of the Catholic faith.
On this day, the Vatican celebrates their lives, martyrdom, and role in spreading Christianity. Special masses and processions are held, with the Pope leading a mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. This holiday reflects on the Church’s foundations and renews commitment to the faith.
Assumption Day
Assumption Day is a public holiday in Vatican City celebrating the Virgin Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven at the end of her life on earth. Catholic doctrine says Mary was taken body and soul into heaven to be with her Son, Jesus Christ.
In the Vatican, this feast day is marked with grand celebrations like a papal mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and a candlelight procession through Vatican City’s streets. The day honors Mary as the Mother of God and reflects on her example of faith, obedience, and humility.
All Saints’ Day
All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in Vatican City honoring all saints of the Catholic Church, known and unknown. It is a day to remember and celebrate the lives of those who exemplified holiness and lived by Christ’s teachings.
In the Vatican, special masses and ceremonies venerate the saints and ask for their intercession and guidance. The faithful also visit cemeteries and leave flowers at loved ones’ graves, reflecting on the communion of saints and the promise of eternal life.
Immaculate Conception Day
Immaculate Conception Day is a public holiday in Vatican City celebrating the belief that the Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. This doctrine, defined in 1854, says Mary was preserved from original sin from conception, allowing her to give birth to Jesus Christ.
In the Vatican, this feast day is marked with solemn masses and processions, and the Pope traditionally visits and prays at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of Rome’s four major basilicas dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Christmas Day
Christmas Day is the most joyous and widely celebrated public holiday in Vatican City, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. On this day, the Vatican is beautifully decorated, and the Pope leads a midnight mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, attended by thousands of faithful from around the world.
The Pope also delivers his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing from St. Peter’s central balcony, spreading a message of peace and goodwill. It celebrates with family gatherings and reflecting on Christ’s birth and the hope it brings.
St. Stephen’s Day
St. Stephen’s Day is a public holiday in Vatican City honoring the first Christian martyr, St. Stephen, who was stoned to death for his faith in Jesus Christ. This feast day, also called Boxing Day in some countries, is celebrated the day after Christmas and is a time for continued festivities and reflection.
In the Vatican, special masses and events commemorate St. Stephen’s sacrifice and honor those who gave their lives for their faith. This holiday reflects on the courage and commitment of early Christians and renews dedication to the faith’s principles.