Christian Holidays: Fact Sheet

Christianity is one of the three major Abrahamic faiths, alongside Islam and Judaism. The religion is centered on the life, teachings and death of Jesus of Nazareth (The Christ) and is the most practiced of the world’s religions. The Pew Research Center estimates that 63% of U.S. adults self-identify as Christian as of 2024. There are a large number of Christian traditions, with great variation in which holidays are celebrated and how. This fact sheet highlights two holidays—Easter and Christmas—observed by a significant portion of American Christian denominations and addresses the ways these holidays are currently recognized in the United States. This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Christian holidays. It contains sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, presidential statements and remarks, and selected historical and cultural resources. This is part of a series of Congressional Research Service fact sheets on religious holidays in the United States.