Festive Faith: Catholic Celebrations Through the Year and Around the World

by Steffani Aquila

Overview

Winner of two 2025 CMA Book Awards from the Catholic Media Association: Front Cover Artwork (Second Place), and Pastoral Ministry Catechetical (Honorable Mention).

From St. Nicholas shoes, St. Lucy lights, and Simbang Gabi, Wren Day, king cakes, and Candlemas to Easter egg trees, May Crowning, and Dia de los Muertos, Catholic traditions from around the world evoke memories of cherished celebrations that connect us to one another and draw us closer to God. In Festive Faith, Steffani Aquila, founder of Liturgy Culture & Kitchen by His Girl Sunday, brings to life liturgical living as more than simply observing seasons. It’s about joyously celebrating God’s presence in our midst, every day and in every way.

Festive Faith is a treasury of more than seventy festive traditions celebrated in various cultural groups during specific seasons or on particular days of our liturgical year. For each one, Aquila shares a brief history, a description of what the custom involves, and practical adaptations for celebrating it today. She tells you the why and the how of these traditions and shares tips on how to make them accessible, attainable, and authentic for everyone in your household, neighborhood, and parish communities.

Festive Faith also includes stories from twenty individuals of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds who share personal experiences of living the liturgical traditions of their communities. Learn from them how the faith of generations has been deepened by traditions such as these:

• The Mexican tradition of La Posadas, where the community travels from house to house looking for a place in the inn
• The practice of making and eating king cakes to represent Christ the King
• The Polish tradition of blessing of the Easter basket on Holy Saturday to signify the end of fasting and the anticipation of the Easter season
• The Holy Thursday tradition of visiting seven churches with family and friends to stay awake during the time Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane

Whether you’re well-versed in these practices or just beginning your journey, Festive Faith equips you with practical tools and insights to make these traditions your own. Each showcased custom is accompanied by actionable steps that invite you to carry on the tradition, adapt it to your context, and extend it from your home into your parish and back again.

This handbook isn’t just for personal or family enrichment; it’s a valuable resource for catechists, parish leaders, and religious educators alike. With its blend of personal anecdotes, historical insights, and practical tips, Festive Faith is a celebration of Catholic heritage and a roadmap for embracing liturgical living in today’s world. Dive in and discover the joy of celebrating God’s presence in every season and every moment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646803378
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	10/04/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Steffani Aquila is the founder of His Girl Sunday, an online space inspiring Catholic culture and liturgical living in the home and parish.

Aquila has extensive experience in parish ministry, holding titles such as director of liturgical life at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston, associate director of youth ministry, and communications director. She also has experience working with Catholic high schools as a dean and an honors-level theology teacher.

Aquila earned a bachelor of arts degree in education with a minor in theology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston and a master of arts degree in theological studies from St. Mary’s Seminary.

She lives with her husband in Katy, Texas.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“We have followed Steffani Aquila on social media for many years. Her insight, simplicity, and deep understanding help us to live liturgically while making our faith and its traditions tangible and acceptable for our children. We are delighted to have her wisdom in book format! Many people will greatly benefit from Festive Faith, making every Catholic home a place that lives, knows, and loves the faith—not only in word but also in action.” —Jason and Rachel Bulman, national speakers and hosts of Meet the Bulmans

“What a treasure trove for liturgical living! Sharing the history of traditions as well as practical applications, this book is sure to promote rich, beautiful, and festive Catholic culture in both homes and parishes. Steffani Aquila’s collection will help Catholics in all states of life draw closer to the Lord through their celebration of our liturgical cycles and seasons.” —Katherine Bogner, teacher, blogger, and author of Through the Year with Jesus

“Steffani Aquila has solved our too-busy, can’t-bother-with-liturgical-living conundrum with Festive Faith. She shares practical ideas for bringing rich traditions of Catholic culture into our homes and parishes, tells the story of these traditions, and reminds us that even a little can go a long way in learning our faith by the rhythms of the Church year. Whether you are single or married, young or old, ordained or lay, and whether your household is large or small, this book will live—and be much used—at your kitchen table or office desk alongside your prayer books and calendar, helping you ease your way into celebrating the cycles and seasons of the Catholic year.” —Katie Prejean McGrady, author of Follow and host of The Katie McGrady Show

“This wonderful book shows us why and how celebrating the liturgical calendar isn’t just for one hour on Sunday—it’s a way of life. Festive Faith is a great gift to Catholic domestic and parish churches alike.” —Rev. David Michael Moses, parish priest in Houston, Texas