Pyhäaikojen

Pyhäaikojen is the genitive plural form of pyhäaika, a Finnish term for the holy seasons of the Christian liturgical year. Pyhäaika refers to a defined period within the church year, each with its own themes, readings, prayers, and liturgical colors. Pyhäaikat typically include Advent, the Christmas season, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week and Easter, Pentecost, and the following period of ordinary time. In some calendars there is a distinct Easter season that extends from Easter to Pentecost, and there are two blocks of ordinary time between Epiphany and Lent and between Pentecost and Advent.

The concept is used across denominations such as Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran churches, though exact dates and practices differ. Worship services during pyhäaikojen follow a circular lectionary, with specific readings assigned to each Sunday and feast. Common liturgical elements include seasonal colors, hymns, and arrangements such as Advent wreaths in Advent, Christmas decorations, and processions during Holy Week. Fasting and almsgiving are emphasized especially during Lent in many traditions.

In Finnish usage, pyhäaikojen phraseology appears in church calendars and religious education, for example in discussions of the liturgical year, calendars, and observance guides. The term thus denotes the collective concept of the church year’s sacred seasons rather than a single period.