Holy Innocents, December 28
Matthew’s Gospel tells how King Herod, hoping to kill the newborn Messiah, ordered the death of all boys under two in Bethlehem. The Church has honored these children as martyrs since the fifth century. The day is a time to pray for children who suffer.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 28 is a feast: The Holy Innocents, martyrs.
December 28 on the calendar
December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (the 363rd in a leap year), with 3 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping December 28
December 28 falls in the Christmas season. As a feast, it is kept by the whole Church with its own readings and the Gloria at Mass. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around December 28
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 25 | Christmas |
| December 26 | St. Stephen |
| December 27 | St. John the Apostle |
| December 29 | St. Thomas Becket |
| December 30 | St. Egwin |
| December 31 | St. Sylvester I |
The day before, December 27, is the day of St. John the Apostle. The day after, December 29, belongs to St. Thomas Becket. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.