Quick Guide to Celebrate the Feast Days in February

We’re trying something new this month: a bite-sized version of the blog posts we share every month. Here’s how to celebrate the feast days of February with your family!

Holy Family Month (February)

Printable: Holy Family Puzzle

Spend time putting together our simple 24-piece Holy Family puzzle as a family. This is a beautiful way to reflect on the unity and love within the Holy Family—Jesus, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph—while working together and creating something with your hands.

Food: Family’s Favorite Meal

Gather around and enjoy your family’s favorite meal, perhaps even cook it together. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the unity and love of the family, just as the Holy Family shared their lives together in Nazareth.

Togetherness: Prayer and Hospitality

Take time to pray together as a family, and consider blessing another family by inviting them over to share your favorite meal.

February 2: Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas)

Printable: DIY Paper Candles

Use our printable candles to create your own little presentation ceremony at home. You can also read Luke 2:22-40 about the tradition of presenting Jesus in the temple and how St. Simeon and St. Anna recognized Him as the Savior. This helps teach kids the importance of this feast.

Food: French Crêpes, Pancakes, or Tamales with Atole

Crêpes and Pancakes are often enjoyed on Candlemas, symbolizing the light of Christ. In France, crêpes are served as a way to celebrate the blessing of candles for the Mass. Tamales and Atole are a traditional Mexican treat for Candlemas, representing warmth and nourishment, much like the light and warmth of Christ in our lives. Each food has a significance of welcoming light, warmth, and joy into the home. You might also enjoy a meal by candlelight to symbolize Christ as the light of the world.

Activity: Make Beeswax Candles or Bring Candles to Be Blessed

If possible, make your own beeswax candles as a family, and bring them to your church to be blessed. Candlemas marks the day when candles are traditionally blessed for use during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, symbolizing Christ as the “light of the world.” You can discuss how candles represent Christ’s presence and how the Church uses them in liturgical celebrations.

Activity: Listen and Reflect on the Nunc Dimittis

Nunc Dimittis is Latin for “Now let depart” is a hymn from the Gospel of Luke. You can read it together as a family or listen to a beautiful rendition of this song of peace, recognizing Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” It is often referred to as the Song of Simeon and is part of the liturgical tradition, commonly sung or recited at Evening Prayer (Compline). It’s perfect to pray as a family before bedtime.

February 6: Feast of St. Paul Miki and Companions

Printable: Koinobori Craft

Celebrate the 26 Martyrs of Japan with our koinobori craft. Koinobori are carp-shaped windsocks traditionally flown in Japan to celebrate Children’s Day as a symbol of courage and perseverance. We’ve adapted this tradition to honor the martyrs of Japan. We wrote the names of each martyr on the scales of the fish and hung them up to remind your family of the sacrifices these brave martyrs made for their faith. Check our easy to use template to create your koinobori.

Food: Japanese Treats like Mochi, Matcha, Tempura, Sushi, or Ramen

Enjoying mochi (a sweet rice cake), matcha (green tea), tempura (fried seafood or vegetables), sushi, or ramen brings a taste of Japanese culture to your celebration. Mochi is particularly significant in Japanese culture, as it represents both purity and the beginning of new life, much like the faith of these martyrs.

Activity: Learn About the Japanese Tea Ceremony

Watch a video or read about the Japanese tea ceremony, which is a beautiful, meditative practice that was said to be used by Hidden Christians (Kakure Kirishitan) during the time of persecution to secretly celebrate the Mass and other forms of prayer.

February 11: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Printable: Grotto Craft

Create a mini grotto with your kids using our printable template. This will help kids visualize the place where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France, and reflect on the miracles that took place there.

Food: French Tea Party with Madeleines, Macarons, and Croissants

Have a French-inspired tea party with madeleines, macarons, and croissants, which are traditional French treats. We like to think of these foods as symbolizing the warmth, sweetness, and hospitality that Our Lady of Lourdes brings to all who seek her intercession.

Activity: Our Lady of Lourdes Sensory Bin

Create a sensory bin with water to represent the healing waters of Lourdes. You can include bubbles, glitter, etc. Place “dirty” animal figurines or toy cars into the water, allowing kids to clean them and make them “new” as they reflect on the healing miracles of Lourdes. This simple activity helps children understand how God’s grace and Our Lady’s intercession bring healing and renewal.

February 14: Feast of St. Valentine

Printables: St. Valentine’s Day Party Bundle & Activity Bundle

Celebrate St. Valentine’s Day with our printable bundles, which include a fun set of tongue-in-cheek Valentine exchange cards. Each card can include a small gift or blessing to share with friends or family, we share suggestions on gift ideas within the printable bundle.

Food: Tea with Honey, Honey Buns, or Bread and Honey

St. Valentine is the patron saint of beekeepers, so enjoy tea with honey, honey buns, or bread and honey in his honor. Honey symbolizes sweetness, and sharing it with others reminds us of the love and sweetness that St. Valentine brought to his community through his actions and sacrifices.

Activity: Exchange Valentine’s Cards and Gifts

Share Valentine’s cards with your family, and take time to discuss how we can love one another as Christ loves us. You can also share stories of how St. Valentine demonstrated love through his acts of kindness and selflessness.

February 22: Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Printable: Papal Seek and Find

Have fun with our papal seek and find printable! This is a great way to learn about papal regalia or the official clothing and decorations of the Pope.

Learn About the Popes of History

Share stories and photos of the popes throughout history, particularly focusing on St. Peter and his role as the rock on which Christ built His Church. This can lead to a family discussion about the role of the Pope in the Church today. Here is a list of popes by the Catholic Encyclopedia. Here’s a video of images of the popes.

Activity: Pray for the Pope

Print out a photo of the Pope and take time to pray for him as a family. This helps your children understand the importance of praying for the leader of the universal Church and the guidance he provides to Catholics worldwide.

This quick guide is designed to help you and your family celebrate the rich feast days of February, combining printable activities, special foods, and meaningful family moments that will deepen your faith and bring you closer together. Share how you would celebrate any of these feast days in the comment below.