Annunciation · Eyd-e Besharat

Culture of origin: Christian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Assyrian · Australia (national) · Canada (federal) · Christianity · Eastern Orthodox (new calendar) · France · Germany (nationwide) · United Kingdom (England and Wales) · United States (federal)

The Annunciation recalls the angel Gabriel telling Mary that she would conceive and bear a son named Jesus (Luke 1:26–38); its date, nine months before Christmas, marks the Incarnation. It is a Catholic solemnity and a Principal Feast of the Church of England. In England it was Lady Day, a quarter day, and until 1752 the legal year began on it. When March 25 falls in Holy Week or Easter week, the Catholic Church moves the feast to the Monday after the Second Sunday of Easter, and when it is a Sunday of Lent, to the Monday; the usual date is shown.