Hoogfeesten

Hoogfeesten is a Dutch term used to describe the highest-ranking feast days in the Christian liturgical calendar, primarily within Catholic and historic Dutch-speaking contexts. They correspond to what is called solemnities in the official liturgy: days that celebrate the most central mysteries of the Christian faith, prominent saints, or significant events in Jesus’ and Mary’s lives. Hoogfeesten are distinguished from ordinary Sundays and lesser feast days by their public importance and liturgical prominence.

In practice, hoogfeesten feature a more elaborate liturgy than ordinary days. The proper prayers and readings of the day are used, and the celebration typically includes the Gloria and, on many occasions, the Creed. Vestments, decorations, and music are often more festive, and in many places the day is marked by additional devotions, special sermons, or processions. Local customs vary, but the aim is to honor the magnitude of the event or person being commemorated and to gather the community in common worship.

Typical examples of hoogfeesten include major Christian celebrations such as Christmas (Nativity of the Lord), Easter and Pentecost, and important Marian feasts (for example the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary), as well as other high-ranking feasts of Jesus, Mary, and the saints (for instance the feasts of the Apostles). All Saints’ Day is another example, depending on regional usage and calendar assignments. In historical and regional practice, hoogfeesten played a central role in parish life and public worship, though the specific list of high feasts can vary by country and diocese.